As LSU and Clemson prepare to clash, which school is the real Death Valley?

There will be plenty at stake when LSU and Clemson play in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. The game features two major brands and personalities in Lane Kiffin and Dabo Swinney, but the matchup between the Tigers begs the question: Who is the real Death Valley?

LSU holds a 4-1 lead in the all-time series

LSU and Clemson have combined for three national championships within the past 10 years, including a 42-25 victory led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow in 2019. The most recent game was last season's opener in South Carolina, which featured a preseason top-five defensive struggle that saw LSU come out on top, 17-10.

Clemson's lone victory in the series came in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, with the Tigers defeating LSU, 25-24, in a game that helped fuel Swinney's ascent in the college football landscape.

The Lane Kiffin era in Baton Rouge begins

Coming into the game, there has been no shortage of headlines surrounding Kiffin's highly anticipated first game in purple and gold. Whether it was the dramatic back-and-forth decision that led to Kiffin departing his playoff-bound Ole Miss team or the recent controversial roster additions of former NFL players Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris, the Tigers have made plenty of noise throughout the offseason.

Kiffin overhauled LSU's roster with 43 new transfer players, including Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, a potential future first-round pick.

Leavitt enters his first season with LSU after emerging as one of the sport's premier quarterbacks with the Sun Devils. He led Arizona State to the College Football Playoff as a freshman, and his leadership traits and strong arm could make the difference in Saturday night's outcome.

LSU also has a chance to make an immediate splash with the nation's top incoming transfer class, according to 247Sports, while Clemson is coming off an underwhelming 7-5 season. The Tigers will also turn to Christopher Vizzina, who will be making just the second start of his career.

Both schools lay claim to being the real "Death Valley." LSU's passionate fan base creates a deafening and intimidating atmosphere inside Tiger Stadium, while Clemson is known for its famous pregame entrance, which ends with players running down the hill and touching Howard's Rock.

There can only be one Death Valley, and the nod has to go to LSU. Clemson fans can point out that their program first coined the "Death Valley" nickname in the late 1940s. However, LSU's most recent victory over Clemson and its 4-1 advantage in the all-time series give the Tigers the bragging rights heading into Saturday night's matchup.