LIVE UPDATES: No. 1 Georgia 34, No. 14 Clemson 3 - FINAL

ATLANTA, Ga. — It’s officially here. Georgia kicks off its 2024 campaign in the capital city of the Peach State, taking on a long time rival and a top-15 team in Clemson. The Bulldogs and Tigers have met 65 times with Georgia leading the series 43-18-4. They first matched up in October of 1897 and played every season – with the exception of 1917 and 1918 – through 1921. Most recently, UGA handed Clemson a loss in the 2021 opener in Charlotte. None of that matters today though.

Top-ranked Georgia is led by quarterback Carson Beck, considered to be the nation’s top signal caller. He’s surrounded by a plethora of weapons including Dominic Lovett, Dillon Bell and Oscar Delp. The Bulldogs also went out and added talent in the transfer portal over the offseason and puts all of it behind an offensive line that returns four starters up front.

Defensively, it’s much of the same. Kirby Smart and his coaching staff have recruited to a point where it’s always reload and never rebuild. All-American caliber players return at ever level with Mykel Williams, Smael Mondon and Malaki Starks. There’s experienced options like Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson, CJ Allen, Jalon Walker and Daylen Everette all over the field with others that can step in and do the job too.

As for the opponent, Dabo Swinney brings in his Tigers, ranked No. 14 in both the preseason AP and Coaches polls. They’re coming off of their first season with fewer than 10 wins since 2010 but have hope to return to the College Football Playoffs in the ACC with the door open to 12 teams this season.

It should be an interested one, and we’re as excited to see it as you all are. For information on how to watch, check out the section below.

How to Watch, Listen and Stream

Kickoff Time: 12:00 p.m. ET

TV: ABC (Sean McDonough – Play by Play, Greg McElroy – Color Commentator, Molly McGrath – Sideline Reporter)

Streaming: WatchESPN/ESPN+ (For more info, click here)

National Radio: Touchdown Radio (Gino Toretta and Brett Dolan) / Local Radio (listed below): Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (Scott Howard, Eric Zeier and D.J. Shockley) / Satellite Radio: Sirius (810), National Sirius (381)

For local radio information and a full list of Georgia Bulldog Sports Network affiliates, click here.

STREAM | LISTEN | STATS

As always, there’s one more way to keep up with the goings on in this game. In the space below, DawgsHQ will be providing live updates, scores, highlights and news from before and during the game. Just use the refresh button on your browser to see those updates as they roll in.

Fourth Quarter

*** Incompletion turns it over on downs as Gunner Stockton enters to finish this one out for Georgia. (UGA 34-3 FINAL)

*** Cade Klubnik has connected on four passes to help drive Clemson down the field, but a pair of penalties are looming large. Tigers will have a 4th and 6 from the UGA 19 after the two minute timeout.
*** Georgia’s working on getting some guys into the game up 31. Ellis Robinson among those in, but called for a pass interference penalty.

*** Georgia’s running backs put together an impressive drive capped off by a 15-yard score for Cash Jones. That puts the Bulldogs ahead by 30. PAT makes it 31. (UGA 34-3 6:09 4Q)

*** Nate Frazier takes the next play 40 yards into Clemson territory. Georgia calls for timeout to avoid a delay of game, but the Bulldogs are rolling now.
*** Malaki Starks comes up with an interception as Cade Klubnik tries to go deep. Looked eerily similar to his from freshman season in this same building, falling back as he came down with it. Spike pads come out as Georgia takes over.

*** Carson Beck completes to Arian Smith for a gain of 11. Then, facing a 3rd and 9, he finds London Humphreys who takes it down the sideline for the score from 40 yards out. Another newcomer finds the end zone. (UGA 27-3 9:57 4Q)

*** Anthony Evans returns the punt to the UGA 46 after a gain of 14 yards. Georgia offense will take over there.
*** Cade Klubnik taken down by Walker and Raylen Wilson. Loss of 2. Nice series for Walker.
*** Jalon Walker comes up with a sack and a loss of 12 yards for the Clemson offense. After an incompletion, it’ll be 3rd and 22 from the Tiger 16.
*** Clemson moves the chains on 3rd and 1 with a run up the gut by Phil Mafah. After the play, Nazir Stackhouse is down and being attended to by the training staff. Returns to the defensive huddle under his own power however.

Third Quarter

*** UGA goes three-and-out, losing a yard, and punts it away. Clemson runs one play, backed up inside its own 20, before the third quarter clock runs out. Tigers will face 2nd and 7 from their 18 when play resumes.
*** Georgia will get it back quickly. Bulldogs force a third three-and-out in four drives and their fourth of the day. Fair catch by Anthony Evans gives UGA possession at its own 30.

