LSU and Clemson will meet in the first big game of the upcoming season, competing for a top-10 spot at Memorial Stadium in Death Valley on August 30. The game will be televised in primetime on ABC and marks the first regular-season meeting between the two storied programs, with LSU making its first-ever trip to Clemson’s home stadium.
While the game is already generating significant buzz for its national implications, analyst Jake Crain has made a bold claim — for LSU, this opener is “almost a win-win”—no matter the result.
Analyst Says LSU’s Season Opener Against Clemson Is A “Win-Win”
On a recent episode of Crain & Company, Jake Crain unpacked why LSU is in a uniquely advantageous position heading into this season opener. His point was that not every loss is equally damaging, and a loss like this, early in the season, to a strong team like Clemson on the road happens to every team.
“I feel like this is almost a win-win if you’re LSU,” he explained. “There’s no such thing as a great loss, but every loss is not weighed the same. If you go and lose this game on the road, by the time we get to the end of the season, this could look really, really good on the resume… So if you go win this game on the road, it’s a hell of a win.”
His reasoning comes from how the College Football Playoff is determined. A defeat at the hands of a top-10 Clemson team at the start of the season won’t ruin LSU’s chances if they perform well in conference play and throughout the year. If LSU beats Clemson on the road, it would quickly make them a serious contender for the CFP.
LSU and Clemson are both hoping to reach the playoffs this season and have experienced quarterbacks leading them. Fans are anticipating a memorable quarterback duel between two players on offenses known for producing a lot of points.
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Although Clemson is expected to win, LSU has what it takes to pull off a win. Whether they win or lose, Jake Crain believes LSU will benefit from this matchup in the long run.
They’ll establish themselves as legitimate championship contenders if they secure a victory. If they lose a competitive game, it could still boost their playoff resume by season’s end.
How both teams play in this first game will determine the tone for the rest of the year. There will be plenty of excitement in Death Valley as LSU and Clemson battle to see who comes out on top early in the season.
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