This is unfortunately a sign of the times. Because of conference realignment and the Power Four conferences all adopting some variation of a nine-plus-one scheduling model, great non-conference rivalries like Clemson versus Georgia are going to the wayside. Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald was the first to report Clemson and Georgia canceling their four games from 2029 to 2033.
Prior to these four cancellations Clemson was supposed to host Georgia on Sept. 15, 2029 and again on Sept. 3, 2033, with the Bulldogs hosting the Tigers on Aug. 31, 2030 and Sept. 4, 2032. Although Clemson athletic director Graham Neff and Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks have at least shown interest in scheduling a neutral-site affair at a later date, it will be a while before the rivals meet again.
To date, Clemson and Georgia have played each other 66 times. The Bulldogs own the all-time series lead at 44-18-4 and have won the last three contests dating back to 2014. Given that these fanbases both overlap around Commerce, Ga., it is such a shame that we cannot get these two college football powers located only 75 miles away from each other to play with any regularity anymore. This is awful.
College football is built upon secondary and tertiary rivalries, so this one going away is devastating.
Clemson and Georgia fans miss out massively with series being canceled
Even though Clemson will only play eight ACC games again next year, the ACC will have fully adopted its nine-plus-one model by then. Given that the league has an odd number of teams, someone will always be playing eight conference games. Clemson will also face Notre Dame and South Carolina in the non-conference next season. And that right there is why Clemson versus Georgia is all over now.
Because the SEC implemented a nine-plus-one model beginning this season, Georgia has to play nine conference games, as well as its in-state rivalry with Georgia Tech in Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. With Clemson and Georgia both having in-state rivals in each other's leagues, there is not much wiggle room to get other marquee games scheduled. The worst part is that the fans will lose out continuously.
For as great as it may be to get another conference game on the schedule, doing so at the expense of any rivalry game of note is not good for the sport. Rivalries are a huge part in why college football cuts through in a way the NFL never really can. Yes, there are rivalries in the NFL, but not built on anything to the degree of the college game. These college players absolutely hate their rival teams.
Even in the event that Brooks and Neff can do what is in the best interest of the sport and get this rivalry series back on the schedule in some way, shape, or fashion, we all see the direction college athletics are going. The best part about the sport is the games itself. Everything else is becoming way too corporate for anyone's liking. Who are all these grandiose changes for? The fan misses out.
Let's get ready for more riveting games versus Boston College than taking on Georgia anytime soon.
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