Top-4 SEC title contenders going into 2025 college football season
Alabama, Georgia, Texas and LSU lead Blake Toppmeyer’s and Jackson Fuller’s preseason SEC championship contenders.
The battle for the name of the true “Death Valley” takes place on Aug. 30.
Week 1 of the 2025 college football season will pit No. 9 LSU versus No. 6 Clemson from Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. Plenty will be on the line for both teams, including the pride of calling their home “Death Valley.”
In the battle of the Tigers, one team will be able to put an impressive win on their potential College Football Playoff resume. The other will have to use the rest of the season to build a case for an appearance in the 12-team field.
LSU owns a 3-1 record vs. Clemson, including a 42-25 win in the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. All the previous matchups have come in bowl games.
Watch Clemson-LSU with Fubo (free trial)
Who will come out ahead in the battle of “Death Valley?” The Lafayette Daily Advertiser is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along:
LSU vs Clemson live score
This section will be updated.
| TEAMS | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
| LSU | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |
| Clemson | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik will be under center for the season opener. Klubnik, like Nussmeier, is an early contender for the Heisman Trophy and the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
He enjoyed a breakout 2024 with 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns to six interceptions. Here’s a look at his NFL draft prospects heading into the 2025 college football season.
Garrett Nussmeier is back as the starting quarterback for LSU, and he could be in for a big season. Not only is Nussmeier an early contender for the Heisman Trophy, but with a strong season, he could be in the talks for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here’s a look at his draft projections heading into the 2025 college football season.
What time does LSU vs Clemson start? Â
- Date:Â Saturday, Aug. 30
- Time:Â 6:30 p.m. CTÂ Â
- Where:Â Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina
The Week 1 matchup between LSU and Clemson is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 30, from Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
What TV channel is LSU vs Clemson on today? Â
LSU vs Clemson will air nationally on ABC. Streaming options include the ESPN app, ESPN+ and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
LSU-Clemson predictions
- Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Sports:Â Clemson 27, LSU 24
“With two evenly matched teams facing off, homefield advantage late will prove to help Clemson prove to have the true ‘Death Valley’ as a late touchdown pass from Klubnik gives Clemson the victory.”
“Two evenly-matched teams and no team leads by more than one score throughout. Naturally, the game comes down to the final seconds and Clemson, because of the backing of its home crowd, walks it off on a game-winning field goal.”
“This will be one of the most anticipated home games for Clemson in years as both teams have Heisman candidate quarterbacks and national championship aspirations. LSU hasn’t won a season-opening game since 2019, and that trend will continue as Clemson wins in a prime-time thriller.”
LSU football schedule 2025
Here is LSU’s schedule and results.
- Saturday, Aug. 30: at No. 6 Clemson | 6:30 p.m. |Â ABC (ESPN+)
- Saturday, Sept. 6:Â vs. Louisiana Tech | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+
- Saturday, Sept. 13:Â vs. No. 17 Florida* | 6:30 p.m. | ABC (ESPN+)
- Saturday, Sept. 20:Â vs. Southeast Louisiana
- Saturday, Sept. 27:Â at No. 15 Ole Miss*
- Saturday, Oct. 4:Â BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 11:Â vs. No. 13 South Carolina*
- Saturday, Oct. 18:Â at Vanderbilt*
- Saturday, Oct. 25:Â vs. No. 21 Texas A&M*
- Saturday, Nov. 1:Â BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 8:Â at No. 8 Alabama*
- Saturday, Nov. 15:Â vs. Arkansas
- Saturday, Nov. 22:Â vs. Western Kentucky
- Saturday, Nov. 29:Â at Oklahoma*
*Denotes SEC game
Clemson football schedule 2025
Here is Clemson’s schedule for the 2025 season:
- Saturday, Aug. 30:Â vs. No. 9 LSU | 6:30 p.m. | ABC (ESPN+)
- Saturday, Sept. 6:Â at Troy | 2:30 p.m. | ACC Network (ESPN+)
- Saturday, Sept. 13:Â at Georgia Tech* | 11 a.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 20:Â vs. Syracuse*
- Saturday, Sept. 27:Â BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 4:Â at North Carolina*
- Saturday, Oct. 11:Â at Boston College*
- Saturday, Oct. 18:Â vs. No. 16 SMU*
- Saturday, Oct. 25:Â BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 1:Â vs. Duke*
- Saturday, Nov. 8:Â vs. Florida State*
- Friday, Nov. 14:Â at Louisville*
- Saturday, Nov. 22:Â vs. Furman
- Saturday, Nov. 29:Â at No. 13 South Carolina
*Denotes ACC game
