Andy Staples: 'Georgia has widened the gap' vs. Clemson by utilizing transfer portal

Georgia and Clemson last played in 2021, with the Bulldogs earning a 10-3 win in a low-scoring slugfest. Since then, Georgia has won two national titles, while Clemson has missed the College Football Playoff three straight years.

On3’s Andy Staples joined Paul Finebaum on Tuesday and was asked for his thoughts on this year’s matchup. Staples feels that Clemson’s roster hasn’t taken a step forward the way that Georgia’s has, thanks in large part to the Bulldogs use of the transfer portal.

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“You know, you go back to when they opened the season against each other in 2021, we had not had the NIL, full transfer portal, ability to flip rosters the way we can now,” Andy Staples said. “Georgia obviously still recruits as well out of high school as anybody. Clemson recruits almost as well out of high school as anybody. But Clemson doesn’t do anything in the transfer portal. And when Georgia has an issue, it goes and gets somebody.”

The Bulldogs went to the transfer portal this past offseason and brought in several difference makers who are expected to have a big role against Clemson and throughout the season. Florida transfer running back Trevor Etienne could be suspended for the opener against the Tigers after an offseason arrest, but there are others from the portal with big-time potential.

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“Georgia went and got Colbie Young, who they’re going to turn out to need after kicking Rara Thomas off the team,” Staples said. “They got Trevor Etienne. He got arrested so we’ll see if he plays in this game. But they went and got Ben Yurosek from Stanford who can do some of the things that maybe they lost when they lost Brock Bowers. So Georgia’s done that at every turn and Clemson hasn’t, and I think that will be the difference.”

Georgia also has the edge at quarterback heading into the matchup with the Tigers. The Bulldogs return potential first-round pick Carson Beck at QB, while Clemson has back junior Cade Klubnik, who struggled in his first year as a starter in 2023.

Overall, Staples feels good about Georgia coming out on top.

“Georgia’s got a very experienced quarterback in Carson Beck. I mean you go back to the last time they opened the season against each other, it was a slobberknocker – 10-3. JT Daniels is starting for Georgia, he gets banged up. And you realize Georgia’s ahead of Clemson at that point,” Staples said. “I feel like Georgia has widened the gap, and I think we’re going to see that on Saturday.

“Now Dabo told us all last season towards the end, as they started to win games, to buy stock in Clemson. So maybe I’m completely wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t have shorted them. But we’re going to find out.”