Why LSU at Clemson Could be Brian Kelly’s Biggest Game Yet

The highly anticipated Week One of the 2025 season is here and filled with big games. Although the head man at LSU has seen his share, we think Saturday’s tilt at Clemson is Brian Kelly’s biggest game of his career.

It might sound crazy to put so much stock into a regular-season game, especially so early in the year. But the circumstances and consequences surrounding this top-ten battle of the Tigers increase the gravity of it. Make no mistake, the result of this game could have a lasting (but not immediate) effect on Kelly’s time at LSU.

Kelly’s Biggest Game

Is Kelly an Effective Big-Game Coach?

The answer to this question is not as simple as most would make it out to be. The popular approach is to consider the results of his championship and playoff appearances at Notre Dame, which weren’t great. His Fighting Irish lost badly to Alabama in the 2013 national championship. He went on to make the playoffs in 2018 and 2020 but lost to Clemson and Alabama. The results are what they are, but the disparity in talent is often forgotten. Notre Dame was not expected to win any of these games.

Be it consciously or not, we often apply revisionist history to games to diminish their importance according to the results to confirm our bias.  We conveniently interpret results. Kelly led an undermanned Cincinnati team to a Big East title with wins over Pitt and West Virginia in 2008. His 2012 Notre Dame team blew out an eighth-ranked Oklahoma team in Norman. LSU defeated Alabama in 2022 in his first year with the Tigers and a loaded Ole Miss team in 2024. These were all significant games when played, but are never mentioned when evaluating Kelly as a big-game coach.

The Impact of the Clemson Game

Most are well aware of LSU’s recent history in week one games. However, the result of Saturday’s contest goes well beyond breaking a streak. An LSU loss would be devastating, considering the Tigers have six remaining games against top-25-ranked teams. It’s asking a lot of a team to face that level of competition while suffering only one more loss. That’s what it would likely take for LSU to make the playoffs.

An LSU win would give the Tigers instant credibility to the playoff committee with undoubtedly one of the biggest wins in college football in 2025. It would also boost the confidence of a team that talks about its expectations so openly that it makes one wonder if players are trying to convince themselves of their true potential. The relief of a first-game win and the reassurance of a top-ten win could springboard the Tigers into SEC play with some critical questions answered.

Lasting Effects

We’ll keep it on the positive side of things for a bit. Beating Clemson gives LSU the freedom to play a complete SEC schedule knowing it can afford two losses. Obviously, losing two isn’t the idea, but it’s plausible to think the team would play loose with less pressure.

If the Tigers make the playoffs, it proves (to an extent) to the fanbase that Kelly was the right choice. There’s no need to panic, talk buyouts, or look longingly at current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman. Kelly’s big game ability is as competent as it needs to be for LSU to get back to the top.

As always, we must look at both sides of the coin. A loss leaves the Tigers with an outside chance to go 10-1 in conference and make the playoffs. Consider missing the playoffs, then entering the 2026 season after losing Garrett Nussmeier, Whit Weeks, Harold Perkins, multiple receivers, and key secondary players. This likely puts LSU in a scenario where Kelly has had five seasons with no playoff appearances. We don’t have to guess the tone of the conversations around Baton Rouge.

At first glance, this is the latest big-time week one matchup between great programs. There are plenty of reasons to get excited about it as a fan of college football. After further evaluation, this game could have ramifications that go beyond 2025 for LSU.