Georgia Tech Outlasts Clemson in Defensive Slugfest
Georgia Tech defeated Clemson 24-21 in a tightly contested Week 3 matchup marked by 14 lead changes and defensive intensity. The Yellow Jackets' defense made critical plays throughout, including Omar Daniels' 45-yard interception return in the third quarter that proved pivotal late in the game.
Georgia Tech controlled the game's tempo behind quarterback Haynes King, who completed 211 passing yards. King connected with Eric Rivers for 72 receiving yards, including a crucial 42-yard completion in the first quarter that set up scoring opportunities. Clemson's Adam Randall led all rushers with 80 yards, including a 30-yard gain in the second quarter.
The scoring remained fluid throughout, with Georgia Tech scoring field goals in the first quarter and adding 10 points in the second before a scoreless third quarter. Clemson answered with 11 fourth-quarter points, but Georgia Tech's fourth-quarter production proved decisive. Clemson's Cade Klubnik connected on a 73-yard touchdown to Bryant Wesco Jr. in the third quarter, but the interception to Daniels shifted momentum decisively.
Georgia Tech covered the 3-point spread, and the final score fell under the 51-point over-under.
AI-generated recap · Aug 18, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Clemson | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
 Georgia Tech | 3 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 24 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Clemson | Georgia Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 15-26 | 20-28 |
| Pass Yards | 207 | 211 |
| Rush Yards | 174 | 147 |
| Total Yards | 381 | 358 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| 3rd Down | 7-12 | 8-15 |
| Penalties | 2-25 | 3-16 |
| Possession | 27:55 | 32:05 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Haynes King pass complete to Isiah Canion for 9 yds to the GT 34
Haynes King run for 9 yds to the GT 43 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 7 yds to the 50 yard line
Haynes King pass complete to Malik Rutherford for a loss of 2 yards to the GT 48
Haynes King pass complete to Eric Rivers for 21 yds to the CLEM 31 for a 1ST down
Haynes King run for 1 yd to the CLEM 30
Haynes King pass incomplete
Haynes King pass complete to Isiah Canion for 18 yds to the CLEM 12 for a 1ST down
Haynes King run for 5 yds to the CLEM 7
Haynes King run for 3 yds to the CLEM 4
Haynes King pass incomplete
Haynes King pass complete to Jamal Haynes for a loss of 4 yards to the CLEM 8
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 7 yds to the CLEM 15
Adam Randall run for 1 yd to the CLEM 16
Adam Randall run for 2 yds to the CLEM 18 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik run for 2 yds to the CLEM 20
Cade Klubnik run for 10 yds to the CLEM 30 Cade Klubnik fumbled, recovered by GT Zachary Tobe
Jamal Haynes run for 4 yds to the CLEM 26
Haynes King pass complete to Jamal Haynes for 3 yds to the CLEM 23
Haynes King pass incomplete
Aidan Birr 40 yd FG GOOD
Aidan Birr kickoff for 64 yds , Adam Randall return for 20 yds to the CLEM 21
Cade Klubnik run for 4 yds to the CLEM 25
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 7 yds to the CLEM 32 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik run for 3 yds to the CLEM 35
Adam Randall run for 5 yds to the CLEM 40
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Cole Turner for 18 yds to the GT 42 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Tyler Brown for 6 yds to the GT 36
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Tyler Brown for 1 yd to the GT 35
Nolan Hauser 52 yd FG MISSED
Haynes King pass complete to Isiah Canion for 16 yds to the CLEM 49 for a 1ST down
Haynes King run for 2 yds to the CLEM 47
Haynes King pass incomplete
Haynes King pass complete to Eric Rivers for 42 yds to the CLEM 5 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 5 yds for a TD (Aidan Birr KICK)
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Cade Klubnik run for 4 yds to the CLEM 29
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 3 yds to the CLEM 32
Jack Smith punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Bailey Stockton at the GT 29
Haynes King run for 8 yds to the GT 37
Malachi Hosley run for 3 yds to the GT 40 for a 1ST down
Malachi Hosley run for 7 yds to the GT 47
Haynes King pass complete to Malik Rutherford for 9 yds to the CLEM 44 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 2 yds to the CLEM 42
Haynes King pass complete to Zion Taylor for 18 yds to the CLEM 24 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for no gain to the CLEM 24
Malachi Hosley run for a loss of 5 yards to the CLEM 29
Haynes King pass complete to Isiah Canion for 4 yds to the CLEM 25
Aidan Birr 42 yd FG GOOD
Adam Randall run for 2 yds to the CLEM 27
Cade Klubnik pass complete to T.J. Moore for 9 yds to the CLEM 36 for a 1ST down
Klubnik, Cade pass incomplete, PENALTY CLEMSON holding 10 yards to the CLEMSON26, NO PLAY.
