Brian Kelly fires back at Dabo Swinney after LSU’s win over Clemson

By Chris Marler

Anyone that watched that LSU-Clemson game knows that it wasn’t as close as that 17-10 final score would suggest. 

The Tigers left at least three points on the field at the end of the first half by not taking a field goal. The referees left seven more on Barion Brown’s touchdown catch that was overturned. Regardless, LSU whipped Clemson for almost all four quarters. 

Dabo Swinney didn’t see it that way.

“It’s like getting a final exam the first day of class,” the Clemson coach told reporters Tuesday. “They made a 65 we made a 58. Neither one of us were great.”

Later in the day, Brian Kelly responded to those comments during his media availability.

“I thought we dominated them in the second half. So he’s either a really good grader, 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,” said the LSU head coach.

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Today #LSU HC Brian Kelly responded to #Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s grading scale following the week one matchup‼️🐯#lsu #lsufootball #clemson #CollegeFootball pic.twitter.com/4TCKDL4iOl

— 104.5 ESPN (@1045espn) September 2, 2025

Kelly didn’t hesitate in his response. The unflinching confidence he had in his answer felt almost mirrored of how LSU played Saturday night against Swinney’s Tigers. It’s a long season, and who knows if LSU and Clemson will face each other again on the field. 

For now though, after his response, Brian Kelly is 2-0 against Clemson.