Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers suffered their second defeat across the school's first three games of the season on Saturday after Georgia Tech kicked a game-winning 55-yard field goal as time expired to score an upset win at home.
GEORGIA TECH HITS THE 55-YARD FIELD GOAL AS TIME EXPIRES TO SNAP ITS NINE-GAME LOSING STREAK VS. CLEMSON pic.twitter.com/14ywZCrWW3
— ESPN (@espn) September 13, 2025
Clemson found itself as a popular College Football Playoff and even National Champion pick during the preseason, while quarterback Cade Klubnik appeared on many short-lists himself as a potential Heisman Trophy finalist. However, the Tigers' campaign finds itself off to a shaky start after a defeat in the school's home opener to LSU and a game against Troy last week in which Clemson entered the halftime locker room trailing 16-3 before rallying to its first win.
Now, the Tigers fall to 1-2 after the Yellow Jackets successfully earned their sixth straight win at home over an ACC opponent dating back to the 2023 season. Georgia Tech raced out to a 13-0 lead in the first half before relinquishing the lead to Clemson early in the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets then recaptured after reaching the end zone early in the final period and converting a two-point conversion on a Philly Special-style end-around pass.
GEORGIA TECH JUST RAN A PHILLY SPECIAL ON CLEMSON @OldRowGATech pic.twitter.com/JcfZmeXE8S
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) September 13, 2025
Clemson equalized on the next possession to knot the score at 21 points apiece, but ran nearly seven minutes off the clock in the process. That set the stage for Georgia Tech to put itself in position for the final attempt at a score with the game tied, and the circumstances manifested in the biggest kick of Yellow Jacket Aidan Birr's career.
The win for Georgia Tech has some interesting ramifications for both the ACC title picture and CFP seeding among Power Four schools. The Yellow Jackets only have one remaining ranked opponent on their schedule in the form of the Georgia Bulldogs during rivalry week in November. It seems hardly farfetched after this result to think that Georgia Tech could go undefeated in conference play and sport an 11-0 record before hosting UGA during the last week of the regular season.
Clemson will have a chance to return to .500 next week when the Tigers host Syracuse for the fourth game on their schedule. Dabo Swinney's crew still has a pair of top-15 opponents left on its slate in the form of Florida State and South Carolina, both contests that will take place in November.
