This is the no-doubt marquee game of the weekend, and this year it has extra implications because of the expanded college football playoff format. Clemson comes in ranked at #14, which would theoretically put them on the edge of the playoffs, while Georgia occupies it's normal lofty perch at the head of the Top 25 class.
While both of these schools draw a lot of attention, Clemson is a genuine curiosity these days. A couple of years ago, Dabo Swinney appeared to have built a dynasty program that would pick up and deliver championships when Nick Saban finally retired from Alabama. Instead reality came calling with unexpected losses against lesser teams, and now Swinney is trying to get the Tigers back to where the Bulldogs are now.
Game Details
Fixture: Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Date and Time: August 31, 2024 @12 PM EST
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta GA
Clemson Tigers Team Review
Clemson finished strong last year, but they definitely weren't as dominant as usual. They closed their season with a hairy 38-35 win against Kentucky in the Gator Bowl, but they also lost four ACC games to Duke, Florida State, Miami and NC State, respectively.
That won't get it done in Tigerland, and Swinney knows it. He's expecting his defense to be stout, but the key to rising back to the top of the ACC will be based on his ability to get more out of his quarterback, Cade Klubnik. Clemson finished 52nd overall in FBS scoring and total offense, which represents a steep fall for a once-elite school that used to produce future NFL star QBs every couple of years.
Klubnik wasn't bad, he just wasn't elite. He threw for over 2800 yards with 19 TDs and just 9 interceptions, and the running game produced as well, with both starting backs averaging over five yards a carry. But the offense faltered at key times in several of those ACC losses, so this will be a good early test for the Tigers.
Georgia Bulldogs Team Preview
Very few schools can produce a one-win season followed by a landslide bowl victory and have it be considered a down year. But such is life in Athens these days, and Kirby Smart knows it. A tough 27-24 loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game ended up defining their season, and trouncing Florida State by a 63-3 count in the Orange Bowl was little more than a tepid consolation prize for the Bulldogs' rabid fan base.
The big question going into this one is injuries and suspensions. Lead back Trevor Etienne is facing a one-game suspension for a DUI arrest after transferring from Florida, and backup Roderick Robinson just had toe surgery and will be out for at least several weeks.
Normally relying on a third-string running back would be cause for concern for most teams, but Smart recruits star athletes to fill up hs depth chart, and Branson Robinson is expected to step into the breach and get it done behind Georgia's annually powerful offensive line.
Who to Watch
Clemson Tigers
All eyes will be on Klubnik in this one, which starts off the Saturday action at noon EST. Georgia is listed as a heavy favorite, so the Clemson QB needs to at least keep the Tigers close, but of course Swinney and the demanding fan base are expecting a lot more. It feels odd to see Clemson with question marks going into their opener, but this is a big test for the Tigers.
Georgia Bulldogs
We've somehow managed to avoid mentioning quarterback Carson Beck so far, so let's go there. He's a serious Heisman candidate going into the season, but several of his big weapons from last year are now on NFL rosters, specifically Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. There's incoming talent on the way, though, with Dominic Lovett returning at wideout, and transfer tight end Ben Yurocek is expected to step in and fill Bowers big shoes. At the end of the day, though, it's very much on Beck to get it done.
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