Clemson vs. Georgia Tech live score, updates, highlights from Week 1 college football game

Mercedes-Benz Stadium will play host to two teams on opposite ends of the college football pyramid Monday when No. 4 Clemson clashes with ACC rival Georgia Tech.

The Tigers are coming off a subpar year by their standards; they finished 10-3. The spotlight will be on junior quarterback DJ Uigalelei, whose 2021 struggles were well-documented. Waiting in the wings is five-star recruit Cade Klubnik, a player head coach Dabo Swinney has already indicated will get a serious push this season.

Uigalelei will get the start Monday, and a strong showing could go a long way toward putting space between him and the freshman phenom on the depth chart.

The Yellow Jackets, on the other hand, are a world away from the team that earned a spot in the top 15 in every season from 2005-12. Georgia Tech is one of the ACC’s bottom feeders after amassing just three wins in each of the past three years.

Given the disparity in talent, it’s no surprise that Clemson enters the game as an overwhelming favorite. The Tigers’ front seven is loaded, led by junior defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, senior defensive tackle Tyler Davis and junior defensive end Myles Murphy. That line should have more than enough to overwhelm a Yellow Jackets offensive line that has struggled to protect for the past few seasons.

MORE: Watch Clemson vs. Georgia Tech live with fuboTV (free trial)

It is college football under NFL lights, and it will be electric. The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Clemson vs. Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Follow along below for live updates, results and highlights from Monday’s ACC game.

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech score

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech live updates, highlights

(All times Eastern)

Halftime: Clemson 14, Georgia Tech 3

9:36 p.m.: First-half stats:

Second quarter

9:33 p.m.: Bizarrely, Collins decided to not use a timeout after the referees enforce a 10-second run out. The Yellow Jackets had 43 seconds left to potentially make something happen and have showed more life on the offensive side of things in recent possessions.

Nonetheless, the clock dwindles to zero, and the two sides enter halftime with the Tigers leading 14-3.

Not a classic by any means, but still plenty of football left to be played in Atlanta.

9:29 p.m.: Big call here for the Yellow Jackets. Tech stopped the Tigers on fourth down, seemingly setting up a Clemson punt. However, there were initial concerns that Yellow Jackets safety Jaylon King had targeted the receiver.

Fortunately for King and Georgia Tech, the call was reversed, meaning King stays on the field and it’s fourth down.

9:26 p.m.: Clemson is working the ball down the field with its two-minute drill. Uigalelei with some decent short passing so far. We’ll have to see if the Tigers air it out a bit with the clock dwindling.

9:22 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Kelley’s 45-yard field goal splits the uprights, giving Georgia Tech its first points of the game.

14-3 Clemson

9:20 p.m.: (Georgia Tech timeout)

9:19 p.m.: Sims slides through the line and picks up some decent yardage with the QB keeper. However, he’s unable to reach the sticks. It’s fourth down on Clemson’s 28. A little more than a minute left in the half.

9:17 p.m.: Nate Wiggins will want that one back. Sims took a huge hit on his delivery, gifting Wiggins the chance to snag an easy pick-six.

But the ball slipped through his grasp, falling harmlessly to the ground. That one is going to sting.

9:15 p.m.: Looks like Tech is showing a little more urgency on offense. Sims tosses a smooth pass to McCollum, who carves out a 15-yard gain. No huddle in effect from Sims and the Jackets.

9:10 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Uigalelei rolls out to the right before finding Collins, who eludes his defender with a precise route.

Uigalelei showed flashes of his potential on that drive. Looked like a different player. That’s got to fill him — and Swinney — with confidence.

14-0 Clemson

9:08 p.m.: That’s more like it from Uigalelei. First, he shows off the arm, dropping a ball right into Collins’ hands for 26 yards. Then, he finds Shipley on a dump off and gains 14 yards.

Lastly, Uigalelei makes a defender miss on a QB draw, netting 12 yards in the process. Clemson is on the doorstep of the end zone once more.

9:05 p.m.: Dabo Swinney’s play calling has been…interesting so far. Lots of short distance throws on the docket so far. For all of Uigalelei’s struggles early, you’d think Swinney would let him air the ball out a little more.

9:03 p.m.: After a third down stand by the Tigers, Yellow Jackets kicker Jude Kelley steps on the field to take a 50-yard field goal. 

Snap is good, kick is in the air and…it’s far right. Georgia Tech remains scoreless and Clemson will get the ball in decent field position.

9:02 p.m.: Sims evades contact to pick up a handful of yards. He’s shown the dual-threat ability he possesses on this drive.

9:01 p.m.: The penalties are racking up for Georgia Tech. That’s another false start, the Yellow Jackets’ sixth flag of the day. It’s going to be hard to beat the Tigers with that many mistakes.

9:00 p.m.: Sims shows off the arm talent, firing a pass into Nate McCollum’s stride. That’s a 20 yard gain and Tech finally is in Clemson’s half.

8:59 p.m.: Another clever move by Smith, who spins past a would-be tackler to get another six yards.

8:58 p.m.: Dontae Smith shows off the agility, juking past Bresee en route to a six-yard gain. Better from Georgia Tech.

8:57 p.m.: The ball sails on Sims a bit. But 6’7′ EJ Jenkins rises to snag the five-yard pass. That’s some real progress given how poor the Yellow Jackets’ offense has looked early.

