Clemson lost starting quarterback Tait Reynolds to a knee injury early in the first quarter and then went on to suffer a humiliating 20-6 loss to previously two-win Georgia Tech on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets outgained the Tigers, 407-228, and dominated at the line of scrimmage. Georgia Tech ran for 269 yards, including a 53-yard Justice Haynes touchdown, and held Clemson to just 86 rushing yards despite having one of the nation’s worst run defenses this season.
Georgia Tech won its second straight game against Clemson, spoiling Dabo Swinney’s 250th career game as Clemson’s head coach. The Yellow Jackets improved to 3-7 on the season, including 2-5 in ACC play, after coming in as a 15.5-point road underdog, while the Tigers fell to 6-4 and 4-3 in the ACC.
It marks the Tigers’ first loss to a team with a losing record at kickoff since 2010. Clemson had won 38 consecutive games against opponents entering kickoff with a losing record. At the time of the loss, this was the third-longest active streak in the nation.
Clemson is now 1–3 at home against Power Four teams this season, contributing to the Tigers’ 2–9 slide in their last 11 home matchups against Power Four competition.
Up next for Clemson is its ACC finale at Duke on Friday (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
There were plenty of reactions on social media to Clemson’s upset loss to Georgia Tech. Check out some of what they’re saying below: