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Live updates, highlights for Bulldogs-Tigers
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Live updates, highlights for Bulldogs-Tigers

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The first full week of the 2024 American football season is here and a head-to-head matchup is set for the top 15 teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Top-ranked Georgia hosts No. 14 Clemson as the Bulldogs begin their journey to avenge a disappointing absence from last season’s College Football Playoff. Clemson, meanwhile, will be hoping to build on a strong finish to 2023, when the Tigers closed the season on a five-game winning streak.

USA TODAY Sports has the latest updates, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more as the game unfolds. Follow along.

The Bulldogs strike first.

Georgia put a dent in the scoreboard by going 68 yards on 12 plays and settling for a 30-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring. Carson Beck completed eight straight passes at one point and is 12-for-14 for 95 yards overall. The running game has yet to get going, as the Bulldogs have 12 yards on seven carries.

The Bulldogs and Tigers are already a quarter in and it’s all about defense (or bad offense).

Five points were scored and Clemson leads in total yards (61-43). Georgia leads in first downs (3-2).

After the key play to Antonio Williams, a formation violation was called, negating a first-down catch. A third-down pass to Williams also fell far short of the first down.

Clemson’s average starting position on all three plays is its own 15-yard line.

The first big play of the game came from the Tigers, who got a 36-yard pass play from Cade Klubnik to receiver Antonio Williams. The catch was reviewed and confirmed, giving Clemson a first down at the Georgia 49-yard line.

The Tigers are in business.

Georgia’s second possession ended like the first, with a short run and two completed passes that went wide of the sticks. Carson Beck completed five of his first six passes, but for just 20 yards.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has completed two of his first five passes for just 8 yards, while the Tigers also try to get the run going with Phil Mafah, who has 15 yards on four carries.

After gaining a first down on its second drive, Clemson was forced to punt again when Klubnik’s completed pass on third down failed to meet the first-down marker.

The top-scoring Bulldogs got an early squeeze when quarterback Carson Beck completed an 11-yard pass to Arian Smith and Beck ran up the middle on third-and-10 for a 13-yard gain. But Beck’s third-down pass on the seventh play of the drive was incomplete, ending the drive and forcing Georgia to punt.

The Tigers were given the kickoff but failed to progress on their first possession, receiving three incomplete passes, a dropped pass and a penalty for an illegal move.

On third-and-10, Clemson’s check-down pass went nowhere and the Tigers had to punt.

When is the Georgia-Clemson game?

  • Kickoff for Clemson at Georgia is Saturday, August 31 at 12:00 p.m. (ET) from Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

How to watch the Georgia-Clemson game

  • The Georgia-Clemson game will air on ABC and can be seen on ESPN+ and Fubo.

We occasionally recommend products and services of interest. If you make a purchase by clicking on one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently and this does not influence our reporting.

Top 25 college football schedule Week 1 schedule

Here are the kickoff times and TV information for the top 25 teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll. (All times are Eastern Time):

  • No. 11 Missouri 51, Murray State 0
  • No. 13 Utah 49, Southern Utah 0
  • No. 16 Oklahoma 51, Temple 3
  • No. 22 NC State 38, Western Carolina 21
  • No. 24 Kansas 48, Linden 3
  • No. 14 Clemson at No. 1 Georgia, ABC, afternoon
  • No. 9 Penn State at West Virginia, FOX, noon
  • Illinois State at No. 25 Iowa, Big Ten Network, afternoon
  • Chattanooga at No. 15 Tennessee, SEC Network, 12:45 p.m.
  • South Dakota State vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State, ESPN+, 2 p.m.
  • Colorado State vs. No. 4 Texas, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
  • #19 Miami at Florida, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
  • Akron at No. 2 Ohio State, CBS, 3:30 p.m.
  • Western Kentucky at No. 5 Alabama, ESPN, 7 p.m.
  • Furman at No. 6 Ole Miss, ESPN+, 7 p.m.
  • UT Martin at No. 17 Kansas State, ESPN+, 7 p.m.
  • Fresno State at No. 8 Michigan, NBC/Peacock, 7:30 p.m.
  • No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M, ABC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Idaho vs. No. 3 Oregon, Big Ten Network, 7:30 p.m.
  • New Mexico at No. 21 Arizona, 10:30 p.m.
  • Sunday: No. 23 Southern Cal vs. No. 12 LSU at Las Vegas, ABC, 7:30 p.m.
  • Monday: Boston College vs. No. 10 Florida State, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

College football expert picks week 1

There are three big matchups this weekend with early College Football Playoff implications. Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for all of Saturday’s ranked games.

