This Clemson Game Takes On Special Meaning For Tech In 2025
Not too long ago- in 2018 to be precise--the Clemson - Georgia Tech game served as an incidental springboard to Clemson's ascension into the elite of elite teams in College football. 2018 was Trevor Lawrence's freshman year.
The Tigers had won the national championship in 2016 with Deshaun Watson at QB. One year later, they fell just short with Kelly Bryant at the controls, but he was returning in 2018 to attempt to lead Clemson back to the promised land.
Clemson got there, winning their second national championship in a three year span, but they did it without Kelly Bryant. Instead it was the much-anticipated Trevor Lawrence from Cartersville, Georgia who grabbed the QB job on week 4, vanquishing Bryant to the bench and ultimately prompting him to decide to transfer a short while later.
Clemson had begun the 2018 season 3-0, with comfortable wins over Furman and Georgia Southern sandwiched around a two-point win over Texas A&M.
They came to Atlanta for game four, with Bryant still the starter. He had a lukewarm start to the game ( 6 of 10 for 56 yards), and when Trevor Lawrence subbed out Bryant in the second quarter the Tiger offense ignited.
Lawrence finished the game 13of 18 for 176 yards and four touchdowns. He did throw one interception, but the firepower he brought to the Clemson offense was unmistakable. He led the Tigers to a 49-21 win over Georgia Tech.
The job was now his, and when Bryant was formally informed of same by Swinney on that following Monday, the senior quarterback made the decision to transfer.
Later that fall he confirmed plans to move, transferring to Missouri for the 2019 season. His path from starting QB in the championship game to second string to transferee was an early example of the chaotic times just ahead for college football.
Meanwhile, Dabo's Tigers took off. Following that big win over Tech, Clemson took a four point win over Syracuse. They then averaged 60 points while winning their next four games before whipping Notre Dame by 27 and then trouncing Alabama by a 44-16 count to become the first 15- 0 national champs.
In winning the 2018 crown, Clemson put itself into a different category. They had won in 2016, so this was their second title in three years.
That 's rare company. Florida did it in 2006-7-8. Alabama of course , has done it more than once. Bur winning two titles in a short time frame stamps the program out of different cloth. Elite.
And prior to their 2026 win, Clemson had not won a national title since 1981. In some ways, their move up to the most elite level was comparable to Georgia winning back to back in 2021-2, with their most recent prior having been decades earlier, in 1980.
Over Lawrence's three years at Clemson, the Tigers lost only three games total. Since then they've lost 3 or 4 games each year- still very good records, but not elite.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech looks to have turned a corner under Brent Key. The Jackets have had successive winning records for the first time in a decade, and they've developed better team depth, which is a hallmark of strong programs.
Under Key's direction, Tech has made a habit out of upsetting favored opponents. But they have also lost to some teams who were underdogs.
The goings- on Saturday in Atlanta will give fresh evidence as to which team is in fact ready to step ahead from where they've been the past few years.
Will it be Clemson, under Swinney and QB Cade Clubnik? Or will it be Georgia Tech, directed by Brent Key and senior QB Haynes King?
Clemson is a slight favorite in Las Vegas, though many feel that if Georgia Tech can solve their two game turnover habit, they have an excellent chance to move to 3-0 on the young season.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports