Clemson–Georgia football rivalry

Clemson–Georgia football rivalry
Clemson Tigers
Georgia Bulldogs
First meetingOctober 9, 1897
Georgia, 24–0
Latest meetingAugust 31, 2024
Georgia, 34–3
Next meetingSeptember 15, 2029
Statistics
Meetings total66
All-time seriesGeorgia leads, 44–18–4[1]
Largest victoryGeorgia, 55–0 (1920)
Longest win streakGeorgia, 10 (1920–1954)
Current win streakGeorgia, 3 (2014–present)
Map
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Georgia
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Clemson
Locations of Clemson and Georgia

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. Georgia won the game 10–3, with neither team scoring an offensive touchdown. Georgia’s defense held Clemson to 2 yards rushing.[2] The two teams also played the 2024 season opener in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta with Georgia winning 34-3.[3][4] The two programs have planned home-and-away series in 2029–30 and 2032–33.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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,[8] which would propel the team to a 14–1 record and the program's first national championship in 41 years.

Game results

Clemson victoriesGeorgia victoriesTies
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 9, 1897 Athens, GA Georgia 24–0
2 October 8, 1898 Athens, GA Georgia 20–8
3 October 7, 1899 Athens, GA Georgia 11–0
4 November 10, 1900 Athens, GA Clemson 39–5
5 October 26, 1901 Athens, GA Clemson 29–5
6 November 8, 1902 Clemson, SC Clemson 36–0
7 October 10, 1903 Athens, GA Clemson 29–0
8 October 22, 1904 Clemson, SC Clemson 10–0
9 October 21, 1905 Athens, GA Clemson 35–0
10 October 20, 1906 Clemson, SC Clemson 6–0
11 November 7, 1907 Augusta, GA Georgia 8–0
12 November 5, 1908 Augusta, GA Georgia 8–0
13 November 10, 1909 Augusta, GA Clemson 5–0
14 November 10, 1910 Augusta, GA Tie0–0
15 November 9, 1911 Augusta, GA Georgia 22–0
16 November 9, 1912 Augusta, GA Georgia 27–6
17 November 6, 1913 Augusta, GA Georgia 18–15
18 November 7, 1914 Athens, GA Clemson 35–13
19 November 25, 1915 Athens, GA Georgia 13–0
20 October 7, 1916 Anderson, SC Georgia 26–0
21 November 7, 1919 Athens, GA Tie0–0
22 November 25, 1920 Athens, GA Georgia 55–0
23 November 24, 1921 Athens, GA Georgia 28–0
24 November 12, 1927 Athens, GA Georgia 32–0
25 November 11, 1932 Clemson, SC Georgia 32–18
26 October 9, 1937 Athens, GA Georgia 14–0
27 November 24, 1944 Athens, GA Georgia 21–7
28 September 29, 1945 Athens, GA Georgia 20–0
29 September 27, 1946 Athens, GA Georgia 35–12
30 October 31, 1947 Athens, GA Georgia 21–6
31 September 25, 1954 Athens, GA Georgia 14–7
32 October 1, 1955 Clemson, SC Clemson 26–7
33 October 13, 1962 Clemson, SC Georgia 24–16
34 October 12, 1963 Clemson, SC Tie7–7
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
35 October 10, 1964 Athens, GA Georgia 19–7
36 October 9, 1965 Athens, GA #4 Georgia 23–9
37 September 30, 1967 Clemson, SC #5 Georgia 24–17
38 September 28, 1968 Athens, GA Georgia 31–13
39 September 27, 1969 Clemson, SC #7 Georgia 30–0
40 September 26, 1970 Athens, GA Georgia 38–0
41 September 25, 1971 Clemson, SC #14 Georgia 28–0
42 September 22, 1973 Athens, GA Georgia 31–14
43 October 5, 1974 Clemson, SC Clemson 28–24
44 October 4, 1975 Athens, GA Georgia 35–7
45 September 18, 1976 Clemson, SC #9 Georgia 41–0
46 September 17, 1977 Athens, GA Clemson 7–6
47 September 23, 1978 Athens, GA Georgia 12–0
48 September 22, 1979 Clemson, SC Clemson 12–7
49 September 20, 1980 Athens, GA #10 Georgia 20–16
50 September 19, 1981 Clemson, SC Clemson 13–3
51 September 6, 1982 Athens, GA #7 Georgia 13–7
52 September 17, 1983 Clemson, SC Tie16–16
53 September 22, 1984 Athens, GA #20 Georgia 26–23
54 September 21, 1985 Clemson, SC Georgia 20–13
55 September 20, 1986 Athens, GA Clemson 31–28
56 September 19, 1987 Clemson, SC #8 Clemson 21–20
57 October 6, 1990 Clemson, SC #16 Clemson 34–3
58 October 5, 1991 Athens, GA Georgia 27–12
59 October 8, 1994 Athens, GA Georgia 40–14
60 October 7, 1995 Clemson, SC Georgia 19–17
61 August 31, 2002 Athens, GA #8 Georgia 31–28
62 August 30, 2003 Clemson, SC #11 Georgia 30–0
63 August 31, 2013 Clemson, SC #8 Clemson 38–35
64 August 30, 2014 Athens, GA #12 Georgia 45–21
65 September 4, 2021 Charlotte, NC #5 Georgia 10–3
66 August 31, 2024 Atlanta, GA #1 Georgia 34–3
Series: Georgia leads 44–18–4[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Winsipedia – Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs football series history". Winsipedia.
  2. ^ "Clemson, Georgia to meet in 2021 opener". ESPN.com. February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "Georgia and Clemson to Renew Rivalry in 2024 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "Georgia 34-3 Clemson (Aug 31, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "CLEMSON, GEORGIA ADD HOME-AND-HOME SERIES IN 2032–33". April 2, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  6. ^ "Backup Shockley saves day for relieved Bulldogs". ESPN. August 31, 2002. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016.
  7. ^ "Tajh Boyd (5 TDs) helps No. 8 Clemson outlast No. 5 Georgia". ESPN. August 31, 2013.
  8. ^ "Georgia's Defense Lived Up To Its Billing As One Of The Best Ever". FiveThirtyEight. January 12, 2022.