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Brian Kelly claps back at Dabo Swinney’s “Final Exam” grade after LSU’s win

Dabo Swinney compared Clemson’s 17–10 loss to LSU to “a 58 on the first exam.” Brian Kelly fired back, saying his team dominated the second half and questioning if Swinney “even watched it.”

Louisiana State University Head Coach Brian Kelly during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, August 30, 2025. | Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Following Clemson’s 17–10 loss to LSU, head coach Dabo Swinney offered a colorful postgame analogy. He called the matchup a “final exam on the first day of class,” grading his Tigers with a 58 and LSU with a 65.