ATLANTA — College football has finally made its triumphant return and the No. 1 team in the country is set to start its season with a bang.
No. 1 Georgia will face off against No. 14 Clemson in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 12 p.m.
The Bulldogs last played the Tigers in the Duke's Mayo Classic in 2021, where they took down Clemson 10-3.
This will also be the first time the Bulldogs have played in Mercedes-Benz since losing to Alabama 27–24 in the 2023 SEC Championship.
Take a look at a full breakdown of both teams ahead of their game.
Offensive Breakdown
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck is one of the biggest names in college football heading into the season.
He finished third in all of college football in 2023 with 3,941 passing yards and had a strong 72.4 completion percentage and 24 touchdowns, to only six interceptions.
While he won't have top targets Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey this season, key receivers like Dillon Bell, Dominic Lovett and Oscar Delp return for another year.
The biggest question is regarding another transfer, running back Trevor Etienne. His status is unclear after a DUI arrest earlier this year. The Bulldogs will definitely be without running back Roderick Robinson, who will be out for a few weeks after he had surgery for a turf toe injury.
With the top two starters may be sidelined, running backs Branson Robinson and Cash Jones are expected to have big roles.
On the opposite sideline, Clemson starting quarterback and former five-star Cade Klubnik returns for his third year and second as a full-time starter.
The former five-star struggled at times last season, but still finished with 2,844 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns.
Returning with Klubnik is Clemson’s leading rusher Phil Mafah, who ran for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Alongside them are returning wide receiver Tyler Brown and tight end Jake Briningstool.
Defensive Breakdown
Georgia’s defense has quite a few big names returning for the 2024 season.
Consensus preseason All-Americans Mykel Williams and Malaki Starks return for their third season. Both have a chance to be key players this season.
Williams finished last season with 18 tackles, was second on the team with six and a half tackles for a loss and led the team with four and a half sacks.
Starks, meanwhile, finished fourth on the team with 52 tackles and was second on the team with three interceptions.
Linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. returns with defensive linemen Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson. Mondon led the team in tackles in 2022 and was second in 2023.
Stackhouse and Brinson, meanwhile, return to bring stability to the defensive line. The pair finished ninth and 10th in tackles, and each had three tackles for a loss and two sacks.
The rest of the defense is full of younger players with some questions. Defensive backs like Daylen Everette, Julian Humphrey and Joenel Aguero will have bigger responsibilities after players like Kamari Lassiter and Tykee Smith left for the NFL.
Dan Jackson is expected to start at safety, but freshman and former five-star KJ Bolden also has an opportunity to make an impact.
Clemson returns a few players, but after losing players in the secondary to the NFL or via the transfer portal, its defense has several holes to fill.
Defensive back Khalil Barnes, after a strong freshman campaign, returns for his second year as a starter. He was fifth on the team with 38 tackles, had a sack and led the team with three interceptions.
Barnes will play alongside Central Georgia natives and freshmen Vic Burley and Ricardo Jones. Burley redshirted last year and the former Warner Robins Demon has a chance to contribute at a high level as a rotational defensive lineman.
Jones, meanwhile, is entering his first year with the Tigers and could see some time playing behind graduate safeties Tyler Venables and R.J. Mickens.
Freshman, former five-star and Georgia native Sammy Brown may also find the field for his first game as a collegiate pro.
Georgia vs Clemson Aflac Kickoff
WHERE: Mercedes Benz Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 31, at 12 p.m.
WHERE TO WATCH: ABC or ESPN+
WHO'S FAVORED: Georgia favored by -13.5 points (per Action Network)