Being in the middle of the summer, we’re taking a look back at Clemsonfootball’s most memorable moments against each of its 2026 opponents. This is Part 2 of the series, highlighting the Tigers’ 2018 victory over Georgia Southern.
Clemson has faced Georgia Southern only once, posting a 38-7 win over the Eagles in Death Valley. The Tigers will look to improve to 2-0 in the all-time series when the teams meet again in Week 2 this season.
While the game wasn’t one of the defining matchups of Clemson’s national championship run, it still produced one of the more important performances of the 2018 season. The Tigers went on to finish 15-0 and capture their second national title in three years, and this game helped introduce one of the team’s biggest offensive stars.
It was Trevor Lawrence’s third career start and, at the time, Travis Etienne’s best rushing performance in a Clemson uniform. But the biggest takeaway came from freshman receiver Justyn Ross, who enjoyed his breakout game on the national stage.
ESPN analyst believes former Clemson star set to breakout this season
📸 Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-Imagn Images https://t.co/IrY93b4qWOpic.twitter.com/Jye63LNGTj
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) July 22, 2026
Ross caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence and finished with more than 100 receiving yards, giving Clemson fans an early glimpse of what was to come. He carried that momentum throughout the season, emerging as arguably the Tigers’ top receiver despite sharing the field with one of the deepest receiving corps in the country. By the end of the year, Ross had totaled more than 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns while playing a key role in Clemson’s championship run.
Looking ahead to this year’s matchup, Clemson could be searching for another breakout performance from a young playmaker. Freshman wide receiver Naeem Burroughs has generated plenty of excitement since arriving on campus, and a favorable Week 2 matchup against Georgia Southern could provide the perfect opportunity for him to announce himself in a similar fashion.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson’s top moment against each 2026 opponent Part 2; Ross breakout
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