Keys to Victory: No. 12 Clemson at Georgia Tech

The Match-Up:

No. 12 Clemson (1-1, 0-0 ACC) at Georgia Tech (2-0, 0-0 ACC)

The game will be the 90th meeting between the two programs, dating to their first meeting in 1898, Clemson's third year of football. Amidst changes to the ACC scheduling model, Clemson and Georgia Tech did not face each other last year, ending a streak of 41 consecutive years in which the two programs had met.

Kickoff:

• Saturday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Bobby Dodd Stadium

Last Week: Clemson stared down a 16-0 hole vs. Troy before ripping off 27 unanswered to win 27-16. The Tigers strung together five straight scoring drives and then milked the final 4:24 to close it out—an important response heading into ACC play.

Series History:

Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 51-36-2, but Clemson owns a 25-17 edge since Tech joined the ACC (1983). The Tigers have won nine straight in the series; the last meeting was a 42-21 Clemson win on Nov. 11, 2023.

Roster Watch:

• QB Cade Klubnik (Sr.)
  • Season Stats: 37/62 426 Yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT - Guiding an offense that must stay on schedule this week.
• RB Adam Randall (Sr.)
  • Season Stats: 26 Carries, 128 Yards, 2 TDs - Hammering runs in the second half against Troy helped turn the momentum. 
• WR Bryant Wesco (So.)
  • Season Stats: 11 Catches, 184 Yards, 2 TDs - Chain-mover for the Tigers' air attack. Has played well the first two weeks of the season.
• LB Sammy Brown (So.)
  • Season Stats: 127 Snaps, 12 Solo, 3 Assists, 15 Total Tackles - Heat-seeking tackler who should factor into QB-run fits.

Georgia Tech QB Check:

Haynes King gashed Colorado in the opener with 156 rushing yards and three TDs, adding 143 passing yards. He has dealt with a lower-body issue since that game; he did not play last week, and Brent Key said this week that King “looks good” in recovery with a decision to come close to kickoff.

Quick Hitters:

Keys to Victory:

Cage Haynes King: 

This is Job 1. King’s opener: 156 rush, 3 TD on the ground, with the go-ahead 45-yard keeper late.

Build the plan around:

• Spy & scrape-exchange: Use Wade Woodaz/Sammy Brown as a dedicated spy on passing downs; scrape the edge vs. zone-read to force the ball inside.
• Mush-rush lanes: Keep rush integrity so King can’t slip through gaps—T.J. Parker and the Tiger interior lineman like DeMonte Capehart and Peter Woods must compress, not overrun.
• QB-draw awareness: Alert on 3rd-medium/low red—King’s favorite stressor. Make him win with layered throws outside the numbers.
• Hit, then rally: Tackle through the thighs and swarm to the ball.

Stay on Schedule: 

Avoid the “behind the sticks” traps—sacks, TFLs, and pre-snap penalties. Lean on Randall’s steady diet and the quick-game/RPO menu (glance & slants to WRs; perimeter now-screens). As long as the Tigers embrace profits, they should have solid success. With a good first down, it sets manageable situations; 2nd-and-5 is your friend, 2nd-and-12 is not.

Win Special Teams:

Field position and points could swing this. Jack Smith has flipped fields early; keep the ball out of GT’s return lanes and pin with plus-territory punts. Hauser’s range (18-of-24 last season; 56-yard long) must travel this weekend. In a tight one, every kick counts. Hauser’s miss against LSU was the start of a momentum swing in the Bayou Bengals' favor. He’s got to be solid on the road. Clemson can’t leave points on the field in Atlanta. 

Prediction:

Georgia Tech’s QB run game poses real stress, but if Clemson limits King’s explosives, stays efficient on early downs, and cashes in on special teams, the Tigers can extend their streak in the series. There is no doubt in this observer's opinion that the Yellow Jackets are on the rise, but the Tigers are the more talented team from top to bottom.

The Pick: Clemson 31-23 

Season Record: 1-1

Swanny’s Predictions:

✅ = Correct Prediction