Ninth-ranked LSU’s defense stymied No. 4 Clemson and star quarterback Cade Klubnik for most of the SEC’s Tigers 17-10 victory over the ACC’s Tigers on Saturday night at Clemson’s Death Valley.

Following the game, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney gave his assessment of Klubnik’s performance. LSU kept Klubnik in check – the preseason All-American went 19-of-38 passing for just 230 yards and an interception.

“Gotta be better. Gotta be better,” Swinney said. “He’d be the first one to tell you that. He did some good things, and again, had some contested plays that we need to make, that we didn’t make – that as we go throughout the course of the season, we’re gonna need to make. But yeah, he did some good things, competed his tail off, but did not play as well as he’s capable of.”

Though Klubnik was only sacked twice, he was under constant duress throughout the game by an LSU defense that held Clemson to just 261 yards of total offense. The lack of a running game didn’t help Klubnik – Clemson rushed for just 31 yards on 20 carries – and it also didn’t help that Klubnik lost star wide receiver Antonio Williams to an injury early in the game.

Still, it was a subpar showing from Klubnik, who entered the season opener widely viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in college football, if not the best, and a leading Heisman Trophy candidate.

Klubnik’s interception came midway through the third quarter, when he was picked off by LSU’s Mansoor Delane on a pass intended for wide receiver Cole Turner. LSU missed a field goal on its ensuing possession. But after a three-and-out by Clemson on its next possession, LSU got the ball back and marched down the field, scoring a touchdown to take a 17-10 lead early in the fourth quarter – a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Clemson’s offense had multiple chances to tie the game from there, but it turned the ball over on downs twice in its final three possessions, including a game-sealing turnover on downs with an incomplete pass on fourth-and-4 from the LSU 15-yard line with less than a minute remaining.

Swinney was asked about Klubnik’s area of improvements and where Clemson’s leader could’ve been better Saturday night.

“I need to watch the tape, but just a few missed opportunities,” Swinney said. “Obviously the turnover was critical. The ball kind of sailed on him there. I think he was trying to rip it to Cole in the seam. But we’ll see the tape. Just not quite as sharp as he needs to be. He’ll probably tell you the exact same thing.”

While things didn’t go the way Clemson and Klubnik had hoped, Swinney is still glad to have Klubnik on his team.

“Wouldn’t trade him,” Swinney said. “He’ll be alright.”