The college football season is finally here, with teams preparing for Week 1. It’s a week with several headline-worthy games, including the matchup between the LSU Tigers and the Clemson Tigers.
Ahead of the game, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum appeared on SportsCenter. There, he argued that the deciding factor in that game is going to come down to the LSU offensive line. In particular, if that offensive line is going to be able to keep Tigers starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier clean.
“I think it’s whether or not LSU can protect Nussmeier, the quarterback,” Paul Finebaum said. “The reason I say that is because Clemson probably has the best defensive line in the country. Playing at home, if they wreak havoc with Nussmeier, they’re going to be in great shape.”
One of the exciting things about the game between LSU and Clemson is the quarterback matchup. Both LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik are going into the season considered contenders both for the Heisman Trophy and becoming high NFL Draft picks. They also want to find a way to lead their team to the College Football Playoff.
As Finebaum pointed out, the trenches are going to be vital to that matchup. In particular, Clemson’s veteran and talented defensive line, against a less experienced LSU offensive line. In the last NFL Draft, LSU lost four offensive linemen who were selected. That included both tackles, one of whom was Will Campbell, selected fourth overall. So, there are question marks to answer within that unit.
“He is a superb quarterback. He and Klubnik from Clemson are probably the top two in the entire country,” Finebaum said. “But he gets a little wild under pressure. That cost LSU a couple of times last year. It very well could cost them this game if he doesn’t have protection.”
Paul Finebaum: Brian Kelly has most on the line in Week 1 matchup vs. Clemson
There is a lot of pressure on LSU to win its opening matchup against Clemson. In particular, after struggling in these early season matchups under Brian Kelly and with the Tigers looking to make it the the CFP, there is pressure on the LSU head coach to win, according to Paul Finebaum.
“Brian Kelly. Even though we all know what he has after that, he’s the coach I think in this weekend is probably the most vulnerable because of everything that has already been said. Also, his schedule. Nobody else has remaining games like Brian Kelly does, especially coming back in two or three weeks later against Florida. So, if you get blown out there and you lose another game, you’re down to your last swing of the bat, perhaps with all kinds of schools coming up like Texas A&M and, especially, Alabama in Tuscaloosa,” Finebaum said.
“Everyone else has a path back, even Clemson. I mean, they’re at Louisville. They have one or two other games. South Carolina. But Ohio State essentially has what, Penn State left? Then a possibility of a Big Ten Championship Game. I think Brian Kelly would clearly be the topic of conversation Monday morning on this program.”
Clemson will host LSU on August 30th. After that, LSU will return home and just two weeks later plays host to Florida to kickoff SEC play.