LSU, Clemson Open 2025 Season in High-Profile SEC Clash

The 2025 college football season opener will feature a high-profile matchup between Clemson and LSU at Memorial Stadium, with both teams looking to overcome recent struggles. Clemson, under coach Dabo Swinney, faces pressure as this year might be his last chance to maintain the program's competitiveness amid financial disparities in college football, especially with the evolving NIL landscape. LSU, coached by Brian Kelly, aims to break its streak of season-opening losses dating back to 2019, but CBS analyst Brad Crawford predicts that LSU will likely continue this trend, starting the season with a loss against Clemson. LSU has been boosted to No. 9 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, signaling high expectations despite the predicted opener outcome. Meanwhile, Michigan's 2025 schedule appears less challenging, but its Week 2 game against Oklahoma is viewed as a critical test, with predictions favoring Oklahoma to win, underscoring the significance of non-conference games in gauging team strength early in the season. Overall, the 2025 season is shaping up to be pivotal for several programs, with early games setting the tone for playoff aspirations and coaching legacies.