
How impending retirement is fuelling Cirstea's success
Sorana Cirstea's impending retirement is driving her success on the court.
Clemson football faces LSU in Week 1 of the 2026 season, with Clemson entering as significant underdogs. Analyst Josh Pate suggests it would be more surprising for Clemson to win comfortably than for LSU to dominate.
Thereâs far less hype surrounding the Clemson Tigers football entering 2026, and according to Josh Pate, that may not be the worst thing for Dabo Swinney and his program.
While appearing on the Crain & Cone show, Pate previewed Clemson footballâs Week 1 trip to Baton Rouge against LSU Tigers football and said heâd be more surprised to see Clemson win comfortably than LSU pull away.
âI think it would surprise me a little bit more, Clemson winning by seven,â Pate said.
Pate explained he could envision a game where LSU controls things defensively while Clemsonâs offense struggles to find rhythm early in the season.
At the same time, he made it clear that nothing in Week 1 truly shocks him anymore.
âI donât use the word âshockâ in Week 1 anymore,â Pate said. âI am not gonna use the word âshock.ââ
The tone around Clemson entering this season is also dramatically different from last offseason. Clemson opened 2025 with playoff expectations and national title buzz before an opening loss to LSU led to a disappointing 7-6 finish.
Now, expectations have cooled considerably, something Pate believes could actually help the Tigers.
âThey wonât have expectations,â Pate said. âThe expectation is whatâs going to happen when they lose multiple games to start the year?â
Pate also said Swinney still believes Clemson has enough talent in the program to compete at a high level despite last seasonâs struggles.
The Sept. 5 matchup will also mark the debut of Lane Kiffin as LSUâs head coach. Clemson currently sits as an 11.5-point underdog according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Despite that, Pate said a win in Baton Rouge could completely shift the trajectory of Clemsonâs season.
âIf they win this game,â Pate said, âit could retroactively make me look back and say, âWow, that was the most important game theyâve won in a long time.ââ
Whether Clemson is truly ready to bounce back from last seasonâs disappointment will become clear quickly, because few opening games around the country carry more pressure or national attention than this one.
Expectations are lower for Clemson football entering 2026, with less hype surrounding the program.
Josh Pate believes it would be more surprising for Clemson to win by a comfortable margin than for LSU to take control of the game.
Clemson may struggle offensively early in the season, potentially allowing LSU to control the game defensively.

Sorana Cirstea's impending retirement is driving her success on the court.
Thunder complete 4-0 sweep of Lakers; LeBron's future uncertain
Check out the latest UFC power rankings ahead of MVP Netflix 2026!
Dodgers acquire Alek Thomas from Diamondbacks for 17-year-old prospect
Red Sox's Willson Contreras hit on hand, X-rays negative
Scotland's World Cup qualifiers against Israel to be held in Hungary without fans.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Josh Pate early preview for Clemson vs. LSU, low on Tigersâ future