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Georgia & Clemson Renew Their Rivalry Sooner Than Expected

By Deke Lloyd

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs arrives to the stadium prior to a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs arrives to the stadium prior to a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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The Georgia-Clemson rivalry is one of the oldest and most-storied in both the school’s histories. Yesterday, the school’s announced they would be renewing the rivalry earlier than expected.

Georgia and Clemson’s football teams have been playing each other for a very long time. The first recorded game was played in 1897. Since then, the schools have played a total of 64 times with some big gaps in between meetings over the years. In the last 30 years, the rivalry has been played less and less. In recent years, the two schools have made it a point to schedule a game, with the last game in 2014.

The two teams are scheduled to play each other a total of five times over the next 13 years. One meeting coming on neutral ground in Atlanta in 2024. Then, a home-at-home series in 2029-2030 and 2032-2033. However, yesterday, the two teams agreed to play a game sooner than any of those dates.

In a surprise announcement, the two schools announced they agreed to a game in 2021 that would be played in Charlotte. It was a game that had a lot of moving parts, changing the schedule for both teams that had games scheduled years in advance. Both schools would have to pay those respective schools, San Jose State and Wyoming, a lot of money to shift their planned games. In the end, it will be worth it for both schools.

The announcement of this game sends shockwaves through all of college football. Georgia is on the cusp of joining the elite football programs, and might soon if the team can win that elusive national championship. On the other side, Clemson is firmly entrenched among the elite of college football. The Tigers have won two of the last four national championships and just missed out on making it three of four this season. Continuing to schedule games like this, for both teams, goes a long way for these programs trying to stay among the elites. The only thing better would be this game coming next season. Alas, we’ll all have to patient.

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