The Clemson Tigers were defeated 34-3 by the Georgia Bulldogs in the Aflac Kickoff Game on Saturday.

It was the Tigers’ worst offensive performance since their last season opener in 2023 against Duke.

In that game, Clemson traveled to Duke to open the year in ACC action, but lost 28-7 to the Blue Devils.

In their last two season-opening games, the 14th-ranked Tigers have been defeated 62-10.

But there was a difference between last year and this season.

The Tigers moved the ball against the Blue Devils. Quarterback Cade Klubnik threw for 209 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. The Clemson run game had 213 yards, led by Will Shipley’s 114.

The Tigers were even efficient on third down, making 7 of 15 runs, nearly 50 percent.

Mistakes came for Clemson against Duke. The Tigers had three turnovers and the Blue Devils were able to convert them into points.

However, against Georgia, the Tigers were weak on offense.

Where there was balance against Duke, there was no balance against Georgia, which has one of the best defenses in the country. Klubnik threw for 142 yards and an interception. The run game was essentially shut down. Phil Mafah rushed for 59 yards, but as a team the Tigers gained just 46 yards on the ground.

After racking up yards against Duke last year, the Tigers failed to reach 200 yards against the nation’s No. 1 team, finishing with just 188 total yards.

Clemson committed just one turnover, but it didn’t matter.

The offensive short-circuiting led to questions about Tigers offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, who was imported from TCU after helping the Horned Frogs reach the national championship game two years ago. That Horned Frogs team became the first Big 12 team to win a College Football Playoff game and had one of the most explosive offenses in the country that season.

Riley’s system hasn’t translated yet at Clemson. Saturday’s loss felt like a low point.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was asked to evaluate Riley’s performance on Saturday, and indeed since his arrival.

Swinney’s answer was short.

“I think we have a long season ahead of us,” Swinney said.

The long season continues Saturday against Appalachian State.

Last year, Clemson followed up its loss to Duke with a 66-17 drubbing of FCS school Charleston Southern. The Tigers won’t get a similar break from the Mountaineers, who are one of the top Group of 5 schools and a force in the Sun Belt Conference.