Georgia Tech snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday with a 20-6 upset win at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, a result that deepened the Tigers’ late-season collapse under coach Dabo Swinney.
The win came days after Georgia Tech coach Brent Key fired multiple assistants following the team’s four-game skid. The shake-up appeared to pay immediate dividends, as the Yellow Jackets rushed for 269 yards and two touchdowns while holding Clemson to just 228 total yards.
The loss further damages Clemson’s chances of reaching the ACC Championship game and leaves the Tigers dealing with injuries at quarterback. Starter Tait Reynolds left the game early with a leg injury, and backup Christopher Vizzina, who threw for 133 yards and an interception in relief, went to the hospital after the game with his own injury.
Swinney did not shy away from the state of his program after the game.
“It’s difficult, but ain’t nobody coming to save us, nobody cares, we’ve got to find a way to get it done,” Swinney said.
The defeat marks Clemson’s ninth loss in its last 11 home games against Power Four opponents, a steep decline for a program that once strung together a school-record 40 consecutive home wins at Memorial Stadium from 2016 through 2022.
“It’s frustrating; we’ve not played well (at home) coming off two really good wins,” Swinney said. “Really expected us to play great today. Great week of practice, but again, it didn’t go our way. It’s frustrating, but we don’t make any excuses. We’re not blaming it on injuries. We didn’t get it done. It’s my job.”
Swinney also pointed to his defense’s inability to stop Georgia Tech’s ground game as a core problem.
“When you can’t stop the run, you don’t deserve to win,” Swinney said. “But you got to score enough points. We’re not doing enough on offense. You don’t win the line of scrimmage, you don’t deserve to win; they did, give them credit.”
Clemson now sits at 7-6 on the season, Swinney’s worst finish since 2010. The slide began with a blowout loss at LSU in the season opener and has since put renewed scrutiny on his future with the program, including the financial terms of a potential departure.
Swinney is owed $60 million beginning in 2027, but a declining buyout schedule means Clemson’s obligation would drop to $57 million if he were fired this fall. His contract carries no mitigation clause, so even if he took another coaching job, Clemson would still owe him the full amount.
Clemson closes its ACC regular-season schedule next Friday against Duke. Georgia Tech, now in Atlanta for its next outing, hosts Wake Forest.