Georgia junior running back Trevor Etienne will not play in the top-ranked Bulldogs’ game against Clemson in Atlanta on Saturday, ESPN.com reports.

Etienne was arrested on March 24 on suspicion of driving under the influence and reckless driving.

Georgia, which will also be without injured running back Roderick Robinson II, will have to rely on Branson Robinson, Nate Frazier and Cash Jones to fill in the ground game’s gaps.

These are the players our staff believes will win this match and other Top 25 matches this week:

  • Jordan Mendoza: Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs are favored to beat the Clemson Tigers in Saturday’s college football game, according to BetMGM college football odds. Looking to bet? Check out the best college football betting apps in 2024 that offer the best NCAA football betting promotions and bonuses in 2024.

  • Distribution: Georgia (13.5)
  • Moneyline: Georgia (-600); Clemson (+425)

Richard Morin

The two programs have faced each other 65 times since 1897, with Georgia compiling a 43-18-4 record against Clemson. The Bulldogs have won the past two meetings, the most recent coming in 2021 and ending in a 10-3 victory for UGA. Clemson’s last win against Georgia came in 2013, 38-35 at home, and it is the Tigers’ only victory over the Bulldogs in eight meetings dating back to 1991.

We’re happy to help you prioritize your viewing options.

Standard Disclaimer: This is simply a ranking of what we think will be the best matches, based on national interest, championship impact and entertainment potential. As ever, there will undoubtedly be surprise developments in games not mentioned here, so keep one eye on the scoreboard and one hand on the remote to stay up to date on all the exciting plays and fantastic finishes. — Eddie Timanus

The experts at USA TODAY Sports make predictions for the upcoming season, including which 12 teams will make the College Football Playoff. Who will win the national championship?

  • Scooby Axson: Ohio State
  • Eddie Timanus: Ohio State

Georgia’s campus is located in Athens, Georgia, and Clemson is located approximately 80 miles northeast of Athens in the northwestern corner of South Carolina.

Which games will ultimately be the most important?

Every week there will be at least one crucial game that shapes the Playoff picture. Our job here is to identify which game on the schedule will ultimately have the biggest impact on the races for the top seeds, the at-large bids and the battle to become the highest-ranked Group of Five champion.

According to Erick Smith, these are the 15 games that will determine the field for the Playoffs.

Attack

  • QB: Carson Beck
  • RB: Branson Robinson, Nate Frazier, Cash Jones
  • WR-X: Dillon Bell
  • WR-Z: Arian Smith
  • WR-Y: Dominic Lovett
  • TE: Oscar Delp
  • LT: Earnest Greene III
  • LG: Dylan Fairchild
  • C: Jared Wilson
  • RG: Tate Ratledge
  • RT: Xavier Truss

Defense

  • EN:Mykel Williams
  • NT: Nazir Stackhouse
  • DT: Warren Brinson
  • JACK: Chaz Chambliss
  • MLB: CJ Allen
  • WLB: Smael Mondon Jr.
  • LCB: Daylen Everette
  • SS: Malaki Starks
  • FS: Dan Jackson
  • RCB: Julian Humphrey
  • STAR: Joenel Agüero

Specialists

  • Punter: Brett Thorson
  • Substitute: Peyton Woodring

Attack

  • QB: Cade Klubnik
  • RB: Phil Mafah
  • WR-X: Adam Randall
  • WR-Z: Antonio Williams
  • WR-H: Tyler Brown
  • TE: Jake Briningstool
  • LT: Tristan Leigh
  • LG: Marcus Tate
  • C: Ryan Linthicum
  • RG: Walking parks
  • RT: Blake Miller

Defense

  • LDE: TJ Parker
  • LDT: DeMonte Capehart
  • RDT: Payton Page
  • RDE: Peter Woods
  • WLB: Barrett Carter
  • MLB: Wade Woodaz
  • SLB: Jamal Anderson
  • LCB: Terrell Aviation
  • SS: RJ Mickens
  • FS: Tyler Venables
  • RCB: Jeadyn Lukus

Specialists

  • Punter: Aidan Swanson
  • Substitute: Nolan Hauser

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