UGA, Clemson Will Play Football In Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — The Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson Tigers will be renewing a rivalry that's more than a century old — and they'll be doing it in Atlanta.

The two teams, both considered contenders for this year's college football championship, will face off in the 2024 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game. The game will be played Aug. 31, 2024 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, organizers announced Friday.

The game will be the 65th time UGA and Clemson have faced each other, but by game time, it will be the first meeting of the two squads in a decade. The last time longtime rivals played, in 2014, Georgia won, 45-21. UGA has a 42-18-4 advantage over the Tigers.

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"Many of the players on both teams know each other and the proximity of the two schools makes it especially competitive," said UGA head football coach Kirby Smart. "This is another great opportunity for our team and our fans to play an outstanding team in an extraordinary city and venue."

The matchup will mark Georgia's fifth appearance in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game. Most recently, the Dawgs defeated North Carolina, 33-24, in 2016. They also are scheduled to open their 2020 season in Atlanta against Virginia and, again in 2022 versus Oregon.

It will be Clemson's third appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The Tigers fell 34-10 to Alabama in the inaugural Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in 2008, but later defeated Auburn 26-19 in the 2012 game.

"I’ve said many times that I think the Clemson-Georgia rivalry is one of the best rivalries in college football," Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney said. "It’s one I watched way before I even came to Clemson. I think it’s great for both fan bases. It will be one of those games that everybody will enjoy. Obviously it’s a tough opener for both teams, but it’s fun to be a part of games like that."

The teams will battle for The Old Leather Helmet Trophy, one of college football’s newest rivalry icons. Traditionally, winners of The Old Leather Helmet don the helmet on the field after the game, starting with the head coach and then rotating from player to player as the team celebrates its victory.

Photo via GeorgiaDogs.com