Clemson is heading back to Death Valley with a two-game winning streak, but Dabo Swinney isn’t interested in letting Georgia Tech’s 2-7 record do the talking.
The Tigers have just finished a successful two-game road swing at Florida State and Syracuse, and now they return home looking for a third straight win. On paper, the matchup looks favorable. Swinney doesn’t see it that way.
“We got Georgia Tech coming in here. It’s another ACC opponent, and obviously they’ve got some changes going on down there,” Swinney said.
“That presents a little bit of some unknowns going into the game. As I said last night, I mean, they’re a better team than their record.”
Georgia Tech’s season has gone in a different direction than the one it was on last fall, when the Yellow Jackets were in the mix for an ACC Championship berth. Under Brent Key, the program has not finished worse than 7-6 in a regular season, and his 4-4 mark in 2022 came after he took over midway through that year. This season has been a mess by comparison, and Key has already made several late-season staff changes, including at defensive coordinator and in other key areas.
Still, Swinney pointed to the pieces on the field and said Clemson has to treat this as a real challenge. Georgia Tech’s offense has enough weapons to demand attention, starting with tailback Justice Haynes, who has rushed for 635 yards and scored four touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets also have two 500-yard receivers in Jordan Allen and Dalen Penson.
“I mean, their record is what it is, but turn on the tape,” Swinney said. “These are two of the best backs we’ve seen.
I think they’re really good players. You know, 22 (Haynes) and one (Trelain Maddox).
And then they got good receivers. Number four is a baller.
Seven (Penson) is a guy who’s made some plays. 13 (Isaiah Fuhrmann) is a guy that’s come on as of late, a big-bodied receiver for them.”
For Clemson, the focus is less about the opponent’s record and more about extending the momentum it has built over the last two weeks. Swinney said the Tigers need to keep stacking good work after winning back-to-back road games.
“So, you know, it’s really more about us continuing to build some momentum in our season,” Swinney said. “We’ve won back-to-back road games, got a couple wins in a row, so just trying to find a way to keep that momentum going.”
That starts with the kind of game Clemson wants to play in the trenches. Swinney made it clear the Tigers will need their best effort up front, especially against a Georgia Tech team that will try to lean on the run.
“For us to do that, we’ve got to show up and play our best game and keep building on the things we’re doing well, improve on the things we haven’t done as well, continue to grow our team, and it’ll start in the trenches,” Swinney said. “You’ve got to be able to stop the run against these guys.
That’s what they’re going to come in and try to lean on. And then for us, on the flip side, we’ve got to win the matchup up front and have a physical edge to us when it comes to the run game because everything kind of comes off of that.”
Swinney said he has plenty of respect for Brent Key and is expecting some uncertainty because of the changes Georgia Tech has made this week.
“Look forward to the matchup. A lot of respect for Brent,” Swinney said.
“And I know, again, he’s made some changes down there this week. So, again, part of the game, too, is settling in and seeing exactly what the plan’s going to be and what changes may happen based on the changes they’ve made.
But, again, look forward to being back in the Valley and know we’ll have a great crowd here for Senior Day.”
Clemson is trying to make November count. Georgia Tech’s record says one thing, but Swinney is preparing as if the Tigers will need their sharpest performance to keep the streak going at home.
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