What happened?
In a dramatic finish at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday, Georgia Tech pulled off a 24-21 upset over 12th-ranked Clemson. The victory came thanks to Aidan Birr’s 55-yard field goal as time expired, tying the longest kick in school history and sending Yellow Jackets fans into a frenzy.
Key plays and standout performers
Quarterback Haynes King returned from a lower-body injury to lead the team. He threw for 216 yards, completing 19 of 27 passes, and rushed for 103 yards on 25 carries, including the game’s decisive 1-yard touchdown sneak in the fourth quarter. King engineered a crucial 13-play, 90-yard drive in response to Clemson taking a brief 14-13 lead.
Birr, reflecting on his game-winning kick, said, “We worked that situation a lot throughout camp and practice. Seeing the offense and the defense play so well, I didn’t want to let them down.”
How the game unfolded
Georgia Tech jumped out to a 13-0 lead early, thanks to two Birr field goals and a touchdown run from Jamal Haynes. Clemson responded in the third quarter with a 73-yard touchdown pass from Cade Klubnik to Bryant Wesco Jr., briefly taking a 14-13 lead.
The Yellow Jackets answered immediately with King’s touchdown and a two-point conversion on a “Philly Special” pass from Malik Rutherford to Dean Patterson. Clemson tied the game again with 3:26 left on Adam Randall’s two-yard touchdown run, but Georgia Tech had the final word with Birr’s kick.
Defense and statistics
Despite being outgained 381-358, Georgia Tech’s defense forced two key turnovers, including a red-zone interception by Omar Daniels and a fumble recovery. Linebacker E.J. Lightsey had a career-high 10 tackles. Clemson’s offense featured strong performances from Klubnik, Wesco Jr., and Randall, but two critical turnovers and late-game execution errors cost them the win.
Big picture
The victory ends Clemson’s nine-game winning streak over Georgia Tech and marks the Tigers’ first loss on the final play of regulation since 2016. Georgia Tech may return to the AP Top 25 for the first time since September 2024.
What’s next
Georgia Tech hosts Temple next Saturday, while Clemson will face Syracuse at home. The ACC season continues to test both teams as rankings and postseason hopes take shape.
