The Georgia Bulldogs kicked off their season with a bang, showing early why they enter as the preseason number one team in the nation.
The Bulldogs left Atlanta one top 25 victory richer, exposing the fourteenth ranked Clemson Tigers in a brutal 34-3 beatdown that showcased the deep gap that has formed between the two programs since they last met in 2021. Georgia fans were left with plenty of reasons to believe that a third title in four years could be waiting at the finish line of the year, while Tiger fans found themselves in position to question nearly every aspect of a program that was on top of the world of college football just six years ago.
Here are five key takeaways from the Bulldogs victory over the Tigers on Saturday.
Nate Frazier is going to be a major factor this season
With the suspension of Trevor Etienne and the injury to Roderick Robinson, Nate Frazier had an opportunity to step up earlier than previously envisioned within the Georgia offense. He did not disappoint.
Frazier was the nation’s second rated running back in the 2024 class per 247Sports, and he lived up to that billing and more, running for 83 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown. He sparked the Georgia run game and became a key factor in the Bulldog offense’s second half explosion.
With Robinson out for an unspecified period of time, Frazier figures to continue to factor into the rotation even as Etienne returns next week for UGA’s home opener against Tennessee Tech.
Georgia’s receiver room flashed their abilities
Given the departure of Ladd McConkey and offseason dismissal of Rara Thomas, there were reasons to question whether Georgia’s receiving corps would be up to the standard of last season. The Bulldogs’ playmakers quickly silenced those concerns on Saturday.
Five wideouts caught passes, with transfers London Humphreys and Colbie Young each catching touchdown passes from Carson Beck. Humphreys also led the team in yards with 63. Arian Smith showcased his offseason improvements, leading the team in receptions with five, while Dominic Lovett caught three passes for 33 yards. Dillon Bell continued to provide an all-purpose threat, touching the ball five times for 59 yards.
Combined with the skill of the tight end room, the 2024 Georgia receiving corps showed signs against the Tigers that they can help propel this offense to among the best in the nation.
Georgia’s safety duo could be special
With Javon Bullard leaving for the NFL, the safety spot opposite of Malaki Starks was a question mark in the offseason.
Freshman five-star K.J. Bolden had the most talent in the room, but it was unknown if he would be able to immediately step into the lineup, a concern he shut down early on Saturday. Bolden made a key stop on third down to end the Tigers opening drive and would go on to record four tackles in a strong performance opposite Dan Jackson, as Starks shifted to STAR with Joenel Aguero dealing with an injury.Starks would unsurprisingly turn in a strong performance, with two tackles and an acrobatic interception that showcased his incredible ball tracking skills and was reminiscent of the interception he recorded against Oregon in the same stadium two years prior.
Between Starks and Bolden, Georgia has the most talented safety room they have seen under Smart, a prospect that should excite Bulldog fans regarding the potential of this defense.
Carson Beck should end the year in New York
The buzz around Carson Beck has been present all offseason, with many seeing him as the potential favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. With Saturday’s performance, Beck proved his elite level of play against a strong defense, and made a statement about what could be ahead this season.
Beck completed 23 of his 33 pass attempts for 278 yards and two touchdowns while targeting 11 different receivers. He showed improvements on an already great season last year and seemed to feel even more confident at the helm of Mike Bobo’s offense. He showcased why he is seen as a potential first overall pick in next year’s NFL draft, and why the Bulldogs managing to keep him for another year was so critical in their chase of a national title.
Combined with the variety of talent at receiver and overall strength of the Bulldogs’ team, Beck should be expected to be one of the primary candidates for the Heisman through the season, and could be very well positioned to become the second Georgia quarterback in the last three seasons to be in New York for the Heisman ceremony.
Something has to change at Clemson
The Tigers’ loss was far from limited to what occurred within the 60 minutes of regulation on Saturday. Clemson’s loss came in a fashion that cemented the decline of the Tigers’ program from the upper echelon of college football to another program merely aiming to compete in the ACC.
The defense started strong, but with little to no help from the offense, eventually broke down as time went on. Cade Klubnik showed no signs of improvement from a year ago, and the receiving corps that had many Tigers fans excited failed to showcase any true separating factors from the past few years.
The hire of Garrett Riley was met with celebration, but any hype surrounding that has clearly fizzled out with this performance. Between the lack of development for Klubnik and questionable play-calling overall, the coach who was just two years ago seen as arguably college football’s biggest rising star after helping guide TCU to a national title game appearance has now been reduced to a middling face of an offense that has failed to produce any memorable performances in years.
The blame for Clemson’s decline falls on Dabo Swinney, leaving it to him to decide whether he wants to maintain his stubborn approach and continue to produce mediocre results, or if he can evolve and grow with the sport to bring the Tigers one day back to its forefront.
This article originally appeared on Bulldogs Wire: Five takeaways from Georgia’s dominant win over Clemson
