College football Week 1 winners and losers: Georgia dominates Clemson and Florida flops

Clemson’s offense will have to wait for another week to prove it has turned a corner.

In their matchup against top-ranked Georgia, the No. 14 Tigers managed just 188 yards at a meager 3.6 yards per play, suffering a 34-3 defeat. Clemson spent only two snaps in Georgia's territory during the first half—one resulted in a loss, the other in a penalty. The Tigers’ sole points came from a 26-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, by which time the Bulldogs had already built a 13-0 lead. Georgia quickly extinguished any momentum Clemson might have hoped for by responding with a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

After narrowly missing the College Football Playoff last season, Georgia appears primed to dominate on their path to a third national championship in four years. For Clemson, even modest gains seemed like victories, while any significant yardage felt like an improbable feat.

Second-year starting quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 18 of 29 passes for 142 yards—averaging only 4.9 yards per attempt—and threw an interception. His receiving corps struggled to find open space against Georgia’s secondary, and Clemson's offensive line failed to create running lanes, resulting in a paltry 46 rushing yards on 23 carries. This performance would be surprising if it weren’t part of a troubling trend of unfulfilled potential that has marked Clemson’s recent seasons and their fading presence on the national stage.

Georgia’s defensive prowess was complemented by a strong offensive performance. Carson Beck threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns on 23 of 33 passing attempts, making a strong case for the Heisman Trophy. Additionally, seven Georgia runners combined for 163 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry, demonstrating the Bulldogs’ balanced and formidable attack.

Despite Georgia being the top-ranked team in the country, Clemson's thorough defeat underscores the substantial distance between the Tigers and true title contention. When these teams last met in 2021—a 10-3 victory for Georgia—it seemed Clemson was only a step or two behind the eventual national champions. Now, that gap appears to have expanded to a vast and seemingly insurmountable chasm.

As a result, Georgia emerges as the biggest winner from Week 1 of the 2024 season, while Clemson is the biggest loser. Here’s how the rest of the week shaped up:

**Winners:**

**Penn State**

The No. 9 Nittany Lions showcased a dynamic new offense, racking up 457 yards at 7.6 yards per play in a 34-12 victory at West Virginia. Quarterback Drew Allar led the charge with 216 passing yards and three touchdowns, averaging an impressive 13.1 yards per attempt. This strong performance validates head coach James Franklin’s decision to hire coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who had a successful stint at Kansas. A key moment came with a late first-half touchdown drive, a swift 73-yard march in just three plays, putting Penn State ahead 20-6 at halftime. Following an extended weather delay, the Nittany Lions added two more touchdowns in the second half, securing a convincing road win against a Power Four opponent. After Week 1, Penn State appears to be a serious Big Ten contender and a top playoff hopeful.