*** Nate Frazier punches it in on the next play from a yard out. (UGA 20-3 3:15 3Q)
*** Carson Beck scrambles for 10 before finding Dominic Lovett for another first down. Beck to Lovett gets Georgia to the 1.
*** London Humphreys picks up 23 yards on 3rd and 10. Keeps the drive alive and moves the chains. Georgia has it at the Clemson 28, threatening for another touchdown.
*** Carson Beck connects with Nate Frazier for 24 yards on the first play of the drive. That gets Georgia out to the 49 yard line.

*** Georgia’s defense holds its own and forces a field goal. Nolan Hauser makes from 26 yards out. (UGA 13-3 6:34 3Q)
*** Phil Mafah carries it for 7 yards to set up a 1st and Goal for Clemson.
*** Tigers face a 3rd and 2 after a review for targeting on KJ Bolden. He stays in after its determined no foul.
*** Clemson picks up a first down and then some thanks to a Cade Klubnik 19-yard completion and a roughing the passer call on Damon Wilson. Gets the Tigers to the UGA 36, furthest into Georgia territory the Tigers have gone.

*** Colbie Young high points it and hauls in the first touchdown of the season for Georgia. Bulldogs lined up to go for two but a false start backs them up. Peyton Woodring kicks the PAT instead. (UGA 13-0 12:01 3Q)
*** Another Georgia receiver making an impact. Dillon Bell takes a jet sweep 27 yards to the Clemson 9. 1st and Goal UGA.
*** Arian Smith touches it on the first two plays from scrimmage this half. After a 7 yard rush, he picked up 32 on a reception from Carson Beck.

Second Quarter

*** One second remains after the touchback and Clemson takes a knee to take it to the locker room in a one-score game. (UGA 6-0 HALF)
*** Georgia takes its first timeout of the half ahead of an upcoming punt. Should send us to halftime.
*** Carson Beck keeps the play alive with his legs and connects with Dillon Bell for a pickup to the Clemson 13. It’s coming back though due to an offensive pass interference on Arian Smith, who thought Beck was going to take off with it himself. Makes it 1st and 20 instead at the UGA 32.
*** Nate Frazier picks up a first down with a pair of carries. Then, Carson Beck draws a Clemson defender offside. Will be 1st and 5 UGA at the Clemson 47 after the new two-minute timeout. Bulldogs still have all three of theirs too.

*** Another three-and-out for Clemson’s offense. Julian Humphrey with nice coverage and a breakup on a third down shot play. Georgia to take over at its own 31 with 3:13 to go in the half.
*** Joseph Jonah-Ajonye seeing some action with the Georgia defensive line. KJ Bolden nearly came up with an interception. Top-ranked recruiting class showing up strong already.

*** Peyton Woodring hits from 55 yards out. Career-long and first make from over 50 yards. Missed opportunity, but it’s more points for the Bulldogs. (UGA 6-0 4:16 2Q)
*** Georgia picks up 31 on the first play from scrimmage on a Lawson Luckie completion and is quickly into Clemson territory. Things stall out from there though and it’s another field goal attempt.

*** Clemson lines up to go for it after being stopped short of the line to gain. Tigers call for a timeout – their final of the first half – only to bring out the punt team.
*** Mykel Williams with a tackle for loss as he gets the the sideline to take down Mafah on completion. Clemson calls for a timeout facing 3rd and 13.
*** Clemson gets things going from its own 25 after the touchback. Toss to Phil Mafah for a gain of two.

*** Georgia forced to settle for a field goal after Carson Beck is sacked on 3rd and 4. Peyton Woodring hits from 30 yards out to put the Bulldogs on the board. (UGA 3-0 8:49 2Q)
*** Dillon Bell almost breaks free for a score. Sheds one tackler and almost another on his way to 23 yards. Taken down at the Clemson 14.
*** Timeout Clemson. First of the half for the Tigers with UGA in plus territory at the 39-yard line.
*** Carson Beck completes to Dominic Lovett for a pickup of 15. Georgia has it in Clemson territory now.
*** Nate Frazier gets his first career carry to open the second quarter. Freshman picks up three yards.

First Quarter

*** Georgia picks up nine yards with a pass out of the backfield to Branson Robinson. That’ll be it for the first quarter. Bulldogs face a 2nd and 1 at their own 29 when play resumes.
*** Bulldogs do get off the field with a second chance. Jalon Walker and Raylen Wilson stop Antonio Williams after just a one yard gain. Punt just barely goes into the end zone for a touchback. Georgia offense will take over at its 20.
*** Tigers looked to convert on a 3rd and 9 but an illegal formation brings it back. Georgia gets another chance to get off the field.
*** First big play of the day. Cade Klubnik completes to Antonio Williams down the sideline with Daylen Everette in coverage. Looked like he caught it clean but they’ll take another look at it.

