CLEMSON, S.C. (Interstat) — Clemson defeated Georgia Southern 22-7 on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game that unfolded as a test of patience and field position. The Tigers improved to 1-1, while the visiting Eagles also moved to 1-1. Clemson’s offense found enough explosive moments early and its kicking game provided the separation late. Georgia Southern stayed within reach behind a determined defensive effort but could not generate consistent scoring after its lone touchdown. The crowd at Memorial Stadium saw a game that was far tighter than the final margin suggested, with both teams leaning on quarterbacks and special teams to manage a slow, physical contest.

Clemson struck first when Christopher Vizzina, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback from Birmingham, Alabama, completed a short middle pass to T.J. Moore. Moore caught the ball near the goal line and finished a 10-yard touchdown. Nolan Hauser’s extra point gave the Tigers the early advantage. Vizzina’s command of the offense helped Clemson set the tone, and the Tigers’ receiving group, including Tyler Brown, Bryant Wesco Jr. and Ronan Hanafin, worked to stretch a Georgia Southern defense that bent but did not break often. Georgia Southern’s Max Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback from Athens, Georgia, countered with steady decisions and eventually found a rhythm. The Eagles’ offense featured Ashton Hollins, Alex Taylor, Josh Dallas, Antavious Murphy and River Helms, but Clemson’s front seven limited big plays for much of the afternoon.

The Eagles’ defense kept the game close. MJ Stroud, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker from Covington, Georgia, helped lead a unit that included Brandon Tyson, Aaron Sears, Chance Gamble, Rashon Myles Jr., Jakyri Jones, Festus Davies, CJ Allen Jr., Phillip Gladney, Caleb Moore, JaMari Whitehead, Tracy Hill Jr., O’Marion Brown, Carlo Thompson, Noah Mangham and Anthony Bynum. That group faced constant pressure from Clemson’s balanced attack, which used running backs Gideon Davidson, Chris Johnson Jr. and Jarvis Green to test the edges. Jerome Carter III and Corey Myrick anchored the Clemson secondary, while Jeremiah Alexander and Sammy Brown helped control the middle of the field. The game remained within one score for a long stretch, and Georgia Southern’s ability to slow Clemson’s running game gave the Eagles a chance to stay in it.

Georgia Southern finally broke through when Johnson connected with Hollins on a deep right pass. Hollins caught the ball near the 6-yard line and completed a 42-yard touchdown. Tripp Bryant’s extra point brought the Eagles closer. That scoring play was the highlight of the day for a Georgia Southern offense that otherwise struggled to finish drives. Taeo Todd and Jamarian Samuel worked in the backfield, while Aidan McCowan, Diego Aviles and Chace Calicut contributed on special teams and in reserve roles. Clemson answered with field goals from Hauser, whose leg became the game’s most reliable weapon. Hauser converted from 20 yards and 34 yards in the second quarter, then added a 50-yard kick and a 49-yard kick in the fourth quarter. Those kicks forced Georgia Southern to chase the game and put pressure on an offense that had already been inconsistent.

Georgia Southern had a chance to cut into the lead in the fourth quarter, but Bryant’s 53-yard field goal attempt was no good. The miss left the Eagles needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to extend the game, and Clemson’s defense responded. The Tigers’ depth showed as they rotated defensive linemen and linebackers, keeping Georgia Southern’s quarterback under duress. Vizzina managed the clock and protected the ball, while Clemson’s special teams continued to flip field position. The Eagles’ punter Alex Smith, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound Australian from Melbourne, was busy trying to pin Clemson deep, and Georgia Southern’s coverage units, including Eli Anders, Elijah Fears and O’Marion Brown, did what they could to limit returns. Clemson’s offense did not need a late touchdown, because Hauser’s field goals and the defense’s stops were enough.

For Georgia Southern, the loss dropped the Eagles to 1-1 after a season-opening win over Charleston Southern. The Eagles will look to regroup when they travel to Jacksonville State on Sept. 19. They then host Houston on Sept. 26 before visiting Coastal Carolina on Oct. 3. James Madison comes to Statesboro on Oct. 10, and Georgia Southern visits Old Dominion on Thursday, Oct. 15. Appalachian State visits on Oct. 31, followed by home games against Marshall on Nov. 7 and Louisiana Tech on Nov. 28. Trips to Georgia State on Nov. 14 and Troy on Nov. 21 round out the next stretch. The Eagles’ defense, led by Stroud, Tyson, Sears, Gamble and Myles, will need to build on its effort, while Johnson and the offense will search for more consistency.

Clemson improved to 1-1 after a season-opening loss at LSU. The Tigers next host North Carolina on Sept. 19 before traveling to California on Friday, Sept. 25. Miami visits Clemson on Oct. 3, and Charleston Southern comes to Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17. Virginia Tech visits Oct. 24, and Clemson travels to Florida State on Oct. 31 and Syracuse on Nov. 7. Georgia Tech visits Nov. 14, and Clemson plays at Duke on Friday, Nov. 20 before hosting South Carolina on Nov. 28. The Tigers’ win over Georgia Southern gave them a needed result before a demanding conference schedule. Vizzina, Moore, Brown, Wesco, Patt-Henry, Bentancur and the rest of the offense will aim to build on the performance, while Hauser’s kicking and the defense’s late stops provided the blueprint.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Clemson 44, Georgia Southern 32. Interstat’s ELO system had given Clemson a 93.6 percent probability to win. The actual result was far lower-scoring, as Clemson’s defense and kicking game controlled the afternoon and Georgia Southern’s offense managed only one touchdown.