Clemson–Georgia football rivalry

Clemson–Georgia football rivalry
Clemson Tigers Georgia Bulldogs
Total meetings 64
Series record Georgia leads, 42–18–4
First meeting October 9, 1897
Last meeting August 30, 2014
Next meeting TBD
Largest win Georgia, 55–0 (1920)
Longest win streak Georgia, 10 (1920–54)
Current win streak Georgia, 1 (2014–present)

The Clemson–Georgia football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs. They met annually from 1897 to 1916, and again from 1962 to 1987 (aside from 1966 and 1973). Since 1987, the two schools have played intermittently. Georgia leads the series 42–18–4.

Series history

Early history

The two schools first met in 1897, on the Georgia campus in Athens. The Bulldogs won 24–0, which seemed to set the tone for the rivalry for the next few decades- the series went back and forth with each team enjoying winning streaks over each other, usually by lopsided margins. Georgia won the first three games by a combined score of 55–8, and Clemson won the next seven - five of them by shutout.

But since then, Georgia has dominated the series. Following the 6–0 defeat to the Tigers in 1906, Georgia began an incredible run of dominance. Until the annual series was canceled in 1917, Georgia lost only twice to Clemson, and tied two others. Since the loss in 1906, Georgia has gone 39–11–4 against Clemson.

After the 1921 game, the series was put on hold. The two teams played on occasion over the next forty years, until the schools' athletic departments agreed to renew the annual rivalry game on a home and home basis.

Annual renewal: 1962–1987

As they had before the renewal of the rivalry, Georgia dominated Clemson during this time frame, only now, instead of simply blowing the Tigers out by large margins every year, they handed Clemson several moments of heartbreak. Twice during this period, the Bulldogs dealt Clemson their only defeat of the season. However, Danny Ford's Clemson team did return the favor in 1981 on their way to a national championship, giving Bulldog great Herschel Walker his only regular season defeat in his three years at Georgia.

But it wasn't until the 1980s that the rivalry became relevant on a national stage, when both programs rose to national prominence. That was also the time that the series became known for its closely contested, hard fought games. In 1984, Kevin Butler kicked a 60-yard field goal to give Georgia a 26–23 victory; David Treadwell returned the favor with game winning kicks in 1986 and 1987 to give Clemson 31–28 and 21–20 victories.

The current intermittent rivalry

Following the 1987 game, the schools terminated the annual rivalry, opting instead to schedule a two game home-and-home series in 1990 and 1991. This was the end of the yearly rivalry. Since 1987, the schools have scheduled four home and home series with each other, playing a total of eight times. Clemson won the first game of the most recent home and home, a 38–35 victory in Clemson, with Georgia winning the second 45-21. However, that appears to be the final game of the series for the near future, as neither school has expressed any interest in scheduling another home and home series yet.

Memorable games

1978: Georgia spoils Clemson's perfect season

On the second weekend of the 1978 season, 8th-ranked Clemson traveled to Athens to take on the Bulldogs. But Georgia's defense dominated the game, keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard in a 12–0 shutout win. The game later turned out to be very significant, as Clemson rallied to win the remainder of its regular season games, but were dropped from consideration by all the major bowl games due to the ugly loss to Georgia, effectively killing the Tigers' chances at a national championship.

1981: Clemson spoils Georgia's perfect season

In a bit of role reversal from 1978, the 4th-ranked Bulldogs traveled to Clemson for an early season game, but Clemson's defense stood tall and caused a miserable day for Herschel Walker, including forcing him to fumble near Clemson's goal line. Fueled by a touchdown pass from Homer Jordan to Perry Tuttle, the Tigers pulled off the 13–3 upset. The loss turned out to cost Georgia a shot at back to back national championships, as Clemson finished the season unbeaten and ranked #1 following their Orange Bowl victory over Nebraska, while Georgia finished right behind the Tigers at #2.

