Clemson football enters Saturday knowing this is a pivotal moment in the season.
The Tigers, ranked No. 12 after a 1-1 start, travel to Atlanta to face a Georgia Tech team sitting at 2-0 and riding confidence under head coach Brent Key. It’s Clemson’s first road test, and it also opens ACC play for both sides, making it a game with clear stakes.
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Georgia Tech has every reason to view this matchup as a measuring stick. Key has quickly brought stability to the program, and with a relatively manageable schedule after Clemson, this may be their toughest conference challenge of the year. The Jackets will no doubt be motivated, especially with the Tigers owning nine straight victories in the series.
Clemson, meanwhile, is playing with little margin for error after the season-opening loss to LSU. A stumble here could derail its hopes of returning to the Playoff, making the ACC crown the Tigers’ only realistic path. To get there, they cannot afford to slip in Week 3.
The offense remains the biggest question. Garrett Riley’s unit showed life in the second half against Troy, with Cade Klubnik finally settling in and Adam Randall flashing potential. Still, consistency remains elusive.
The Tigers will need a full game of execution, starting with Klubnik finding an early rhythm and the line creating running lanes.
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Here are our staff score predictions for Clemson vs. Georgia Tech.
Alex: Clemson 24, Georgia Tech 21
I’m going to be honest, this game is very scary for me. Georgia Tech has troubles of their own, but I’m a huge believer in Brent Key and what he’s doing over there.
Even so, the talent disparity is still too extreme between these two programs. Cade Klubnik, Garrett Riley and the Clemson offense have a lot to prove here and I’m leaning towards them doing so. All they really need to do is establish the run and give Adam Randall the opportunity to do so. I think he proved last week in a tough situation that he can.
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It’ll be closer than people would like, but Clemson should pull this one out.
Holley: Clemson 28, Georgia Tech 17
Clemson played well in the second half last week against Troy to avoid calamity, but the fact the Tigers were even in such a dire position highlighted how out of sync Garrett Riley’s offense has been to start the year.
Thankfully, the team has an opportunity to get on track in Atlanta. Getting off to a better start is imperative. This could be an all-out dogfight, but I expect Cade Klubnik and the offense to show what they’re truly capable of. The Tigers haven’t lost to Georgia Tech in over 10 years, and I don’t see that changing.
Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) throws the ball Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 during the NCAA football game against the Troy Trojans at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson Wire staff score predictions Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
