Clemson will face LSU in the season opener for the second straight year in 2026, and ESPN has made it clear how it feels about the two sides in the matchup.

“This game has the feeling of two ships passing in opposite directions,” wrote ESPN's David Hale. “On one side, there’s LSU, awash in hope after snagging Lane Kiffin to helm the program. The Bayou Bengals have loaded up on talent in both the portal and the recruiting trail, and Kiffin has injected an air of optimism that exceeds even what came with Brian Kelly’s arrival four years ago. For Clemson, the opposite is true. Dabo Swinney is coming off his worst season since 2010, with a question mark at QB and a host of NFL talent now off to the NFL.”

Hale also wonders if 2026 could be Swinney's last year at Clemson.

What are your thoughts on Week 1 next season?