One of many largest faculty soccer rivalries — in title model, if not historic significance — is again.
Georgia soccer is about to face off with Clemson for the 66th time within the historical past of the applications at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to open the 2024 faculty soccer season. The Bulldogs are as soon as once more the No. 1 general staff within the US LBM Coaches Ballot preseason prime 25, whereas the Tigers are No. 14.
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The Bulldogs had been the two-time defending champions coming into final season, however an SEC championship sport loss to Alabama snapped a 29-game successful streak and ended the hopes of a three-peat. The Tigers completed with their worst ACC report since 2010 with a 4-4 convention mark.
Georgia and Clemson have had a unusual rivalry for faculties separated by simply over 70 miles, with Georgia main the all-time collection 43-18-4. Saturday marks the second straight neutral-site matchup between the applications and the sixth general within the collection. Each groups determine to be distinguished contenders within the expanded 12-team School Soccer Playoff, making Saturday’s matchup much more essential on the finish of the season.
This is what it is advisable know concerning the historical past between Georgia and Clemson on the gridiron, together with data and extra:
Watch Georgia-Clemson soccer dwell with Fubo (free trial)Georgia soccer report vs. Clemson
Georgia leads the all-time collection with Clemson 43-18-4 in 65 conferences. The Bulldogs are 27-7-1 in Athens vs. the Tigers and 12-10-2 at Clemson. UGA is 4-0-1 in impartial web site video games between the 2 squads. (The groups performed in Augusta from 1907-13. Nevertheless, the 1907 and 1908 video games had been thought-about residence video games for Clemson in Augusta).
Most lately, the groups performed a neutral-site sport in Charlotte in 2021, the positioning of this yr’s opener. In addition they squared off as soon as in Anderson, South Carolina, one other residence sport for Clemson.
Georgia’s largest margin of victory was 55-0, which it achieved in a blowout victory in 1920. Clemson’s largest win was 36-0, which it achieved in 1902. The Bulldogs gained 10 straight matchups between 1920 and 1954, whereas the Tigers reeled off seven straight wins between 1900 and 1906. Presently, Georgia holds a two-game successful streak within the rivalry.
Georgia soccer vs. Clemson from Nineties-Nineteen Fifties
The rivalry dates again to 1897, when the groups confronted off for the primary time on Oct. 9 in Athens. The Bulldogs gained that matchup 24-0. The groups confronted off yearly from 1897 to 1916, after which for 3 years in 1919-21. Georgia gained the primary three video games within the collection earlier than dropping seven straight to Clemson.
The groups performed simply as soon as extra within the Nineteen Twenties and solely eight occasions mixed within the Nineteen Thirties, ’40s and ’50s. From the collection’ inception in 1897 by 1955, the Bulldogs posted a 20-10-2 report towards the Tigers — together with 10 straight victories between 1920 and 1955.
Georgia soccer vs. Clemson from Sixties-Nineteen Eighties
Beginning within the 1962 season, the rivalry between the 2 applications kicked off once more, with them enjoying yearly by 1987, apart from 1972. Georgia beat Clemson in 1962 earlier than the 2 groups performed to a 7-7 tie in 1963. The Bulldogs then pulled off seven consecutive wins from 1964 to 1973. The interval from 1977 to 1995 was probably the most aggressive within the collection, with Georgia holding a slight 8-6-1 benefit throughout that stretch.
A peak second throughout this stretch was Kevin Butler’s iconic 60-yard subject purpose as time expired in 1984, which handed No. 20 Georgia the upset victory over No. 2 Clemson. The Bulldogs earned the 26-23 victory regardless of trailing 20-3 at halftime.
Georgia soccer’s vs. Clemson from Nineties-2020s
The Bulldogs and Tigers have confronted off 9 occasions since 1990, with UGA holding a 7-2 report in 9 video games. In 2002, Georgia raced off to a 21-7 lead within the first half earlier than Clemson scored 21 straight factors to guide 28-21 coming into the fourth quarter in Athens. Georgia evened the rating with 12:35 remaining, and Billy Bennett kicked the game-winning subject purpose for the Bulldogs within the 31-28 win.
In 2003, Georgia restricted Clemson to only 199 complete yards in a 30-0 victory in Clemson to mark its fifth straight win over Clemson. Nevertheless, in 2013, the No. 8 Tigers bought the very best of the No. 5 Bulldogs behind a four-touchdown efficiency from quarterback Tajh Boyd in Clemson. In 2014, the No. 12 Bulldogs avenged the No. 16 Tigers in a 45-21 victory in Athens behind a 198-yard speeding, four-touchdown sport for working again Todd Gurley. Whereas the sport was tied at 21 at halftime, Georgia outscored Clemson 24-0 within the second half.
The Tigers and Bulldogs in Charlotte final confronted off on Sept. 4, 2021. In an offensive battle, Christopher Smith’s second-quarter 74-yard pick-six off of Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei proved to be the sport’s solely landing, leading to a 10-3 victory for No. 5 Georgia over the No. 3 Tigers.
Georgia ended up successful the 2021 nationwide championship.