LSU's goal to beat Clemson, 'being 1-0 in everything you do' - ESPN

ATLANTA — Brian Kelly understands the expectations at LSU always revolve around national championships, but after opening each of his first three seasons in Baton Rouge with a loss, he has shifted the offseason emphasis from the end of the year to the start.

Kelly said this will be by far his most talented and deep LSU team, but none of that will matter if the Tigers aren't ready for Clemson in the opener.

«With the team that [we have] this year,» Kelly said, «it's unacceptable for us not to play our very best in Game 1.»

That hasn't been the case in years past, Kelly said. LSU lost to USC in last year's opener and dropped games to Florida State in 2022 — Kelly's first season — and again in 2023. The program hasn't won its opener since 2019, when LSU won its last national championship.

That track record has shifted Kelly's offseason plan to focus on Clemson rather than any title hopes.

«I've never done that before because I worry about the emotional energy you spend on something like that, but it's important to the program that we get off to that start,» Kelly said. «It's a tangible goal for us. I've never set a goal before for a singular team. This is a singular goal. This is a goal we've placed on our program. The players know that. It's a difficult goal but it's in front of them and they've got a clock running. They're getting ready to go meet that goal.»

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier said the changes haven't been so much a step-by-step plan to beat Clemson. It's been more of «an attack» on the small things the Tigers need to do to be ready for their trip to the other Death Valley on Aug. 30.

«It's become our motto and our mindset every single day,» Nussmeier said. «Being 1-0 in everything you do, whether it's taking