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Clemson falls to LSU in season opener at Death Valley

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 6:21 PM

Last updated Sep 7, 2026

Clemson falls to LSU in season opener at Death Valley

Summary

Clemson opened its 2026 college football season with a 51-10 loss to LSU at Death Valley on Saturday. The 41-point margin represents the largest deficit of Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s career. Following the game, analyst Emmanuel Acho criticized Swinney on his podcast, suggesting the coach needs to adjust his approach to the transfer portal and player compensation or step away from the program. Swinney addressed the loss in a post-game press conference, stating that the team must focus on internal controls and avoid letting the result define their season. Clemson begins preparation for its next contest, a home game against the Georgia Southern Eagles scheduled for next weekend.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•LSU defeated Clemson 51-10 in the season opener.
•The 41-point margin is the largest losing deficit of Dabo Swinney’s career.
•Emmanuel Acho criticized the team’s performance and current roster philosophy.
•Clemson plays the Georgia Southern Eagles at home next weekend.

Latest Updates

6:21 PMYahoo Sports — ‘You need to step away from football’: Former NFL star calls Clemson head coach ‘shameful’

What they're saying

"
This past week marked the start of the 2026 college football season. Saturday, the SEC kicked off with the LSU Tigers and the Clemson Tigers matching up in Death Valley. Clemson fell to LSU 51-10, starting their season off 0-1. The loss sparked major concern for Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, as the once-illustrious head coach’s career…
— Yahoo Sports

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