Georgia Athletic Director says rivalry with Clemson could be rekindled in near future

CLEMSON – One of Clemson’s rivals could be making its way back on the schedule.

Last week, according to The State’s Matt Connolly, Dabo Swinney said he “absolutely” would want to schedule the University of Georgia in the near future.

“I think it’d be great for both fan bases. I’ve said that for a long time,” Swinney told The State. “We’re going to play somebody like that every year. We go to Texas A&M this year, then they come to us. We played Auburn a bunch of times. So I think that would be great.”

The Tigers and Bulldogs have not met since the two played a home-and-home series in 2013-14 where the home team won each game. Georgia leads the series 42-18-4, and the two met every season from 1962 to 1987 except 1966 and 1972.

That could be changing in the next few years.

Georgia’s Athletic Director Greg McGarity said Clemson and Georgia could be seeing each other in the “not too distant future” according to Marc Weiser of the Athens Banner-Herald.

The report notes that Georgia has non-conference openings in its schedule from 2021-2024. When McGarity was asked if Clemson could fill one of those voids, he simply responded with “yes,” per the report.

Clemson has openings in its nonconference schedule in 2021 and 2024. The Tigers will play at Texas A&M this season and then host the Aggies at home next season.

The two programs always like to schedule Power 5 games out of conference to bolster resumes and get fan bases buzzing. The Tigers played Auburn home-and-home the last two years, and Georgia went on the road to Notre Dame last year.

It all seems to make sense - A rivalry renewed for the fans and another game as a tune-up for two elite programs as they race towards the College Football Playoff.

For now, fans will be left salivating, but their appetites for a Georgia-Clemson rivalry could be satisfied in due time.