When Clemson and LSU kick off the season, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Exiting the visitors' tunnel is LSU, searching for its first season-opening victory in the Brian Kelly era, as well as the first College Football Playoff berth in this decade.
For Dabo Swinney and the home Tigers, the offseason has been relatively kind to them, with the right moves finding praise wherever you can find it. Clemson is seeking back-to-back playoff appearances in this decade, and perhaps beyond all the praise, it is looking to show that it was warranted.
Despite reaching the College Football Playoff, the Tigers' season was marred by losses to Louisville, South Carolina, and a thumping to Georgia to open the 2024 season.