Clemson–Georgia football rivalry

{{Infobox sports rivalry

| wide = yes

| name = Clemson–Georgia football rivalry

| image =

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| caption =

| team1 = Clemson Tigers

| team1logo = Clemson University Tiger Paw logo.svg

| team2 = Georgia Bulldogs

| team2logo = Georgia Athletics logo.svg

| sport =

| firstmeeting = October 9, 1897
Georgia, 24–0

| mostrecent = August 31, 2024
Georgia, 34–3

| nextmeeting = September 15, 2029

| total = 66

| series = Georgia leads, 44–18–4

| largestvictory = Georgia, 55–0 (1920)

| longeststreak = Georgia, 10 (1920–1954)

| longestunbeatenstreak =

| currentstreak = Georgia, 3 (2014–present)

| currentunbeatenstreak =

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{{OSM Location map

| nolabels = 1

| coord = {{coord|34.31|-83.1}}

| zoom = 7

| width = 295

| height = 250

| caption = Locations of Clemson and Georgia

| mark1 = Orange pog.svg

| label1 = Clemson

| mark-coord1 = {{coord|34.678333|-82.839167}}

| label-pos1 = top

| label-color1 = black

| mark2 = Red pog.svg

| label2 = Georgia

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|33.9558|-83.3745}}

| label-pos2 = top

| label-color2 = black

}}

The Clemson–Georgia football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs. It was for many years a spirited "border" rivalry between the two schools that are separated by a mere 70 miles. They met annually from 1897 to 1916, and again from 1962 to 1987 (aside from 1966 and 1972). The majority of meetings in over the first half century took place in Athens and Augusta, Georgia until 1967, not long after Clemson College expanded to University status, when the series shifted to become a more traditional, annual home-away series. Georgia leads the series 44–18–4, with 43 games played in Georgia, 22 games played in South Carolina, and one game played in North Carolina. Since 1987, the two schools have played intermittently.

Series history

The two schools renewed their rivalry at Bank of America Stadium, as the 2021 season opener game.{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2021 |year=2021 |orig-date=September 11, 2021 |editor-link=Associated Press |title="Defensive gem lifts No. 5 Georgia past No. 3 Clemson, 10-3." |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401281946 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905032903/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401281946 |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=ESPN}} Georgia won the game 10–3, with neither team scoring an offensive touchdown. Georgia’s defense held Clemson to 2 yards rushing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28730203/clemson-georgia-meet-2021-opener-charlotte|title=Clemson, Georgia to meet in 2021 opener|date=February 18, 2020|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=February 19, 2020}} The two teams also played the 2024 season opener in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta, with Georgia winning 34-3.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chick-fil-akickoffgame.com/georgia-and-clemson-to-renew-rivalry-in-2024-chick-fil-a-kickoff-game/|title=Georgia and Clemson to Renew Rivalry in 2024 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game {{!}} Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game|language=en-US|access-date=February 19, 2020}}{{Cite web |title=Georgia 34-3 Clemson (Aug 31, 2024) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401628323/clemson-georgia |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The two programs have planned home-and-away series in 2029–30 and 2032–33.{{cite web |title=CLEMSON, GEORGIA ADD HOME-AND-HOME SERIES IN 2032–33 |date=April 2, 2019 |url=https://clemsontigers.com/clemson-georgia-series-2032-2033/ |access-date=November 8, 2019}}

Notable games

=2002: Shockley rescues Bulldogs=

In the first renewal of the rivalry since 1995, Georgia starting quarterback David Greene was ineffective for most of the game – just 12–27 for 67 yards – and Clemson had a 28–21 lead heading into the fourth quarter. At that point, Georgia coach Mark Richt inserted backup freshman QB DJ Shockley (who had rushed for a second quarter touchdown) into the game for the rest of the way to try to save the 8th ranked Bulldogs.

With 12:35 left, Shockley connected with Terrance Edwards for a 24-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 28. After Clemson went three and out, Damian Gary returned the punt 40 yards to set up a 43-yard field goal by Billy Bennett. He made it to put Georgia up 31–28. Clemson had one more chance to tie the game or win, and moved into field goal range. But Aaron Hunt's game-tying field goal attempt from 46 yards out fell short, and Georgia survived 31–28.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=222430061| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819125503/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=222430061| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 19, 2016|title=Backup Shockley saves day for relieved Bulldogs| publisher=ESPN| date=August 31, 2002}}

=2013: Boyd outduels Murray in shootout=

On the opening weekend of the 2013 season, #8 Clemson hosted #5 Georgia. College GameDay traveled to Clemson for just the second time ever, and the game was sold out almost immediately.

The game instantly turned into a shootout. Georgia took a 21–14 second quarter lead on touchdowns by Todd Gurley, Quayvon Hicks and Keith Marshall, but from that point, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd took over. After rushing for a first quarter touchdown, Boyd did it again to tie the game at 21. Then he connected with Zac Brooks and Stanton Seckinger for touchdowns. Clemson held a 38–28 lead late in the fourth quarter, but Georgia QB Aaron Murray led the Bulldogs back, diving into the end zone to cut it to 38–35 with 1:19 left. Clemson recovered the onside kick to hold on for the victory.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=332430228|title=Tajh Boyd (5 TDs) helps No. 8 Clemson outlast No. 5 Georgia| publisher=ESPN| date=August 31, 2013}}

=2021: A low-scoring slugfest=

During the opening weekend of the 2021 season, #3 Clemson and #5 Georgia reunited in a highly-anticipated neutral site matchup in the Duke's Mayo Classic. Both starting quarterbacks, Georgia's JT Daniels and Clemson's DJ Uiagalelei, were considered pre-season Heisman hopefuls. However, it would be the defenses that ruled the day in a 10–3 defensive standoff. The Georgia defense made a strong first impression by holding Clemson to 2 rushing yards, sacking Uiagalelei seven times, and scoring the game's only touchdown on a 74-yard pick-six by defensive back Christopher Smith late in the first half. It was the first of many strong performances by the historically dominant Bulldog defense,{{cite web| url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/georgias-defense-lived-up-to-its-billing-as-one-of-the-best-ever/|title=Georgia's Defense Lived Up To Its Billing As One Of The Best Ever.| publisher=FiveThirtyEight.| date=January 12, 2022}} which would propel the team to a 14–1 record and the program's first national championship in 41 years.

Game results

{{sports rivalry series table

| cols = 2 | series_summary = yes | format = compact | legend_tie_text = Ties

| team1 = Clemson

| team1style = {{NCAA color cell|Clemson Tigers}}

| team2 = Georgia

| team2style = {{NCAA color cell|Georgia Bulldogs}}

| footnote = {{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/clemson/vs/georgia|title=Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs football series history|website=Winsipedia}}

}}

References

Category:College football rivalries in the United States

Category:Clemson Tigers football

Category:Georgia Bulldogs football