Cade Klubnik run for a loss of 2 yards to the CLEM 24
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Adam Randall run for 30 yds to the GT 46 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 8 yds to the GT 38
Cade Klubnik run for 2 yds to the GT 36 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik run for 5 yds to the GT 31
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 8 yds to the GT 23 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Adam Randall run for 6 yds to the GT 17
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 13 yds to the GT 4 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 3 yds to the GT 1
Adam Randall run for no gain to the GT 1
Cade Klubnik run for no gain to the GT 1
Cade Klubnik run for 1 yd for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Haynes King run for no gain to the GT 25
Jamal Haynes run for 4 yds to the GT 29
End of 2nd Quarter
Tyler Brown run for 13 yds to the CLEM 38 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 8 yds to the CLEM 46
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 7 yds to the GT 47 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik run for 3 yds to the GT 44
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Josh Sapp for 33 yds to the GT 11 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 2 yds to the GT 9
Cade Klubnik pass intercepted Omar Daniels return for 45 yds to the CLEM 48
Haynes King run for a loss of 14 yards to the GT 40 Haynes King fumbled, recovered by GT Eric Rivers , return for 2 yds to the GT 40
Haynes King pass incomplete
Haynes King sacked by Sammy Brown for a loss of 3 yards to the GT 37
Marshall Nichols punt for 48 yds , Bryant Wesco Jr. returns for 9 yds to the CLEM 24
Adam Randall run for 3 yds to the CLEM 27
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 73 yds for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Haynes King run for 1 yd to the GT 26
Haynes King pass incomplete
Haynes King pass incomplete
Marshall Nichols punt for 41 yds , Bryant Wesco Jr. returns for 12 yds to the CLEM 38 Clemson Penalty, Personal Foul (15 Yards) to the CLEM 30
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Adam Randall run for 2 yds to the CLEM 32
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Jack Smith punt for 48 yds , Bailey Stockton returns for a loss of 2 yards to the GT 30 Georgia Tech Penalty, Illegal Block (9 Yards) to the GT 9
Haynes King run for 6 yds to the GT 15
Eric Rivers run for 6 yds to the GT 21 for a 1ST down
Haynes King pass complete to Malachi Hosley for 6 yds to the GT 27
Haynes King run for 2 yds to the GT 29
Haynes King run for 4 yds to the GT 33 for a 1ST down
Haynes King pass complete to Dean Patterson for 6 yds to the GT 39
Georgia Tech Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the GT 34
Haynes King run for 17 yds to the CLEM 49 for a 1ST down
Haynes King pass incomplete
Jamal Haynes run for a loss of 6 yards to the GT 45
Haynes King run for 15 yds to the CLEM 40
J.T. Byrne run for a loss of 1 yard to the CLEM 41 J.T. Byrne fumbled, recovered by GT J.T. Byrne
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Cade Klubnik run for 6 yds to the CLEM 47
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete
Jack Smith punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Bailey Stockton at the GT 10
Haynes King run for 1 yd to the GT 11
Haynes King pass complete to Jamal Haynes for 10 yds to the GT 21 for a 1ST down
Haynes King run for 13 yds to the GT 34 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for no gain to the GT 34
Haynes King pass complete to Malik Rutherford for 6 yds to the GT 40
Haynes King pass complete to Isiah Canion for 9 yds to the GT 49 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for 2 yds to the CLEM 49
Haynes King pass complete to Jamal Haynes for 27 yds to the CLEM 22 for a 1ST down
Haynes King run for 6 yds to the CLEM 16
Jamal Haynes run for 8 yds to the CLEM 8 for a 1ST down
Haynes King run for 6 yds to the CLEM 2
Jamal Haynes run for 1 yd to the CLEM 1
Haynes King run for 1 yd for a TD (Malik Rutherford pass to Dean Patterson for Two-Point Conversion)
Tyler Brown run for 13 yds to the CLEM 38 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 5 yds to the CLEM 43
Cade Klubnik run for 3 yds to the CLEM 46
Cade Klubnik run for 13 yds to the GT 41 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Cole Turner for 5 yds to the GT 36
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Cole Turner for 4 yds to the GT 32
Cade Klubnik run for 3 yds to the GT 29 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik run for 4 yds to the GT 25
Cade Klubnik pass complete to Bryant Wesco Jr. for 13 yds to the GT 12 for a 1ST down
Adam Randall run for 7 yds to the GT 5
Cade Klubnik run for 1 yd to the GT 4
Georgia Tech Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (2 Yards) to the GT 2 for a 1ST down
Cade Klubnik pass incomplete to Josh Sapp
Adam Randall run for 2 yds for a TD (Nolan Hauser KICK)
Haynes King run for no gain to the GT 25
Haynes King pass complete to Malik Rutherford for 9 yds to the GT 34
Haynes King run for 9 yds to the GT 43 for a 1ST down
Jamal Haynes run for a loss of 1 yard to the GT 42
Haynes King pass complete to Eric Rivers for 9 yds to the CLEM 49
Haynes King run for 4 yds to the CLEM 45 for a 1ST down
Malachi Hosley run for 3 yds to the CLEM 42
Haynes King run for 3 yds to the CLEM 39
Haynes King run for 2 yds to the CLEM 37
Aidan Birr 55 Yd Field Goal