8:54 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Tailback Will Shipley sneaks through a gap behind offensive lineman Jordan McFadden’s block and finds the end zone on fourth down. That’s more like it from the Tigers.

7-0 Clemson

8:52 p.m.: (Timeout Clemson)

8:51 p.m.: The Yellow Jackets’ defense is locked in. Tech’s front seven shuts down Phil Mafah on consecutive runs before getting of Uigalelei after he takes a stumble near the goal line. It’s fourth and goal and Clemson looks like it’s going to go for it!

8:49 p.m.: BLOCK! Tyler Davis slips through the coverage and gets his paws on David Shanahan’s punts. It’s scooped up by Brannon Spector who takes it to the doorstep of the goal line. Just what the Tigers needed!

8:48 p.m.: Sims carved out a little yardage on second and third-down. However, Tech will send the ball back to Clemson via punt.

8:46 p.m.: Georgia Tech unable to get out of its own way at the moment. After losing eight yards on a run play that was broken up behind the line, the Yellow Jackets receive back-to-back false starts. 2nd-and-23 deep in Georgia Tech’s territory.

8:44 p.m.: Uigalelei does well to evade pressure in the pocket, but is unable to find anyone down the field. He shuffles a pass to Kobe Pace, who is stopped short of the first down marker. Yet another three-and-out, this time to start the second quarter.

First quarter

8:39 p.m.: Uigalelei takes the snap attempts to run for some yardage. But as was the case throughout the opening frame, he was stuffed at the line by the Yellow Jackets’ front seven. That will spend the end of a dour first quarter. We’re still deadlocked at 0.

8:37 p.m.: For all of the Yellow Jackets’ early defensive success, they have been pretty toothless on offense. Another three-and-out for Georgia Tech sends the ball back to Clemson. Not a classic affair so far.

8:35 p.m.: Uigalelei goes down! Georgia Tech rushes him with four-man rush and sends him crashing to the turf. That’s another three-and-out for the Tigers offense. Uigalelei hasn’t been too hot early.

8:34 p.m.: The Yellow Jackets stuff the run. Solid showing by Tech’s defense early.

8:33 p.m.: Uigalelei sends a pass out of bounds after failing to find an open receiver.

8:28 p.m.: Georgia Tech doesn’t make anything happen after its early-drive first downs. After a pair of penalties and some ugly plays that went backwards, the Yellow Jackets will send it back to Clemson via punt.

8:26 p.m.: Another QB sneak for Sims, who gets the necessary yardage to secure a first down. Brave play-calling by head coach Geoff Collins.

8:25 p.m.: Sims hurls an eight-yard pass to wideout Dontae Smith. Smith did his best to get to the line, but falls just short. Fourth and a yard to go.

8:24 p.m.: The Yellow Jackets are starting to move the ball just a tad. After pair of medium-yard gains, Sims sneaks through the tackles for a two-yard gain and a first down.

8:21 p.m.: After a break in the action, the ruling is official: it’s Georgia Tech’s ball. That will only ramp up the pressure on Uigalelei, who had a less-than-stellar sophomore campaign.

8:18 p.m.: Fumble! The ball is jarred loose as Uigalelei tries to evade defenders and get to the first down marker. Georgia Tech says they have it! I think they do!

8:17 p.m.: Running back Will Shipley makes a three-yard gain on his second rush of the game. It seems a Georgia Tech defender tugged on his face mask, gifting Clemson an extra 15 yards.

8:16 p.m.: The Tigers have fared better this drive. Uigalelei finds Beaux Collins, who makes a few Yellow Jackets defenders miss en route to a 22-yard gain.

8:14 p.m.: Sims slings a pass to Nate McCollum on third down. However, he is stopped just short of the first down marker. It will be a punt for the Yellow Jackets.

8:12 p.m.: Bryan Bresee stuffs Dylan McDuffie on his first run attempt of the year. Bresee is one of the country’s top talents and will be hoping for a big time display under the lights.

8:09 p.m.: Clemson is unable to make anything out of Mukuba’s pick. The Tigers proceed to go three-and-out, with DJ Uigalelei muffing a snap on third down to doom Clemson. Ball is headed back to Georgia Tech.

8:07 p.m.: That vaunted Clemson front seven made its mark on the very first play of the game. KJ Henry hurries into Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims, who under throws a deep ball as a result. The ball drops right into the hands of Tigers DB Andrew Mukuba. That’s one way to start the season.

8:04 p.m.: The ball is kicked off! Georgia Tech will take the field on offense first.

What channel is Clemson vs. Georgia Tech on tonight?

• TV channel: ESPN
• Live stream: ESPN app, ESPN+, fuboTV

Monday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN. Dave Pasch will handle the play-by-play action and Dusty Dvoracek will offer analysis from the booth. Tom Luginbill will be the sideline reporter.

Cord-cutters can watch the game on the ESPN App, ESPN+ or fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech start time

• Date: Monday, Sept. 5
• Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ET

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech is slated to kick off at 8 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech odds

• Spread: Clemson -24
• Over/under: 51
• Moneyline: Clemson -3500 I Georgia Tech +1350

Clemson is a 24-point favorite in Monday’s game despite having to travel to Atlanta for the “neutral-site” matchup. The over/under stands at 51 points, per Caesars Sportsbook.

Clemson schedule 2022

* ACC game

Georgia Tech schedule 2022

* ACC game