ESPN.com · Aug 30, 2025
LSU's and Clemson's Death Valley claims: By the numbers
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There can only be one "Death Valley" -- just don't ask LSU or Clemson fans whose it is.
The two programs face off Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) in one of three top-10-ranked matchups in Week 1. The matchup made headlines in July when members from each side made their case for who could claim the "Death Valley" moniker.
The stadiums of No. 4 seed Clemson and No. 9 seed LSU are both known as "Death Valley," with Clemson receiving the nickname first, attributed to Presbyterian College head coach Lonnie McMillian. After his team visited and lost at Memorial Stadium multiple times, he came up with the nickname.