Two Truths and a Lie: LSU at Clemson

By Chris Marler

For the first time since 2019, LSU opened the season 1-0, delivering plenty of positives and key takeaways in Saturday night’s win. 

Here’s two truths and a lie for LSU-Clemson. 

Truth No. 1 – Garrett Nussmeier is the best quarterback in the country. 

Nussmeier’s growth from last season to this year is evident in the way he now commands the offense. The 74 percent completion percentage was big, but the zero next to “INTs” on the stat sheet was even bigger. 

What was most impressive was the way Nussmeier commanded the offense and the presnap chess matches he won all night against Clemson’s defense. 

Nussmeier sends the back in motion, checks into a screen, gets them to check, sends the TE in motion to declare Cover-0 (SS goes), flips the back to pick up the extra rusher to that side. Had a good look for this screen.

Totally undressed the disguise, lost art https://t.co/HLg9p2L5bc pic.twitter.com/z2H2Ez0VaH

— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) August 31, 2025

Truth No. 2 – LSU’s defense is back.

Year two of the Blake Baker defense could not have started better. LSU went into Clemson, South Carolina with a lot to prove. Almost everyone in purple and gold had the same mentality about this year’s defense: “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Well, believe it. 

LSU was great on that side of the ball last night. Clemson’s 10 offensive drives resulted in five punts, two turnovers on downs and one interception. The Tigers front seven held Clemson to 32 yards on 19 carries for 1.7 yards per carry. The secondary looked dominant, the blitzes looked exotic and effort was relentless. 

LSU went on a shopping spree in the portal and not a single defensive get looks like a miss after week one. 

The Lie – The offensive line was a liability.

This felt less like an assumption and more like an undeniable truth. The LSU offensive line was projected as the weak link of this year’s team, and facing Clemson in Week 1 meant that concern was never going to stay hidden for long. Clemson’s front four featured two potential top-ten picks in next year’s NFL Draft and on paper one of the best defenses in the entire country. 

LSU, on the other hand, would be starting five new offensive lineman after losing four from the 2024 team to the NFL. 

What happened? LSU gave up just one sack all night. Protecting Garrett Nussmeier was the top concern entering the game, but after Saturday’s showing, it may prove to be one of the team’s biggest strengths.

One more truth, because I’m in a great mood.

That game should have ended 27-10. While it will go down as a hard-fought road win in a top-10 environment, the truth is LSU dominated and blew Clemson out.