Dabo Swinney Confirms Twin Injury Setback During LSU Game After Frustrating Clemson Confession

Death Valley was supposed to roar Saturday night, but instead it groaned. #4 Clemson had 81% starting returners (from the 2024 squad), multiple first future first-rounders, the pound-for-pound top-5 billing, and then #9 LSU came in, knocked them hard, and walked out with a 17-10 win that felt heavier than the score showed. The box score says Clemson had chances, but the real story? They had to go through two severe injuries. So, it wasn’t just the game that they lost.

Clemson is stripped of two cornerstone players, thanks to the injury gods. Clemon beat writer Chapel Fowler took to X to inform, “Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says they lost WR Antonio Williams (hamstring) on the first series of the game and he doesn’t know Williams’ status going forward yet — just that he couldn’t go tonight” So, Antonio Williams, the All-ACC wideout meant to be QB Cade Klubnik’s security blanket, pulls a hamstring and is done for the night. Just like that, Clemson lost its biggest perimeter weapon before the offense even had a chance to breathe.

After the LSU showdown, Antonio Williams limped off the field. He underwent a brief evaluation in the medical tent and was subsequently escorted to the locker room, where he remained for the rest of the game. At the time of the injury, he had been targeted twice without making a catch. The injury immediately concerned Clemson, as Williams was coming off a breakthrough 2024 season and was expected to be a key part of the offense.

And his absence significantly affected the Tigers’ passing game, especially given his ability to stretch the field and create mismatches against strong defenses. In 2024, Williams led Clemson and was among the ACC’s best with 75 receptions for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also contributed 101 rushing yards and a touchdown, while completing 2 passes for 62 yards. His versatility made him one of the conference’s most dynamic players, and he became only the fourth Clemson player to record passing, rushing, and receiving touchdowns in a single season.

And as if it wasn’t finished, safety Khalil Barnes went down too. Head coach Dabo Swinney later admitted Barnes “couldn’t come back,” leaving the secondary scrambling while LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier quietly picked them apart. Two cornerstone players gone in a game where they were already gasping for rhythm—it was like fighting LSU with one hand tied.

Well, Khalil Barnes entered the LSU game with some lingering issues, wearing a non-contact jersey in camp. However, Swinney labeled it a “short-term” concern, anticipating his return. In 2024, Barnes delivered, accumulating 61 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, and several quarterback hurries in 14 starts. He was lauded for his toughness, instincts, and versatility in Clemson’s secondary.

Losing both, while the run game was already stuck in the mud, left Clemson with no answers. Swinney summed it up with: “That’s another tough loss for us.” The problem is, it wasn’t just one loss. Between the bottled-up ground game and the twin injuries, Clemson may have stumbled into something much bigger.

Dabo Swinney gets real about Clemson’s glaring issue

Dabo Swinney didn’t sugarcoat it either. When asked about the biggest issue, he cut right to it (via Clemson insider Chapel Fowler on X): “Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s biggest frustration with the offense tonight? He replies immediately: ‘That we didn’t get the run game going.’ He says there were a lot of missed opportunities early. Tigers ran 20 times for 31 yards tonight — 1.6 yards per carry, long of 7.” Swinney’s biggest frustration with the offense tonight? He replies immediately: “That we didn’t get the run game going.” He said there were a lot of missed opportunities early in the game.

Clemson’s run game was almost nonexistent. The Tigers were just averaging only 1.6 yards per attempt. LSU’s defensive front dominated the line of scrimmage and shut down any momentum Clemson tried to build on the ground. Quarterback Cade Klubnik couldn’t escape the pressure, finishing with just 1 rushing yard on 8 attempts, while Adam Randall was the most effective runner, picking up 16 yards on 5 carries and scoring Clemson’s lone touchdown.

For a program that usually leans on offensive balance, the lack of a ground game stood out. Last season, Clemson averaged over 130 rushing yards per game, so this kind of drop-off was both surprising and costly. With the run game stalled, the offense became one-dimensional—and LSU took full advantage. If Clemson wants to bounce back this season, reestablishing the run will be critical—not just for the yards, but to keep defenses honest and give Klubnik more chances to work through the air.

This was supposed to be Cade Klubnik’s Heisman breakout moment, yet without balance, the offense had no chance. Every drive felt like LSU’s defense was playing the calls before the snap. The Tigers from Baton Rouge stacked the box, piled up 8 rushing first downs to Clemson’s two, and shut the door with a fourth-down stop in the red zone. Brian Kelly hadn’t won a season opener since 2019, but his team looked tougher, faster, and far more prepared.