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David Pollack Reveals Who Came Out on Top After College Football’s Opening Weekend

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 3:40 PM ET

Week 1 of the college football season is always full of overreactions, but it also gives us our first real look at which programs are ready for the spotlight. Four top-10 teams went down over the weekend, while others made statements that could shape the playoff conversation months from now.

For former Georgia star and ESPN analyst David Pollack, one coach in particular stood out above the rest. On his podcast, "See Ball Get Ball," Pollack named his “biggest winner” from opening weekend, and it wasn’t a quarterback or a flashy offense, but an SEC coach who desperately needed a breakthrough.

"Brian Kelly," Pollack said. "Getting the W early in the year. Backing off the hatred for just a little bit. You talked about Kalen DeBoer and the pressure that comes if Brian Kelly loses Game 1, when he's lost every single Game 1... hats off, sir. You get the weekend W from me."

Brian Kelly Finally Breaks Through in Season Openers

LSU began the season with a significant victory, defeating the then No. 4-ranked Clemson Tigers on their home turf with a score of 17-10. The defense performed exceptionally well, limiting Clemson to just 261 yards of total offense. A key factor in this success was their ability to contain star quarterback Cade Klubnik, who completed 19-of-38 passes for 230 yards, without throwing any touchdowns and with one interception.

This victory marked the first win in the season opener under Kelly. In fact, LSU hadn't won a season opener since 2019, when it won the national championship. Here's how Kelly's previous season openers went before Saturday:

2022: Loss to the Florida State Seminoles 24-23
2023: Loss to the Florida State Seminoles 45=24
2024: Loss to the USC Trojans 27-20

This was a significant momentum builder for LSU as it aims to end its College Football Playoff drought. The Tigers haven't reached the playoffs since 2019.

LSU Faces a Tough Road Ahead

The season began positively for the Tigers, but challenges lie ahead. They cannot become complacent; they must maintain their strong performance. To conclude the season, they will face six teams that are currently ranked, with three of those games taking place on the road.

The Tigers will face Louisiana Tech this weekend before taking on their first of six ranked teams in Week 3, the No. 13 Florida Gators at home. LSU lost to Florida last season with a score of 27-16.

If LSU can manage its tough schedule, it could return to the playoff and possibly win the national championship trophy again.

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

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