*** Georgia goes three-and-out after Dillon Bell comes up just short of the line to gain on 3rd and 4. Brett Thorson’s 43-yard punt is fair caught at the Clemson 15. An observation, very vanilla so far from the Bulldog offense. Only have run 10 plays but several of the names mentioned throughout fall camp have not seen the field.

*** Nice catch by the Clemson receiver but he’s stopped short of the line to gain. Georgia plays punt safe and will take over after a fair catch from Anthony Evans at their own 34.
*** Warren Brinson being attended to by trainers now. He was grabbing at his left ankle after the play was over. Nice rush by Mykel Williams to force a throw away. Will be 3rd and 7 after the injury timeout.
*** Georgia trying some different things with its secondary on the second drive. Malaki Starks playing STAR with KJ Bolden next to Dan Jackson at safety.

*** Beck can’t connect with Dillon Bell on 3rd and 8. Brett Thorson punts it away, downed by Arian Smith at the Clemson 5.
*** Carson Beck scrambles for a conversion on 3rd and 10. Play picks up 13 yards to the Clemson 43.
*** Branson Robinson the tailback to start things off for Georgia. Awesome to see him make his return in such quick fashion after a tough injury during fall camp of last season.
*** UGA takes over at its 33 after a nine yard return. Bulldogs move the chains on the first play after Arian Smith picks up 11.

*** KJ Bolden in for the first third down of the season and he comes up with the stop. Clemson goes three-and-out and punts to Anthony Evans.
*** Georgia starts this one off with a lineup featuring the following: Christen Miller, Nazir Stackhouse, Mykel Williams, Chaz Chambliss, CJ Allen, Smael Mondon, Dan Jackson, Malaki Starks, Daylen Everette, Julian Humphrey and JaCorey Thomas.
*** Kickoff goes for a touchback and Clemson will start with it at their own 25.

*** Clemson has won the toss and elected to receive. Georgia will kick going left to right on your screen.
*** Captains for Georgia: Carson Beck, Mykel Williams, Tate Ratledge and Jalon Walker

Pregame

*** Hard to tell the split of fans in here (orange and red are so similar, plus the empty seats are read) but both sides are well represented given the fact Atlanta is so close to both campuses. Should be a great environment for football.

*** It doesn’t mean anything definitive but Trevor Etienne did get the carries with the first team offense during 11-on-11.
*** Julian Humphrey ahead of Daniel Harris during pregame warmups. They’ll both play. One thing to watch, Joenel Aguero has done less than normal during warmups. JaCorey Thomas appeared as if he got the first look at STAR.
*** As expected, Jordan Hall, Xzavier McLeod and Roderick Robinson in street clothes. Robinson was on a scooter while the other two are walking under their own power.
*** First group of players have taken the field. Trevor Etienne is dressed out and returning punts. Dillon Bell, Cash Jones, Nate Frazier, Dominic Lovett, Anthony Evans, Sacovie White and Malaki Starks doing so as well.

*** Arizona State transfer quarterback Jaden Rashada wearing a big brace on his left leg. He is on the dressed out and throwing with freshman tight end Colton Heinrich however.
*** Miami transfer receiver Colbie Young dealt with a hamstring injury during the preseason. He is dressed out and going through drills with the pass catchers. Appears set to make his Georgia debut.
*** Pete Nakos reporting that Smael Mondon IS expected to play today. Some wondered whether he’d be suspended for his offseason arrest like Etienne. Difference between the two: Mondon had his reckless driving charges dropped while Etienne did not. If true about Mondon, would also expect Sacovie White and Bo Hughley to be available. Looking like Etienne will be the only one out.

*** Should Etienne be out, it’ll mean more carries for Branson Robinson, Nate Frazier and Cash Jones. Georgia will be without Roderick Robinson after a surgery to repair an injury to his toe. Mike Bobo and the Bulldogs have shown however ways to extend the run game with perimeter pass plays and quick screens to guys like Dominic Lovett, Arian Smith and Anthony Evans. They also aren’t afraid to hand the ball off to a non-running back like Dillon Bell. Stanford transfer Ben Yurosek carried the ball for the Cardinal at points during his four seasons there.
*** Matt Zenitz of 247Sports/CBS Sports is reporting that Georgia running back Trevor Etienne is expected OUT for today’s game against Clemson. Etienne is reportedly suspended for an offseason arrest. DawgsHQ expects that to be the case as well, but will monitor the situation during pregame.