» More: Chick-fil-A Kickoff game expands its map Georgia and Clemson have played each other 64 times in football, but only four times since 1995. They first met in 1897 and most recently in a home-and-home series in 2013 and 2014. The teams are not scheduled to meet again before the 2024 event. “The resumption of our storied rivalry with Georgia has been a high priority for us and will continue to be a high priority moving forward,” Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich said in a statement. Both programs reached the four-team College Football Playoff last season, with Clemson losing to Alabama in a semifinal and Georgia losing to Alabama in the championship game. Clemson played in the national championship games at the end of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, losing the first one to Alabama and beating the Crimson Tide in the second. Entering this season, Clemson is ranked No. 2 and Georgia No. 3 in the Associated Press poll. “You’ve got to believe the 2024 game will be between top-five teams, the way Georgia and Clemson are recruiting and performing on the field,” Stokan said. He said the agreement came after extensive discussions with both schools. “Give Kirby and Dabo a great deal of credit,” Stokan said, referring to Georgia coach Kirby Smart and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. “They always wanted to get this game done, and so did (Georgia athletic director) Greg McGarity and Dan Radakovich. It was just a matter of what year made sense.” Stokan said both programs recognize that scheduling tough non-conference opponents “is important for getting into the College Football Playoff.” “This is another great opportunity, for our team and our fans, to play an outstanding team in an extraordinary city and venue,” Smart said in a statement. “I've said many times that I think the Clemson-Georgia rivalry is one of the best rivalries in college football," Swinney said. "It's one I watched way before I even came to Clemson. I think it's great for both fan bases.” The 2024 game will be Georgia’s fifth appearance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff, following games against Boise State in 2011, North Carolina in 2016, Virginia in 2020 and Oregon in 2022. It will be Clemson’s third appearance in Atlanta’s season-opening event, following games against Alabama in 2008 and Auburn in 2012. The Chick-fil-A Kickoff, which started with the 2008 game, is college football's longest-running neutral-site season-opening event currently in operation.<doc-sep>The campuses of Georgia and Clemson are just 74 miles apart, so it's only natural that the two football-crazed fan bases want a piece of each other. They'll get it in 2024. The Tigers and Bulldogs will open the 2024 season Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta on Aug. 31, 2024 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. "This will be a phenomenal matchup between two of last season's College Football Playoff teams," Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president Gary Stokan said. "Both Dabo [Swinney] and Kirby [Smart] have done a superb job of elevating the Clemson and Georgia football programs and we fully expect this to be another top-ten matchup when the two teams face off in 2024 in the capital of college football." The two border rivals have met 64 times, with Georgia holding a 42-18-4 advantage over Clemson all-time. "I've said many times that I think the Clemson-Georgia rivalry is one of the best rivalries in college football," Swinney said. "It's one I watched way before I even came to Clemson. I think it's great for both fan bases. It will be one of those games that everybody will enjoy. Obviously it's a tough opener for both teams, but it's fun to be a part of games like that." The two powerhouses are constantly battling on the recruiting trail, and meeting each other in a hotbed of high school talent is a huge bonus for Clemson and Georgia. "Many of the players on both teams know each other and the proximity of the two schools makes it especially competitive," Smart said. "This is another great opportunity for our team and our fans to play an outstanding team in an extraordinary city and venue. We are appreciative of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game staff for their hard work in putting the game together." Clemson opens the 2018 season vs. Furman in Death Valley, while Georgia will host Austin Peay on Saturday.<doc-sep>
David Goldman/Associated Press The Clemson Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs will open the 2024 college football season with the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com reported the news and noted it will be the first meeting between the rivals since the 2014 campaign, barring any potential College Football Playoff meetings. "I've said many times that I think the Clemson-Georgia rivalry is one of the best rivalries in college football," Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney said. "It's one I watched way before I even came to Clemson. I think it's great for both fan bases. It will be one of those games that everybody will enjoy. Obviously it's a tough opener for both teams, but it's fun to be a part of games like that." Georgia head coach Kirby Smart also expressed positive feelings about the scheduled matchup. "Many of the players on both teams know each other and the proximity of the two schools makes it especially competitive," he said. "This is another great opportunity for our team and our fans to play an outstanding team in an extraordinary city and venue. We are appreciative of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game staff for their hard work in putting the game together." Both teams have appeared in the high-profile game twice in the past. Video Play Button Videos you might like Georgia faced off against the Boise State Broncos in 2011 and North Carolina Tar Heels in 2016, while Clemson took on the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2008 and Auburn Tigers in 2012. The Bulldogs also have upcoming meetings with the Virginia Cavaliers in 2020 and Oregon Ducks in 2022. Auburn will battle the Washington Huskies in this year's Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game on Saturday afternoon.