Clemson has technically not crossed the 50

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Clemson is poised to bounce back this season and should give 11th-ranked LSU a fight tonight, Kirk Herbstreit says.

The ESPN analyst believes Clemson lost its way over the past few seasons, specifically pointing to a marriage with former offensive coordinator Garrett Riley that “just didn’t work out.”

However, Herbstreit thinks Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s re-hiring of Chad Morris as offensive coordinator has the Tigers pointed back in the right direction.

Herbstreit was asked if he expects a bounce-back from Clemson in 2026 now that Morris is back calling the offense.

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“I think so, and it’s just maybe the respect I have for Dabo Swinney,” Herbstreit said. “He’s made the changes. You made a good point about Chad Morris – I think that’s a massive hire. Of all the hires in the offseason from a coordinator standpoint, I’d put that one right near the top. Because I really think Clemson lost their way over the last few years with Garrett Riley. Brought in the air raid. It just wasn’t a fit, just didn’t work out over three years.”

Herbstreit added that coming off a 7–6 season in 2025, an angry and motivated Clemson squad is fully capable of giving LSU a fight in tonight’s Week 1 showdown at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

“And here’s the situation – Clemson has an angry football team that’s coming off a 7-6 year, an angry head coach and a staff. What better way to try to show that you’re a different team than having an opportunity where nobody thinks you can go to Death Valley and win a football game,” Herbstreit said.

“This was a 17-10 game a year ago. A lot of new faces on both sides. But I expect Clemson to have a good year. I know that, in talking to Dabo this week, that they have a lot of confidence in the team that they’re going to be able to put out on the field.”

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