LSU Edges Clemson 17-10 in Low-Scoring Week 1 Matchup
LSU defeated Clemson 17-10 in a defensive struggle, with the Tigers covering the 5.5-point spread in a game that finished well under the 55.5-point total.
The scoring was evenly distributed throughout the contest, with Clemson striking first in the opening quarter. LSU responded with a field goal in the second quarter before scoring a touchdown in the third to take control. The Tigers added another touchdown in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
LSU's offense was led by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who completed 232 passing yards. Receiver Aaron Anderson was the team's leading receiver with 99 yards, while running back Ju'Juan Johnson contributed 8 rushing yards.
The game featured several pivotal plays, including a second-quarter fumble recovery by Clemson's defense when Ronan Hanafin forced a Chris Hilton Jr. fumble on a short pass. LSU answered with a key 39-yard completion to Anderson in the third quarter for a first down. Clemson's fourth-quarter drive stalled with an incomplete pass from Cade Klubnik.
The low-scoring affair saw 14 lead changes throughout the game, reflecting a competitive matchup between two evenly matched teams.
AI-generated recap · Aug 23, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LSU | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
 Clemson | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | LSU | Clemson |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 29-39 | 19-38 |
| Pass Yards | 248 | 230 |
| Rush Yards | 108 | 31 |
| Total Yards | 354 | 261 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 4-11 | 3-13 |
| Penalties | 6-45 | 6-57 |
| Possession | 37:10 | 22:50 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Caden Durham run for 24 yds to the LSU 49 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Bauer Sharp for 4 yds to the CLEM 47
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Caden Durham for 8 yds to the CLEM 39 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Trey'Dez Green
Kaleb Jackson run for a loss of 1 yard to the CLEM 40
Caden Durham run for 1 yd to the CLEM 39
Grant Chadwick punt for 39 yds for a touchback
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Antonio Williams
Adam Randall run for 2 yds to the CLEM 22
Cade Klubnik sacked by PJ Woodland for a loss of 12 yards to the CLEM 10
Jack Smith punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Zavion Thomas at the LSU 47 LSU Penalty, Offensive Holding (10 Yards) to the LSU 37
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Ju'Juan Johnson for 3 yds to the LSU 40
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Bauer Sharp for 8 yds Bauer Sharp fumbled, forced by Avieon Terrell, recovered by CLEM Ricardo Jones , return for 24 yds to the LSU 24
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Antonio Williams
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Adam Randall run for no gain to the LSU 24
Nolan Hauser 42 yd FG GOOD
Caden Durham run for a loss of 1 yard to the LSU 24
LSU Penalty, False Start (Trey'Dez Green) to the LSU 19
Nussmeier, Garrett pass incomplete to Green, Trey'Dez, PENALTY CLEMSON pass interference (Woodaz, Wade) 15 yards to the LSU34, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN LSU.
Zavion Thomas run for 14 yds to the LSU 48 for a 1ST down
Durham, Caden rush for 16 yards to the CLEMSON36, PENALTY LSU illegal formation (Brown, Barion) 5 yards to the LSU43, NO PLAY.
Caden Durham run for 6 yds to the LSU 49
Caden Durham run for no gain to the LSU 49
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Aaron Anderson
Grant Chadwick punt for 36 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the CLEM 15
T.J. Moore run for 5 yds to the CLEM 20
Adam Randall run for 7 yds to the CLEM 27 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 16 yds to the CLEM 43 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Tyler Brown for 7 yds to the 50 yard line
Clemson Penalty, False Start (Blake Miller) to the CLEM 45
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 8 yds to the LSU 47 for a 1ST down
Keith Adams Jr. run for a loss of 2 yards to the LSU 49
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Tyler Brown
Cade Klubnik run for 5 yds to the LSU 44
Nolan Hauser punt for 28 yds, downed at the LSU 16
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Aaron Anderson for 11 yds to the LSU 27 for a 1ST down
Zavion Thomas run for 13 yds to the LSU 40 for a 1ST down
Ju'Juan Johnson run for 8 yds to the LSU 48
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Zavion Thomas for 19 yds to the CLEM 33 for a 1ST down
Ju'Juan Johnson run for 1 yd to the CLEM 32
Garrett Nussmeier sacked by Will Heldt for a loss of 12 yards to the CLEM 44
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Ju'Juan Johnson for 9 yds to the CLEM 35
Damian Ramos 52 yd FG GOOD
Cade Klubnik run for 5 yds to the CLEM 30
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Josh Sapp
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 26 yds to the LSU 44 for a 1ST down
David Eziomume run for 4 yds to the LSU 40
Cade Klubnik run for 7 yds to the LSU 33 for a 1ST down
David Eziomume run for no gain to the LSU 33
Cade Klubnik run for 7 yds to the LSU 26
David Eziomume run for 1 yd to the LSU 25
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 21 yds to the LSU 4 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik sacked by Harold Perkins Jr. for a loss of 10 yards to the LSU 14
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Bryant Wesco Jr.
