Clemson’s 2027 season is now lined up to begin on the earliest date in program history.
The Tigers are scheduled to host Georgia State on Aug. 28, 2027, a move that pushes the opener ahead of the game’s original Nov. 6 date. According to documents obtained by The Post and Courier, the matchup was moved after the contract was amended in June.
There’s no kickoff time listed in the agreement.
The financial terms are straightforward: Clemson will pay Georgia State $1.5 million and provide 500 complimentary tickets for the game.
The date change fits with the NCAA’s new 14-week regular season format, which starts next season. Under that setup, the weekend before Labor Day weekend - formerly known as Week 0 - becomes Week 1.
Aug. 28 is the earliest Clemson has ever played a football game on the calendar. The previous mark came on Aug. 29, 2019, when the Tigers beat Georgia Tech 52-14 at home.
Clemson has played nine games in August over its history and has gone 2-7 in those contests. The Tigers are also 1-0 all-time against Georgia State, winning 28-0 in 2014.
The rest of Clemson’s 2027 nonconference schedule is already in place, with Wofford coming to town on Sept. 11, Notre Dame visiting on Oct. 30, and the regular-season finale set for Nov. 27 at South Carolina.
The ACC’s 2027 opponents still haven’t been announced. Clemson will be the league’s lone team playing eight conference games that season.
That’s part of the ACC’s new scheduling model, which will be fully in place next season. Each year, one team will play eight conference games and two power-conference non-ACC opponents, while the rest of the league plays nine conference games and one quality nonconference opponent.
In Other News...
Clemson Suddenly Has A Defensive Line Problem It Cant Ignore
Clemsons front was put under a harsh spotlight in its loss to LSU, and afterward Dabo Swinney and defensive tackles coach Nick Eason both accepted responsibility for how the unit played. The Tigers are already dealing with a thin rotation up front, and the situation got worse when starter Markus Strong went down with a season-ending injury, forcing Clemson to lean even harder on the rest of the group as the season settles into a pivotal stretch.
One of the more notable fixes has been the increased use of former offensive lineman Dietrick Pennington, who has been getting more defensive snaps as Clemson searches for answers in the middle. Help could still be on the way, though, with Vic Burley eligible to return after his suspension and Kourtney Kelly working his way back from a knee injury, giving the Tigers at least a chance to restore some depth before the issue becomes even harder to manage. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Kelly Had One Tough LSU Admission During Clemson Week 1
Brian Kelly has settled into his new role with CBS Sports, but the former LSU coach sounded like someone still adjusting to life away from the sideline during Clemson week 1. In a Sirius XM interview, Kelly opened up about how strange it has been to watch college football from a different vantage point after spending decades in the game, a reminder that the weekly grind does not disappear just because the headset is gone.
Now part of the CBS crew covering Mountain West Conference games in 2026, Kelly also had a positive read on LSUs showing in its recent game against Clemson. His perspective carried extra weight coming from someone who spent three seasons leading the Tigers, even if the larger question around how comfortable he is in this post-coaching chapter is still very much unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Hunter Just Put Clemsons Backcourt Plans In Serious Doubt
Clemsons backcourt planning took a hit this week when a Georgia Court of Appeals stay paused the injunction that had been giving certain college basketball players five-for-five eligibility. Dillon Hunter and RJ Godfrey were among those covered by the ruling, and for the moment the move leaves their status unsettled as the NCAA continues its appeal of the case.
For Clemson, the timing matters because Hunter has been a steady part of the rotation and a key piece of the guard room. If the appeal is ultimately denied, players in this group could regain that fifth year of eligibility, but until then the Tigers have to prepare as if one of their more important backcourt options may not be available when the next season arrives. [Read more 🡒]