Underdog Uprising: Can Riley and Klubnik Spark an Upset Against No. 1 Georgia?
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As Clemson prepares for the Aflac Kickoff Game against No. 1 Georgia, the Tigers find themselves in an unfamiliar position—13.5-point underdogs. It's the largest point spread they've faced entering a game in a dozen years.
The challenge ahead is daunting, but offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is no stranger to high-stakes football. After an explosive stint at TCU that led to a national championship game berth in 2022, Riley arrived at Clemson to revitalize the Tigers' offense. However, things didn’t go as smoothly as some hoped, as there were plenty of ups and downs in 2023—including the play of then-sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik.
In his media session on Tuesday, Riley expressed confidence in the progress the team made during fall camp. "Quite a bit. You’ve got a lot of guys that are back and some new pieces that we added since last season—and healthy,” Riley noted of the Tiger offense. “You’ve just got the arsenal of guys out there—really trying to build chemistry. So that's the biggest thing that we've been able to see and feel as an offense—and offensive staff."
This time last year, Riley was still getting a feel for his personnel. Now, he feels more confident in the team’s identity as they face a menacing defense in Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs.
"I feel like we got a little bit more of a pulse of our identity and who we are and who our playmakers are. What's going to be our best personnel going up against Georgia,” Riley noted.
One of the key pieces in Riley's offense continues to be Klubnik, who enters his junior season with a full year of experience under his belt. Riley spoke highly of Klubnik's potential on Tuesday—as has been the message from players and staffers alike all off-season.
"I can't wait to see him play," Riley said. "You got a kid now that's confident because of the way it (last season) ended, the momentum that he carried into summer. Now the game experience and being in a lot of close and tight games last year…that experience alone just goes a long way."
Riley also emphasized the importance of Klubnik's ability to use his legs as an "X factor" in the offense, noting that whether it's designed runs or making plays on the fly, Klubnik's athleticism will be crucial.
“Well, I mean, his legs are always going to be an X factor, right? I mean it just has to be at the quarterback position. Whether that's designed runs or him just managing the football game the way he needs to as a quarterback, where he needs to scramble or take off or whatever,” Riley told the media. “He's athletic enough to create some plays that way. He's certainly going to be an X-factor that way, not just in this game, but all season—he's going to need to be for us.”
As for the overall offensive strategy, Riley was asked about the desire to have a "deep-strike" mentality, as the game-breaking plays were minimal last year.
"I'd love to do that," he said. "If you can be explosive, then generally, you're going to be a very good scoring offense. I feel good about our team and feel like we're going to be able to go attack people. We kind of have a unit that can do some things underneath but also have people to go in and some schemes to go over the top.”
The challenge, of course, will be executing that plan against a Georgia defense that has been nothing short of dominant under Smart.
The Bulldogs were the No. 1 team in the nation on third-down defense last season and have consistently ranked among the best in scoring defense during his tenure. Additionally, Georgia has an impressive 46-2 record over their last 48 games, with a school-record 39 consecutive regular-season victories, while nearly winning three consecutive national titles.
Clemson’s offense will need to be at its best to overcome the odds, and Riley believes they have the tools to do just that. But with Georgia's defense standing in their way, the Tigers will need to deliver on all fronts to pull off an upset in what promises to be one of the most exciting matchups of the opening weekend of college football.
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