CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney always says the next game is the most important game. His players and coaches generally follow suit.

However, we all know that is Hogwash.

Right now, most people will tell you Clemson’s most important game is LSU, and it’s not because it is the next game on the schedule. LSU is a big game because the Bayou Bengals are ranked No. 9 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday, and Clemson is No. 6.

It’s a top 10 matchup, and everyone is excited about it. It’s SEC vs. ACC. It’s the imitation Death Valley vs. the Original Death Valley. It’s LSU vs. Clemson.

National Championship implications are on the line.

After that, the Tigers play Troy and then travel to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech, which in my opinion is the most important game in the month of September. Yep, even more important than LSU.

Here is why.

LSU is a non-conference game. Clemson can lose to LSU and still advance to the College Football Playoff.

If the Tigers lose to Georgia Tech, then their chances of winning the ACC decrease significantly. Clemson will be behind the eight ball just three weeks into the year.

Also, it will need Georgia Tech to lose twice so there are no tiebreakers, and that is banking on the Tigers not losing anymore, either.

Then there is the whole motivation thing. How will Clemson respond if it loses to Georgia Tech?

This is a team that everyone expects to be playing for a national championship. Can they overcome that kind of pressure if they lose in Week 3?

It also does not help that Swinney thinks this team can be the first College Football team to ever go 16-0. That is pressure.

I am surprised Swinney even said such a thing. I am sure he means it, but to publicly announce it, knowing how hard it is to win in college football – that’s crazy.

Going back to my question. Can Clemson overcome an early season loss to Georgia Tech?

It did not after losing to Duke in the season opener in 2023.

The Tigers started that season 4-4 before winning their final five games of the season for a 9-4 record.

Losing your first conference game is harder to recover from than losing an out of conference game. Last year, Clemson was hammered by Georgia in the opener but bounced back to win its next six games.

From there, the Tigers went on to win the ACC Championship.

Dating back to 2011, Clemson has lost its first conference game of the year three times – 2012, 2014 and 2023. In all three cases, Clemson did not bounce back to win the ACC.

In that same period of time, 11 times the Tigers opened conference play with a victory and only twice (2013 and 2021) did they not win the ACC.

What’s more important? Beating LSU, or beating Georgia Tech?

It’s simple. Beating Georgia Tech is the most important game on the schedule right now.

After that it is Syracuse, because it is the next game.