Death Valley vs. Death Valley

CLEMSON, S.C. — The countdown is on for a season-opening clash between two powerhouses with one shared nickname — and a growing rivalry over who owns it.

LSU and Clemson both call their home stadiums Death Valley, a title steeped in history and intimidation. But as the Tigers from the SEC prepare to face the Tigers from the ACC on August 30 in Clemson, South Carolina, the debate over who holds the rightful claim to the moniker is heating up.

Earlier this week, LSU head coach Brian Kelly added fuel to the fire by taking a jab during an event in Baton Rouge.

“You want great habits when they’re needed, when you’re on the road and you're playing in Death Valley Jr., not the Death Valley … that’s what you need," Kelly said.

Clemson players, unsurprisingly, didn't take the comment lightly.

“They can have their opinion,” said defensive end T.J. Parker during Thursday’s ACC Kickoff media event. “We’re going to handle all that on August 30.”

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney also weighed in, pointing to history as the deciding factor.

“We don’t have to prove that,” Swinney told ESPN. “That’s a fact. You can Google that.”

Indeed, Clemson adopted the nickname Death Valley in 1948, more than a decade before LSU began using it in 1959 — following a win over Clemson in Baton Rouge, no less.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier took a more diplomatic route when asked about the debate last week.

“I’m just no-commenting that,” he said. “There’s no correct answer. It’s a headline either way.”

Beyond the nickname spat, both programs enter the 2025 season opener with something to prove.

For LSU, recent history in Week 1 has been rough. The Tigers have not won a season opener since 2019 and are 0-3 in openers under Kelly. That track record has made preparation for this game a central focus throughout the offseason.

Clemson, meanwhile, hasn’t hosted a season opener since 2019 and has dropped three of its last four opening games — including a stinging loss last year in which Swinney said the team “didn’t play four quarters.”

“It’s a huge matchup,” Swinney said. “You’ve got to play four quarters in games like this. We didn’t do that last year. You do a better job with that, then we’ll have a good opportunity to win.”

This season, Clemson returns a veteran core led by quarterback Cade Klubnik, his top wideouts, and one of the ACC’s most experienced offensive lines. Swinney believes this group has the intangibles reminiscent of his best teams — and the hunger to chase a national title, something the program hasn’t captured since 2018.

“You look at everything we’ve been through,” said receiver Antonio Williams. “We’ve got so many people that returned for one reason. We all share the same goal. We’re all focused on the same thing. To me, this is all or nothing this year.”