1984: Butler kicks game-winning field goal

The 1984 game between 2nd-ranked and heavily favored Clemson and 20th-ranked Georgia went down as an instant classic. Clemson raced to a 20–6 lead and appeared well on their way. However, Georgia fought their way back into the game with two quick touchdowns. Tied at 20, Georgia coach Vince Dooley called on Kevin Butler, who had been forced to switch from linebacker to kicker in high school, to attempt a 46 yard field goal to give Georgia the lead. He made it, and Georgia went up 23–20.

But the Tigers, who had just surrendered 17 unanswered points, came right back with a field goal of their own to tie it again, this time at 23, with two minutes left. Georgia mounted one final drive that stalled at the Clemson 42, and Dooley sent Butler back on to attempt a 60 yard field goal - which would be the longest in Georgia history. Butler's kick split the uprights with 11 seconds left to give Georgia a 26–23 victory.

1986: David Treadwell returns the favor

The 1986 game appeared to be a shootout in the early going, with each offense establishing a rhythm and scoring three quick touchdowns in the first half. Georgia and Clemson combined for nearly 400 yards in the first half alone, but three Clemson turnovers prevented the Tigers from pulling away. Clemson appeared to gain some breathing room on a QB sneak from Rodney Williams that resulted in a touchdown early in the third quarter and an ensuing interception, but Williams himself was intercepted at the Georgia 5 yard line. A few plays later, Georgia receiver Freddy Lane broke free for a 78 yard touchdown, tying the score again, this time at 28 to end the third quarter.

Both offenses suddenly stalled in the fourth quarter. First, Clemson drove deep into Georgia territory, but David Treadwell missed the field goal. Then, Georgia drove down to the Clemson 15 yard line before Clemson recovered a fumble. The Tigers could do nothing, and punted. Georgia's offense was stymied as well, and punted right back to Clemson with 1:11 left.

Rodney Williams calmly directed Clemson down the field inside the Georgia 30, when Clemson coach Danny Ford called a timeout with four seconds left to give Treadwell a chance at redemption. He hit it to give Clemson a 31–28 victory.

1987: David Treadwell returns the favor again

In the final game of the annual rivalry, Georgia running backs Lars Tate and Rodney Hampton had quite impressive performances against Clemson on this day in Death Valley. But in the end, it was Clemson's defense that was the story. Trailing 20–16 with five minutes left, a trio of Clemson defenders sacked Georgia quarterback James Jackson in the end zone for a safety to cut it to 20–18. Clemson took the free kick and immediately faced a third and seven. Clemson tailback Terry Allen took a pitch and picked up 16 yards for the first down to keep the drive alive.

Clemson continued to methodically punch its way down to the Georgia 5 yard line, when Danny Ford called timeout and sent on David Treadwell to try to win the game, just like he had done the year before. Just like the year before, Treadwell's kick was good, giving Clemson a 21–20 victory in the final game of the annual rivalry.

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.

2013: Boyd outduels Murray in shootout

8th ranked Clemson played host to 5th ranked Georgia on the opening weekend of the 2013 season, and the buildup was incredible. 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.

Game results

Clemson victoriesGeorgia victoriesTie games
#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
#DateLocationWinnerScore
34 October 12, 1963 Clemson, SC Tie7–7
35 October 10, 1964 Athens, GA Georgia 19–7
36 October 9, 1965 Athens, GA Georgia 23–9
37 September 30, 1967 Clemson, SC Georgia 24–17
38 September 28, 1968 Athens, GA Georgia 31–13
39 September 27, 1969 Clemson, SC Georgia 30–0
40 September 26, 1970 Athens, GA Georgia 38–0
41 September 25, 1971 Clemson, SC Georgia 28–0
42 September 22, 1972 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 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 Georgia 20–16
50 September 19, 1981 Clemson, SC Clemson 13–3
51 September 6, 1982 Athens, GA Georgia 13–7
52 September 17, 1983 Clemson, SC Tie16–16
53 September 22, 1984 Athens, GA 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 Clemson 21–20
57 October 6, 1990 Clemson, SC 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 Georgia 31–28
62 August 30, 2003 Clemson, SC Georgia 30–0
63 August 31, 2013 Clemson, SC Clemson 38–35
64 August 30, 2014 Athens, GA Georgia 45–21
Series: Georgia leads 42–18–4


References