LSU HC Kelly responds to Clemson HC Swinney's comments

LSU head coach Brian Kelly. Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

LSU HC Brian Kelly responds to Clemson HC Dabo Swinney's insulting comments

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 1:07 AM ET

One of the top games from Week 1 of college football was the highly anticipated matchup between the LSU Tigers and the Clemson Tigers.

The battle of the tigers and the true "Death Valley" was won by No. 3 LSU, as it narrowly escaped with a 17-10 victory. No. 8 Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney addressed the media on Tuesday and had this to say about the game on Saturday night.

"It was like getting a final exam on day one of class," Swinney said. "They made a 65, we made a 58. Neither one of us were great."

Clemson's Dabo Swinney compares the LSU loss to a "final exam on day one of class."

"They made a 65, we made a 58. Neither one of us were great."

(️ @ClemsonTigerNet) pic.twitter.com/T1b5xFPu5X
— Bryce Koon (@bryce_koon) September 2, 2025

Evidently, LSU head coach Brian Kelly caught wind of Swinney's news conference from Tuesday afternoon, and fired right back at the Clemson head coach.

"We dominated them in the second half," Kelly said. "So, he's either a really good grader for giving himself a 58 or he's a really hard grader on us. Or he didn't see the second half, which that might be the case, he might not have wanted to see the second half."

Brian Kelly’s response ⬇️ https://t.co/NyEVHnpoD2 pic.twitter.com/a3g2xEqmfX
— Bryce Koon (@bryce_koon) September 2, 2025

It was a fiery response from Kelly, who has beaten Swinney just two of the five times the two have matched up.

Knowing Swinney and his love for coaching banter, a response can be expected and the same could be said for Kelly.

It is more than likely all love between two of college football's best coaches. The dream scenario would see the two teams taking the "final exam" again during the College Football Playoff.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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