Everyone wants to talk about the 2025 season like it's just another year in the SEC, but if you actually look at the LSU football 2025 schedule, things are getting weird. Fast. We aren't just talking about a couple of new faces in the conference; we’re looking at a slate that feels more like a gauntlet designed by a madman.
Brian Kelly is entering Year 4. The pressure? It’s basically at a boiling point. After a 2024 that had some high highs and some pretty frustrating lows, the 2025 season is widely considered the "playoff or bust" moment for this staff.
The Brutal Opening Act
You don't usually see LSU heading to South Carolina to play a non-conference game in Death Valley, but that’s exactly how the year starts. No, not our Death Valley. The other one. LSU opens on August 30 at Clemson. It’s a massive Week 1 showdown on ABC at 7:30 PM ET. Honestly, scheduling a home-and-home with Clemson is a bold move, and starting the season in that environment is going to tell us everything we need to know about Garrett Nussmeier’s second year as the full-time starter.
Following that heart-stopper, the Tigers get a little bit of a breather—at least on paper. Louisiana Tech comes to Baton Rouge on September 6. But don't sleep on that 7:30 PM kickoff. Tech always plays with a chip on their shoulder when they visit the flagship school.
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Why the SEC Slate is Different This Time
The SEC didn't do LSU any favors with the conference rotation. We’ve got Florida at home on September 13. Usually, that’s a late-season October or November slugfest, but having the Gators in Death Valley that early? It changes the whole vibe of the season.
Then things get truly spicy.
- September 27: Road trip to Ole Miss. Oxford is never easy, and Lane Kiffin’s roster is basically a semi-pro team at this point with the way they use the portal.
- October 11: South Carolina at home. LSU barely escaped Columbia with a win in 2024, so the Gamecocks will be looking for blood.
- October 25: Texas A&M at home. This is the game everyone circles. The rivalry has reached a point where records don't even matter; it's just pure chaos.
One of the biggest talking points is the November stretch. Historically, LSU-Alabama is the "Game of the Century" every year. In 2025, that happens on November 8 in Tuscaloosa. If LSU wants to make the 12-team playoff, they basically have to find a way to win that game, or at the very least, look competitive enough to keep the committee's respect.
The Oklahoma Problem
Most fans are looking at the end of the schedule and seeing a name that still feels a little "new" to the SEC landscape. On November 29, LSU travels to Norman to take on Oklahoma.
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This is the season finale. No more "Turkey Day" leftovers against a rotating cast of characters; it’s a blue-blood battle in the freezing cold of Oklahoma in late November. It’s a massive shift from the traditional schedule, and it could very well be a de facto playoff play-in game.
LSU Football 2025 Schedule Breakdown
Aug. 30: at Clemson (ABC, 7:30 PM ET)
Sept. 6: LOUISIANA TECH (SECN+/ESPN+, 7:30 PM ET)
Sept. 13: FLORIDA (ABC, 7:30 PM ET)
Sept. 20: SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (SECN, 7:45 PM ET)
Sept. 27: at Ole Miss (ABC, 3:30 PM ET)
Oct. 4: OPEN DATE
Oct. 11: SOUTH CAROLINA (Time TBA)
Oct. 18: at Vanderbilt (Time TBA)
Oct. 25: TEXAS A&M (ABC, 7:30 PM ET)
Nov. 1: OPEN DATE
Nov. 8: at Alabama (Time TBA)
Nov. 15: ARKANSAS (Time TBA)
Nov. 22: WESTERN KENTUCKY (Time TBA)
Nov. 29: at Oklahoma (Time TBA)
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The "Make or Break" Factors
People keep saying the defense is the problem, and they aren't wrong. LSU went hard into the transfer portal, grabbing guys like Jack Pyburn from Florida and Nic Anderson from Oklahoma. The goal was simple: stop the run and get the secondary to actually look at the ball.
If the defense can’t hold up against the likes of Alabama and Ole Miss, the LSU football 2025 schedule is going to look like a long list of high-scoring losses. Brian Kelly basically guaranteed a national championship appearance for 2025 after beating Oklahoma at the end of the 2024 regular season. That’s a heavy check to write. You’ve gotta be able to cash it.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning to follow the Tigers this year, here's what you need to do:
- Book the Clemson Trip Now: Memorial Stadium is a bucket-list venue. Tickets are already trending toward astronomical prices on the secondary market.
- Monitor the Flex Windows: The SEC is using "Flex" windows (3:30 PM to 8:00 PM) for several games this year, including Ole Miss and South Carolina. Don't assume your Saturday night is free until the 6-day window kicks in.
- Watch the Injury Report for the Secondary: LSU’s success hinges on whether the 18-man transfer class integrates quickly. Keep an eye on the August camp reports for news on the starting corners.
The path to Atlanta is clear, but it's narrow. Every single game on this list has a trap-door feel to it. It’s going to be a wild ride.