Clemson vs. Georgia set for Primetime on ABC
CLEMSON, S.C. — ESPN announced today that kickoff for Clemson's season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 4 has been set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The contest will air nationally on ABC.
The game will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte as part of the 2021 Duke's Mayo Classic. Though the game will be played at a neutral site, Clemson has made itself at home in the venue in recent years, posting a 7-1 all-time record at Bank of America Stadium, including a 1-0 mark in regular season play (vs. Temple in 2006) and a 6-0 record in ACC Championship Games.
The 2021 season opener represents the sixth scheduled meeting between Clemson and Georgia over the next 14 seasons. In addition to the game in Charlotte, the two programs will face one another in the 2024 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. The historic geographic rivals have also previously announced two home-and-home series featuring games in Clemson in 2029 and 2033 and games in Athens in 2030 and 2032.
– ESPN’s Release –
With just over 100 days until the start of the 2021 college football season, ESPN’s industry-leading production of the sport is set for the spotlight with blockbuster showdowns in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff and Duke’s Mayo Classic, as well as marquee matchups and renewed rivalries headlining the early release of ESPN’s college football schedule.
ACC vs. SEC Ranked Teams Clash in Charlotte and Atlanta
ABC’s Labor Day Weekend coverage includes the much-anticipated Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte featuring No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 1 Clemson on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The primetime clash of top-five teams from the SEC and ACC solidifies the return of big-time college football. Earlier that day, defending National Champion Alabama, ranked No. 2, faces No. 25 Miami in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta at 3:30 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 5, Florida State and No. 15 Notre Dame tussle in Tallahassee at 7:30 p.m.
In addition to Saturday’s Crimson Tide-Hurricanes game, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will also play host to a second Chick-fil-A Kickoff showdown with Louisville vs. No. 18 Ole Miss on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 6) at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Matchups Set for First Three Weeks of ABC’s Saturday Night Football
In addition to the Labor Day Saturday showdown between the Dawgs and the top-ranked Tigers, the following two weeks of ABC’s Saturday Night Football, ESPN’s premier college football franchise, are set with a pair of titanic non-conference contests. On Saturday, Sept. 11, Michigan plays host to No. 14 Washington, before Auburn travels to No. 22 Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 18, both at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
Longstanding Foes Face Off on ESPN Networks
ESPN networks will welcome some of the biggest rivalries in the sport, including No. 21 Texas at Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. No. 3 Oklahoma will be showcased in its two top rivalry games on ESPN networks this fall. The fifth-longest rivalry in college football history, the Red River Showdown against the Longhorns is set for Saturday, Oct. 9 in Dallas. Over Thanksgiving Weekend, the Sooners and Oklahoma State will battle for bragging rights and the Bedlam Bell on Saturday, Nov. 27.
In October, games with potential postseason impacts are already scheduled for ESPN networks. Virginia Tech hosts the 15th-ranked Fighting Irish on Saturday, Oct. 9 in just their fourth meeting all-time. On the last Saturday of the month, the rivalry between Florida State and No. 1 Clemson is renewed after the teams did not meet in 2020, the first time in nearly 30 seasons. Additionally, high-profile intraconference games and rivalries from the Big Ten (including several featuring reigning conference champion and CFP runner-up Ohio State), SEC, Pac-12, American and others will litter the schedule throughout October and November. Times and networks for these games, as well as the Red River Showdown and Bedlam Series, will be announced at a later date.
In total, 10 of ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 teams are featured in this first round of games revealed during Disney Upfront. The first three weeks and all special date games of ESPN’s college football schedule will be unveiled on Thursday, May 27.