Georgia Tech stuns No. 12 Clemson with walk-off 55-yard field goal as fans storm Bobby Dodd Stadium
Aidan Birr's career-long kick lifts the Yellow Jackets to a 24-21 upset, their first win over Clemson since 2014
Georgia Tech delivered a stunning upset of No. 12 Clemson on Saturday night, beating the Tigers 24-21 on a walk-off 55-yard field goal and sending a jubilant crowd onto the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
Kicker Aidan Birr drilled the career-long kick as time expired after Georgia Tech used its final possession to move into range. The play capped a frantic finish that saw Georgia Tech convert a trick play for a two-point conversion earlier in the fourth quarter and then scramble to get the kicking unit on the field with no timeouts remaining.
Georgia Tech built a 13-0 lead in the second quarter before Clemson scored just before halftime to cut the margin to 13-7. In the fourth quarter, Georgia Tech trailed 14-13 when it answered with a rushing touchdown and a successful trick-play two-point conversion that extended the lead to 21-14. Clemson tied the game with a touchdown with 3:26 remaining, setting the stage for Georgia Tech's final possession.
Quarterback Haynes King rushed for a two-yard gain on the drive, and the Yellow Jackets hurried on a personnel change to bring on their kicking team as the clock wound down. Birr, who had not attempted a kick of that distance in his college career, sent the ball through the uprights from 55 yards to secure the victory.
The crowd stormed the field in celebration, with students and fans covering the playing surface in white and gold. Stadium staff eased the uprights down to prevent them from being broken, though some fans still managed to touch the goalposts.
The win was Georgia Tech's first over Clemson since a 28-6 victory in 2014 and gives the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 start to the season, their best opening through three games since 2016. Clemson fell to 1-2, marking the first time the Tigers lost two of their first three games since 2014.
Georgia Tech will host Temple next week, while Clemson returns home to face Syracuse as both teams look to adjust after the weekend's result.
The game marked a notable early-season setback for Clemson, ranked No. 12 in the AP poll, and a signature moment for Georgia Tech's program, which had not beaten the Tigers in a decade. The dramatic finish underscored the volatility of the opening weeks of the college football season, when ranked teams can face early challenges and unranked opponents can produce season-defining upsets.
Officials did not report any significant injuries related to the postgame field rush. Stadium security and university staff worked to clear the field and restore normal operations after the celebrations.
Stat lines from the game included the Yellow Jackets' balanced scoring and the single, decisive special-teams play that ultimately determined the outcome. The upset will be reflected in the weekly rankings and could influence both teams' trajectories as they move deeper into conference play and nonconference matchups in the coming weeks.