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Garrett Nussmeier Confronts LSU’s Struggles Head-on Before Clemson Clash

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 12:32 PM ET

CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello named the LSU Tigers one of the five national championship contenders within the SEC in 2025.

But a strong start to the season is important, which could be difficult for LSU as it has a tough Week 1 matchup scheduled with the Clemson Tigers

To make matters worse, LSU has struggled with season openers, losing the last five, which is something quarterback Garrett Nussmeier acknowledged when talking to On3's Pete Nakos.

“We’re not hiding from it," Nussmeier said. "We talk about it; we’re open about it, and we accept that it’s a problem. We know that we have to find a way to fix it. It’s still a little early to be scouting and things like that. I know our coaches have. For us as a team, it’s more of having a 1-0 mindset. Not just about who we’re playing, but we’re preparing to win the first football game, no matter who we’re playing.”

Much of the Tigers' pressure also falls on head coach Brian Kelly, who's been with the team since 2022, compiling a record of 29-11 while also winning three straight bowl games.

Though when you're coaching a team with such a rich history, anything short of being a national championship contender feels like a failure, with analyst Joel Klatt even saying, "We need to start seeing the breakthrough for Brian Kelly at LSU."

Let's see if the Tigers, led by Nussmeier and Kelly, can get things started early with what would be considered an upset, as ESPN BET currently places Clemson as three-point favorites.

If not, they will play catch-up early on, facing Alabama (No. 3), Texas A&M (No. 8), Ole Miss (No. 13), and South Carolina (No. 15), all listed in the top 15 of ESPN's FPI.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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