Brian Kelly Fires First Shot at Clemson, Admits 'We've Been 0-3 in Openers'

The 2025 college football season isn't just kicking off; it's exploding with a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown, and LSU head coach Brian Kelly used the grand stage of SEC Media Days to deliver a direct, unfiltered message about the monumental Week 1 clash against Clemson! Kelly didn't hold back, framing the opener as an "incredible challenge" and making it crystal clear his Tigers are out to rewrite history.

"So I know everybody is excited about the season. Everybody here is excited about it. We're certainly looking forward to the opportunity. We open up with a great program in Clemson. I know Dabo [Swinney] very well. Respect him and his program and the accomplishments they've had. We played against each other several times when I was at Notre Dame and just have a ton of respect," Kelly began, acknowledging the formidable opponent.

But the real revelation came as Kelly addressed LSU's Achilles' heel under his leadership. "But we've also been 0-3 in openers at LSU under my watch. We needed to do some things differently this year. That is embrace this opener. Embracing it in a manner that this is a big game. It's a tangible goal for our football team to want to be 1-0. That's not let's warm up into the season. We want to be ready for this football game. So we're doing everything in our power to give our players the opportunity for that success."

Kelly continued, his intensity building, "Exciting season. Excited about the ability to continue to develop our program and our players. Looking forward to our opening against Clemson University."

This unprecedented focus underscores just how critical this game is for a program with soaring expectations. Kelly also couldn't resist a playful jab at the long-running "Death Valley" debate, a nickname proudly claimed by both storied programs. Kelly, however, made LSU's stance unequivocally clear: "We still think we are THE DEATH VALLEY. They can use the name, too. We are letting them borrow it."

The all-time series leans in LSU's favor at 3-1, though the two programs have split their last two meetings under Swinney, including LSU's 42-25 victory in the 2019 National Championship Game. This year's opener, set for August 30 at 7:30 PM on ABC, is not just about settling the "Death Valley" dispute; it's packed with early playoff buzz and immense conference bragging rights.

With Brian Kelly's 0-3 record in season openers since arriving at LSU, the pressure is squarely on the Bayou Bengals to finally deliver a statement win. For Clemson, it's an immediate opportunity to prove their national title aspirations are legitimate. The stage is set for an epic showdown that promises to kick off the 2025 college football season with a thunderous roar heard across both "Death Valleys," and Brian Kelly is ensuring his team is ready for every single snap.