Smart Says Clemson-Georgia Matchup 'Critical' for Both Teams

After a long offseason, it’s finally game-week for Clemson and Georgia.

The two programs are longtime rivals, with the campuses about 70 miles apart, and for many years they played one another annually.

However, the season-opening matchup between the top-ranked Bulldogs and No. 14 Tigers will be just the sixth time the two schools have faced off since 1995, with Georgia having won all but one of those contests. In fact, the Dawgs have won seven of the past eight matchups, dating back to 1991.

“I think if you look at the history of Clemson and Georgia, you can go all the way back to the 80s and the great rivalries, and the games that were so epic back at that time,” Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said. “You fast forward, whatever that is, 40 years all the way up to now, and you’ve still got two perennial powers facing each other in a kickoff game. They’re both big-time rivalries. The schools are pretty close to each other, so I think that’s pretty cool.”

The fact that this game features two teams ranked inside the Top 15 really only matters to those on the outside looking in, according to Smart.

“No, I think it matters to you guys,” Smart added. “I think y’all want to have the best matchup you can possibly have, so I know as the title sponsor, Aflac loves it. I know you guys have done a tremendous job there in Atlanta in the kickoff game of making sure this is a great event. Nothing better than having two top-10 teams teeing up against each other to kick it off.”

With the College Football Playoff now having expanded to include 12 teams, including the four highest-ranked conference champions, this matchup might not have as much riding on it as it would have in the four-team playoff era. At the same time, Smart fully believes the winner will have a leg up early in the season.

“Well, it’s going to be a feather in the cap of someone,” Smart said. “Whoever wins the game is going to be going into that playoff committee talk with a strength of schedule, a major win, because both teams are going to have great seasons after that. I think it’s critical. I can’t say it’s more critical. Obviously with four teams, not winning this game could put you out. Now with 12 teams, I don’t know that losing this game does. I think it makes these games more popular. They’re going to happen more often because people are going to be more willing to play out-of-conference top-notch opponents with a 12-team playoff.”

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