Clemson Tigers entered the 2025 college football season with aspirations of claiming the national championship. However, after suffering two losses in just three weeks, head coach Dabo Swinney and his team are now facing a barrage of questions without clear answers. Their latest setback occurred at Bobby Dodd Field on Saturday afternoon, where they lost to Georgia Tech 24-21, thanks to a dramatic 55-yard field goal from Aidan Birr as time expired. The victory propelled the Yellow Jackets to a perfect 3-0 start, positioning them as potential dark horses for the College Football Playoff.
As Swinney grimaced while shaking hands with Georgia Tech's coach Brent Key, the reality set in for the Tigers: they now sit at 1-2, marking their worst start since 2014. Swinney expressed his frustration, stating, “The only thing worse than 1-2 is 1-3. We’ve gotta find a way to win a game. We can’t put our head down and pout.”
Clemson's inability to capitalize on their talent has been a critical issue, primarily due to offensive turnovers and defensive lapses. The problems were evident from the start of the game. Quarterback Cade Klubnik, who was touted as a Heisman contender, fumbled on the Tigers' opening possession, allowing Georgia Tech to score a quick 3-0 lead with a field goal.
Things didn’t improve for Clemson as kicker Nolan Hauser missed a 52-yard attempt late in the first quarter. Georgia Tech then extended their lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter when quarterback Haynes King connected with receiver Eric Rivers for a crucial 42-yard gain, setting up a 5-yard rushing touchdown by running back Jamal Haynes.
Georgia Tech continued to dominate, increasing their lead to 13-0 with another field goal midway through the second quarter. Just when it seemed Clemson was gaining momentum by scoring a touchdown before halftime—after three attempts inside the 5-yard line—Klubnik threw a critical interception inside Georgia Tech's 10-yard line at the start of the third quarter. This missed opportunity proved detrimental for a Clemson offense that has struggled to find its rhythm throughout the season.
Despite the setbacks, the Tigers managed to take a brief 14-13 lead when Klubnik connected with sophomore receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. for a stunning 73-yard touchdown. They later tied the game at 21 with just over three minutes left. However, King continued to pose problems for the Tigers’ defense, completing 20 of 28 passes for 211 yards and contributing 101 rushing yards with a touchdown on 25 carries. Clemson's defense failed to contain him, missing assignments and tackles, and allowing Georgia Tech to average 6.2 yards per play compared to Clemson's 5.1.
The trajectory for Clemson this season is now a hot topic within the ACC. With losses to both LSU and Georgia Tech, combined with a narrow comeback win over Troy, the Tigers' odds of making the Playoff have plummeted to just 18 percent, according to The Athletic’s Austin Mock, down from 80 percent at the beginning of the season. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech’s odds have risen to 23 percent following their victory.
At 0-1 in the ACC, Clemson still has a pathway to win the conference and potentially secure a playoff spot. Yet, given the team's performance over the first three weeks, they appear far from living up to the national championship expectations set just a month ago. Swinney emphasized the urgency of their situation, stating, “We’ve got no room for error. We’re uphill and the wind’s at our face. But hey, we’ve still got life, and as long as we stay together and keep competing, anything can happen. We’ve just got to find a way to win a game.”
This story will be updated as the season progresses.
