Paul Finebaum did not sugar-coat his thoughts on what he expected for the August 30 clash between Clemson and LSU. While Finebaum expects Clemson to win, this was primarily due to a glaring weakness he saw with the LSU offensive line and how it will hold up, protecting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier against what Finebaum called an elite defensive front in Clemson.
“I like Clemson to win this game, and it has to do with the offensive line of LSU. I am a little concerned that Clemson’s elite defensive front is going to get in there and create havoc for Nussmeier”, Finebaum explained to host Mike Greenberg
Now, with just four days remaining before LSU take on Clemson in their high-stakes season opener, good ole Paul Finebaum also gave a bit of grim prediction regarding Tigers head coach Brian Kelly’s future, immediately after the game if Kelly and LSU do lose to Clemson. Referring to his prediction on the show GetUpESPN, Finebaum warned that things could spiral downhill quickly if Kelly and LSU stumble in the season opener against Clemson.
“And if that happens (LSU lose against Clemson), Greeny, I hate to go this way because he’s on our show every week, including yesterday, but life is going to become very miserable quickly for Brian Kelly”, he further added.
.@finebaum is expecting Clemson to beat LSU in Week 1 👀
“Life is going to become very miserable quickly for Brian Kelly.” pic.twitter.com/1RZMsUoZ4e
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 26, 2025
The seasoned college football analyst admitted the tough position Kelly is in in his fourth season at LSU. While Finebaum praised Kelly’s work in rebuilding the program and noted it is by far his best team at LSU, he emphasized the harsh reality of the fans expectations of a win in their season opener, which hasn’t happened for every year Brian Kelly’s been at LSU.
LSU Carries Championship Hopes Behind Nussmeier
The timing for this possible setback could not be worse for Kelly and LSU. In light of a season that provided a fair amount of hope, expectations had risen during Kelly’s time since coming to Baton Rouge from Notre Dame. A fifth straight opening game loss will surely inspire some backlash from fans who have already begun to grow distaste for Kelly’s slow starts.
LSU heads into the Clemson match with a reasonable hope for a championship. Nussmeier, who threw for just over 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, returns as the first LSU quarterback in over 30 years to wear the prestigious No. 18. LSU has also kept a lot of talent on both sides of the ball.
Clemson will be a serious challenge, as they return home to begin a new season led by veteran quarterback Cade Klubnik, who scored 36 touchdowns last year. There is a great advantage for Clemson in beginning this season, as they return more starters than any other major program. In terms of preparation and chemistry, there is no question that a returning starter has its advantages.
As kickoff approaches on Aug. 30, it’ll be interesting to see which team comes out on top at the Clemson Memorial Stadium.
Read More:
- Josh Pate Names One Key Factor That “Will Validate People That Think [Brian Kelly]’s A Fraud.”
- “Called Kirby Smart a Cheater, Called Nick Saban a Cheater”: Paul Finebaum Rips Jim Harbaugh’s Hypocrisy, Says He Benefited From NCAA Losing Its Teeth
- Paul Finebaum Sets Low Bar for Deion Sanders’ Colorado in 2025 Without Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter
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