Georgia dominates Clemson 34-3, opens season with win: Live updates, reaction (2024)

ATLANTA — Three years ago, Georgia and Clemson opened the season against each other on a neutral field and slogged it out, with nary an offensive touchdown scored. Three years later, it looked as though their next meeting — also opening the season on a neutral field — would be a redux.

But then Carson Beck and the Georgia offense got going.

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ATLANTA — Coach Dabo Swinney will always have his two national championships. Clemson will forever be indebted to him for breathing life back into the program and delivering the school’s first title since 1981. When he walks away from football someday, his spot in the College Football Hall of Fame will be waiting for him.

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ATLANTA — Georgia receiver Dillon Bell was standing on one side of a back room at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday afternoon, heaping praise on the part of his team that yielded just three points to Clemson.

“I feel like we play the best defense in the country every day at practice,” Bell said. “It shows that every day.”

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After a low-scoring, hard-hitting start, No. 1 Georgia ran away from No. 14 Clemson for a dominant 34-3 win. The Bulldogs were led by their stars, on both sides of the ball, with highly touted NFL Draft prospects Carson Beck, Malaki Starks and Mykel Williams, as well as rising talent Jalon Walker, all playing significant roles.

The Athletic draft experts Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner on what they saw from those future pros: Carson Beck, QB (23-of-33 passing for 278 yards and two TDs; three rushes for 23 yards):

Those looking for a “wow” factor from Beck likely were disappointed. But part of that is the Georgia offense, which emphasizes the quick game and encourages checkdowns. All Beck does, though, is execute at a high level by attacking the void in the defense. He has a quick release, eliminates things quickly and competes with a calming confidence that keeps him locked in.

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Dabo Swinney is asked about his stance on the transfer portal after a loss like this. "People are gonna say whatever they wanna say. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what I say, people are gonna say whatever they want to say. But we do what’s best for Clemson year in and year out and people can say – and when you lose like this, they’ve got every right to say whatever they wanna say. So say whatever you wanna say, write whatever you wanna write. That comes with it. It’s just part of it."

The Bulldogs' offense dominated the second half against Clemson, scoring four touchdowns.

Carson Beck completed 23-of-33 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the game. True freshman Nate Frazier rushed for 83 yards on only 11 carries.

Beck completed passes to nine receivers.

Total yards: Georgia 447, Clemson 188

Passing yards: Georgia 278, Clemson 142

Rushing yards: Georgia 169, Clemson 46

First downs: Georgia 19, Clemson 13

Georgia looks exactly like a national championship contender. Get Trevor Etienne in that backfield, get some of these ultra-gifted young guys on both sides of the ball more reps and this might be college football’s official wagon by October.

As for Clemson, there’s too much quality on this team for today’s disappointment to be taken as a rejection of ACC/Playoff hopes. But man, Cade Klubnik and that passing attack. That was not at all what Clemson fans were hoping to see.

Clemson’s offense has broken its defense – and this is said after the first good drive of the day for the Tigers. Also, Carson Beck and Georgia get some credit for the gradual eroding of the Tigers’ energy and enthusiasm. Beck is a tidy 20 for 27 for 225 yards, Georgia is finding chunks of yardage with a nice mix of play calling, and this is now infringing on laugher territory, 20-3 Georgia.

Georgia's second touchdown in the second half, again on a pass-heavy drive where Mike Bobo went pass-heavy and used short passes to get the ball in playmakers' hands. Nate Frazier punches in the touchdown, it's 20-3, and it feels like we're approaching the end of the drama here.