Swinney on Facing Georgia: 'You Gotta Be Playoff-Ready, Game One, Play One'

As the countdown to the 2024 college football season begins, all eyes are set on the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta, where the Clemson Tigers will face the Georgia Bulldogs at noon on August 31. The clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is poised to set the tone for the season, with both programs looking to make an early statement.

Clemson, under the guidance of head coach Dabo Swinney, has been a perennial contender in the College Football Playoff era. The Tigers claimed national titles in 2016 and 2018 and reached the championship game in 2015 and 2019. They also made semifinal runs in 2017 and 2020. Despite their storied history, Clemson has missed the playoffs since 2020, but the expanded 12-team playoff format offers a renewed path to the postseason.

On the other hand, the Bulldogs, coached by Kirby Smart, have been a dominant force in recent years, winning the College Football Playoff in 2022 and 2023. However, Georgia was left out of the playoff last season after a heartbreaking loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game at the same venue. The Dawgs went on to pound undefeated—and undermanned Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl setting the stage for this season’s ACC vs. SEC opener.

Swinney, speaking to the media last week, emphasized the importance of starting strong against a formidable opponent like Georgia.

"From our standpoint, the psyche hasn't changed in that we're all-in trying to win every single game," Swinney said. "But we also, as coaches, have done this for a long time. You have perspective. This is my 35th college football season. I've got 13 years at Alabama and going on 22 here. So I try not to get too high or too low with a win or a loss."

Swinney highlighted the need for a balanced perspective, regardless of the game's outcome win or lose. 

"You gotta move on. Big win, tough loss, you gotta move on, because you want to have a great season. So that part will probably change, and I think maybe how people schedule will probably change in this era—because I do think strength of schedule will probably become a big factor, even more so as the playoff expands."

The Tigers two-time national championship-winning coach acknowledged the significance of the season opener but stressed that it should not define the entire season.

"It's going to be a big national game with a lot of eyeballs on it. It probably does not end your playoff hopes or anything if you lose that game—but it certainly tells you a lot about who you are right off the bat.”

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Georgia defeated Clemson 10-3 in the most recent battle between the two rivals, which took place in Charlotte on September 4, 2021.

Swinney remained pragmatic, stating, "Yeah, if you win it, it doesn't tell you much either. You still gotta go win the next game. I think that's just honestly what it is. I mean, I just don't look at it that way. I think it's a huge game. This is the best team in the country, to me, for the last three years in totality in Georgia. I don't think there's any question about that."

The upcoming battle in Atlanta represents more than just a high-profile matchup; it’s a litmus test for both teams—and one the Tigers could benefit from as they hope to climb back into postseason play.

"I mean, you're coming right out of the gate playing a team like that? I mean, yeah, you find out where you are in that moment, for sure—but you can't let that moment define the rest of the season, even if you win it," Swinney remarked. "If it doesn't go your way, and you just wallow around in that, then it's gonna beat you two more times. It's an opener, and regardless of who we play, you want to come out of camp and put your best foot forward. This is just a situation where you gotta be playoff-ready, game one, play one. So, it is what it is, but it's exciting."

Swinney concluded with a note of anticipation for the marquee matchup set to broadcast nationally on ABC. 

"It's a great opportunity for both teams. This is big-time football right out of the gate with two really, really good programs—and again, a team that I think has, in totality, been clearly the best football program in the country the last three years."

As Clemson and Georgia prepare to renew their rivalry, the stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable. The 2024 season opener promises to deliver fireworks, setting the stage for what could be an unforgettable college football season for both teams.

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