CHARLOTTE – The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have handed nearly every ACC team that they have played at least one loss since 2015. However, the Clemson Tigers remain unbeaten by the Jackets in the last 10 seasons.

For a decade, the Tigers have swatted the Jackets with general ease, and after a year-long hiatus, Georgia Tech has a chance to jab Clemson in a third-week showdown at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.

Georgia Tech’s last win over Clemson came with a 28-6 beatdown in 2014, and through three presidents, two Clemson national championships, and three head coaches, the Yellow Jackets have failed to accomplish the feat again. However, Georgia Tech has a chance to strip the reigning ACC champions of an undefeated conference record in early September.

“Excited to be playing a super-quality opponent,” Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key said at ACC Kickoff at the Uptown Hilton in Charlotte Wednesday. “Mad respect for Dabo (Swinney) and all that he’s done. Two Birmingham boys who came up the same way as head coaches, so a lot of respect for what he’s been able to do. He hasn’t changed or caved to pressure so it will be an exciting game.”

Swinney and the Tigers will have a chance to deal with pressure when they try to contain Haynes King, Georgia Tech’s dual-threat quarterback who led his team to its best finish since 2016 last season. The 7-5 showing featured marquee wins over Miami and Duke, as well as an eight-overtime thriller against rival Georgia that ultimately ended with a loss. 

According to King, the best way to focus on beating the Tigers this September is to maintain their identity.

“Just play our ball,” King said. “The last time that we went to Clemson, we had a couple turnovers and probably tried to press a little bit, we just weren’t being loose and having fun and playing our ball so I think all we need to do is be who we are, be a physical, tough team. Just try to be disciplined and have fun and be who we are, don’t change it.”

While the Tigers and Yellow Jackets will start their ACC schedule against each other on Sept. 13, both teams have formidable opponents to slay before facing each other.

Georgia Tech opens its season on Friday, August 29 against Colorado, while Clemson plays SEC foe LSU one day later. 

Though offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge’s current primary focus is not the Clemson game in six weeks, he still believes that his squad will be ready to start conference-play with a victory.

“We attack the summer camp the right way, fall camp the right way, week one and two the right way, but that game is our ACC opener, so we’re going to be wired up for that one, but just like we would any game,” Rutledge said. “We’re going to attack every game the same way. They’re obviously a good team, they’re talented, but we are too, so we’re going to go out there and figure it out.”

The Yellow Jackets will showcase their first “attack” on August 29 against Colorado at 8 p.m.

—Photo by Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images