Dabo Swinney and his Tigers are diving headfirst into the 2024 season with a thrilling kickoff against the formidable Georgia Bulldogs at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
This clash sets the stage for an electrifying start to the season, with Clemson stepping into the ring as the perceived underdog. But don’t count them out just yet. Historically, the Tigers have thrived in this role, and this matchup presents a golden opportunity for them to carve out a statement win and regain their momentum.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs aren’t without their own pressures. With the spotlight firmly on both teams, this showdown could very well be a pivotal moment in the 2024 season, with the outcome potentially shaping the trajectory of each program moving forward.
Recently, 247Sports released early Week 1 projections, with expectations of a close game between Clemson and Georgia.
Early lean: Georgia 24, Clemson 17
These two elites played a defensive slugfest a couple years ago in Charlotte to open the season and we could see more of the same this time around given the ample prep time each coaching staff’s going to have for the other. Can Cade Klubnik be a difference-maker and get Dabo Swinney’s team back to respectability as an annual playoff contender? Will Georgia be looking to make a statement after seeing its two-year reign atop the sport end last fall? There’s a number of factors to watch in this one.
They’re certainly not wrong here; there are a number of factors to watch. For Clemson fans, most of them will naturally revolve around Garrett Riley, Cade Klubnik, and the Tigers’ offense.
Clemson’s offense has struggled since Trevor Lawrence’s departure, but the Tigers’ offense has the potential to be great. Expectations were high for Riley’s first year with the Tigers and Klubnik’s first year starting under center, and it’s safe to say there were letdowns. Patience can be difficult, especially in the modern age of college football.
Year 2 for both Riley and Klubnik could see this Clemson offense explode.