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Tyler Brown for 13 yds to the LSU 1
Adam Randall run for 1 yd for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Caden Durham
Garrett Nussmeier run for 10 yds to the LSU 35 for a 1ST down
Harlem Berry run for 1 yd to the LSU 36
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Barion Brown
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Barion Brown for 14 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Caden Durham for 10 yds to the CLEM 40 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Bauer Sharp for 4 yds to the CLEM 36
Zavion Thomas pass complete to Aaron Anderson for 16 yds to the CLEM 20 for a 1ST down
Caden Durham run for 1 yd to the CLEM 19
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Barion Brown for 7 yds to the CLEM 12
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Aaron Anderson
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Chris Hilton Jr. for a loss of 1 yard Chris Hilton Jr. fumbled, forced by Ronan Hanafin, recovered by CLEM
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the CLEM 12
End of 2nd Quarter
Adam Randall run for 6 yds to the CLEM 31
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Olsen Patt-Henry for 19 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 19 yds to the LSU 31 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik run for 1 yd to the LSU 30
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Nolan Hauser 48 yd FG MISSED
Durham, Caden rush for 2 yards to the LSU33, PENALTY LSU holding (Davis, Weston) 10 yards to the LSU21, NO PLAY.
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Aaron Anderson for 39 yds to the CLEM 40 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Aaron Anderson for 14 yds to the CLEM 26 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Bauer Sharp
Caden Durham run for 5 yds to the CLEM 21
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Kyle Parker for 16 yds to the CLEM 5 for a 1ST down
Caden Durham run for 1 yd to the CLEM 4
Nussmeier, Garrett pass incomplete to Green, Trey'Dez, PENALTY CLEMSON pass interference (Hampton, Ashton) 2 yards to the CLEMSON2, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN LSU.
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Bauer Sharp
Caden Durham run for 2 yds for a TD (Damian Ramos KICK)
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 10 yds to the CLEM 35 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass intercepted Mansoor Delane return for no gain to the LSU 46
Caden Durham run for 15 yds to the CLEM 39 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Bauer Sharp for 3 yds to the CLEM 36
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Aaron Anderson for 6 yds to the CLEM 30
Garrett Nussmeier run for 2 yds to the CLEM 28 for a 1ST down
Ju'Juan Johnson run for a loss of 1 yard to the CLEM 29
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Barion Brown
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Zavion Thomas
Damian Ramos 46 yd FG MISSED
Tyler Brown run for 7 yds to the CLEM 36
Cade Klubnik run for a loss of 2 yards to the CLEM 34
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Tyler Brown
Jack Smith punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Zavion Thomas at the LSU 27
Caden Durham run for 8 yds to the LSU 35
Caden Durham run for 3 yds to the LSU 38 for a 1ST down
Zavion Thomas run for a loss of 1 yard to the LSU 37
Garrett Nussmeier pass incomplete to Trey'Dez Green
Nussmeier, Garrett pass incomplete (TEAM), PENALTY CLEMSON pass interference 15 yards to the CLEMSON48, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN LSU, QB hurry by TEAM, QB hit by TEAM.
LSU Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the LSU 47
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Barion Brown for 4 yds to the CLEM 49
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Aaron Anderson for 13 yds to the CLEM 36 for a 1ST down Clemson Penalty, Roughing Passer (T.J. Parker) to the CLEM 21 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Trey'Dez Green for 9 yds to the CLEM 12
Caden Durham run for no gain to the CLEM 12
Garrett Nussmeier run for 2 yds to the CLEM 10 for a 1ST down
Caden Durham run for 2 yds to the CLEM 8
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Trey'Dez Green for 8 yds for a TD (Damian Ramos KICK)
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Tyler Brown for 6 yds to the CLEM 31
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Adam Randall for 11 yds to the CLEM 42 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Christian Bentancur for 20 yds to the LSU 38 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 2 yds to the LSU 36
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Olsen Patt-Henry for 3 yds to the LSU 33
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Caden Durham run for 2 yds to the LSU 36
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Ju'Juan Johnson for 9 yds to the LSU 45 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Ju'Juan Johnson for 7 yds to the CLEM 48
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Ju'Juan Johnson for 3 yds to the CLEM 45 for a 1ST down
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Barion Brown for a loss of 7 yards to the LSU 48
Caden Durham run for 5 yds to the CLEM 47
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Barion Brown for 7 yds to the CLEM 40
Grant Chadwick punt for 40 yds for a touchback
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Tyler Brown
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Bryant Wesco Jr.
Clemson Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the CLEM 15
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Josh Sapp for 7 yds to the CLEM 22
Jack Smith punt for 51 yds , Zavion Thomas returns for 1 yd to the LSU 23 LSU Penalty, Offensive Holding (10 Yards) to the LSU 18
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Bauer Sharp for a loss of 1 yard to the LSU 17
Caden Durham run for no gain to the LSU 17
Garrett Nussmeier pass complete to Caden Durham for 4 yds to the LSU 21
Grant Chadwick punt for 52 yds , Bryant Wesco Jr. returns for 16 yds to the CLEM 43
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to T.J. Moore
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 19 yds to the LSU 38 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Tyler Brown for 17 yds to the LSU 21 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Christian Bentancur for 3 yds to the LSU 18
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Adam Randall for 3 yds to the LSU 15
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Bryant Wesco Jr.
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the LSU 14
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the LSU 13