Clemson football plays Georgia today: Kickoff time, TV channel, score

For the first time this season, it’s almost Clemson gameday.

Coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers are No. 14 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 and have a massive Week 1 matchup against No. 1 Georgia in Atlanta.

Here’s your gameday guide for the 2024 Aflac Kickoff Game.

Clemson vs. Georgia game, TV info

• Who: No. 14 Clemson (0-0) vs. No. 1 Georgia (0-0)

• When: noon Saturday

• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

• TV: ABC

• Broadcast crew: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath

• Stream: Via ESPN.com or the ESPN app

• Radio: 105.5 FM in the Clemson area (see full list of Clemson radio affiliates here)

• Satellite radio: SiriusXM Channel 82

• Series history: Georgia leads 43-18-4 and has won two straight

Clemson vs. Georgia Vegas odds

For only the second time in 200-plus games with Swinney as their coach, the Tigers are a double-digit underdog. Georgia opened as a 13.5-point betting favorite against Clemson this summer, and that point spread — nearly two touchdowns — has held steady ever since.

Weather forecast for Atlanta GA

Outside weather has no factor on Saturday’s game, as Clemson and Georgia will be playing in a climate-controlled dome. Mercedes-Benz Stadium confirmed earlier this week that its stadium roof will be closed for the game, and officials said the temperature will be 70-72 degrees.

Top storylines for the game

• Point spreads aside, the odds aren’t in Clemson’s favor against Georgia. It has been 34 years since the preseason AP No. 1 team lost its season opener, and it’s only happened six times ever in the history of the poll, which dates back to 1936. The last team to do it: BYU, which toppled No. 1 Miami, 28-21, to start the 1990 season. Clemson is 2-6 all time against AP No. 1 teams, with both wins against Alabama in national championship games. The Tigers are 0-6 all-time against No. 1 teams in regular season games.

• Injury-wise, Clemson has emerged from fall camp relatively unscathed. One position of concern: cornerback. Likely starter Shelton Lewis suffered a lower-body injury (reportedly a leg injury that had him using crutches) in a scrimmage three weeks ago, and veteran Jeadyn Lukus has also been banged up. Swinney on Wednesday classified both players as “day to day.” If one or both of those cornerbacks can’t go, expect a healthy dose of snaps for true freshman CB Ashton Hampton in his first career game.

• The availability of a few Georgia players is up in the air, too. Coach Kirby Smart earlier this week declined multiple times to specify if star running back Trevor Etienne (a Florida transfer and the younger brother of one-time Clemson star Travis Etienne) will be available for Saturday’s game. The younger Etienne was arrested on DUI charges in March. Another player, starting linebacker Smael Mondon Jr., could also face a suspension after being arrested on racing and reckless driving charges in June.

• This weekend marks the debut of a number of highly touted Clemson true freshmen. Wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr., who enrolled in January as a top 50 recruit, has drawn rave reviews and established in the top rotation of five to six Clemson receivers who will see the most time. Coaches say receiver T.J. Moore, a five-star who enrolled this summer, isn’t far behind. Five-star Sammy Brown will also make his debut as a backup linebacker and special-teamer, while true freshman Nolan Hauser is the starting kicker.

Clemson vs. Georgia players to watch

• Clemson RB Phil Mafah: Mafah had 965 yards and 13 touchdowns last year and is now the Tigers’ undisputed RB1 with Will Shipley in the NFL. The senior bruiser will be a huge part of the offense this year and could reach 20 carries a game.

• Clemson LB Barrett Carter: Carter, a former five-star recruit, returned for his senior year after a good but not great junior season with the Tigers. What better way to boost his draft stock than a splash play or two against the No. 1 team?

• Georgia QB Carson Beck: Beck stayed patient, waited for his opportunity and promptly led the SEC in passing yards last year (3,941) and had 24 touchdowns. An efficient pocket passer who spreads the ball around, he isn’t lacking on weapons.

• Georgia DL Nazir Stackhouse: A preseason first team All-SEC pick, Stackhouse is a two-year starter who could be in for his best season yet as a fifth-year. Recall that Clemson’s offensive line allowed nine sacks in its last game against Kentucky

Clemson football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: vs. Georgia in Atlanta, noon (ABC)

• Sept. 7: vs. App State, 8 p.m. (ACC Network)

• Sept. 14: OPEN

• Sept. 21: vs. NC State

• Sept. 28: vs. Stanford

• Oct. 5: at Florida State

• Oct. 12: at Wake Forest

• Oct. 19: vs. Virginia

• Oct. 26: OPEN

• Nov. 2: vs. Louisville

• Nov. 9: at Virginia Tech

• Nov. 16: at Pitt

• Nov. 23: vs. The Citadel

• Nov. 30: vs. South Carolina

Clemson football 2024 depth chart

For the first time in years, Clemson is not providing a Week 1 depth chart. Instead, the Tigers said they’ll provide an “initial depth chart” in the press box on gameday. The likely culprit: their opponent. Georgia generally does not release a Week 1 depth chart under Smart and has confirmed it will not this year.