ATLANTA — Dabo Swinney is arguably the greatest coach in Clemson football history with two national titles and seven ACC championships, but a 34-3 loss to Georgia has him reeling.

“When you get beat like that, that’s on the head coach,” Swinney said after his 14th-ranked team opened the season with a loss to the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday.

“Complete ownership of an absolute crap second half. Sometimes you get your butt kicked and we did today.”

The Tigers gave a game effort throughout the first half, trailing only 6-0 to a Georgia offense piloted by projected No. 1 NFL Draft pick Carson Beck.

“There will be some good things,” Swinney said of Clemson showing promise through the first 30 minutes.

“But that doesn’t take away the fact that you just got your ass kicked in the third and fourth quarter.”

The Bulldogs ability to adjust enough to apply their talent advantage was the difference in the game.

Georgia sprung freshman tailback Nate Frazier effectively enough in the second half to open up the pass game, while the Tigers’ offense continued to struggle with quarterback Cade Klubnik.

Klubnik, a second-year starter, was 18-of-29 passing for 142 yards and an interception. Georgia neutralized Klubnik’s mobility, sacking him twice.

“No creativity on offense, it’s the same stale offense for four or five years,” ESPN analyst Booger McFarland said. “The quarterback Cade Klubnik, no ability to push the football down the field, and if you’re a Clemson fan, you have to ask yourself, when are we going to change?

“When are we going to be able to be creative when we don’t have the explosive players that you’ve heard of, (like) Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins?”

Phil Mafah led Clemson with 59 yards on 16 carries, while Antonio Williams impressed with 76 yards on six catches.

Still, Swinney has taken criticism for Clemson not landing the sort of impact transfers that Georgia had working for it on Saturday.

UGA transfer receiver Dominick Lovett (from Missouri) had 3 catches for 33 yards, transfer London Humphreys (from Vanderbilt) had two catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, and transfer Colbie Young (Miami) had two catches for 15 yards and a touchdown.

The Bulldogs would surely have gotten even more of a lift if Florida transfer tailback Trevor Etienne had not been out for the game.

Swinney said he’s aware that critics of his ultra-conservative philosophy on transfers — Clemson hasn’t started a transfer since 2018 — will have their say.

“People are gonna say whatever they wanna say, it doesn’t matter …. ‘’ said Swinney, whose Clemson program doesn’t have the NIL funds to match other championship-level programs.

“But we do what’s best for Clemson year in and year out.”

For all the complaints and questions about the Tigers’ offense and transfer policy, there’s much to be said about the loaded Georgia defense.

Swinney explained before the game the challenges Kirby Smart’s unit presented to offenses.

“They will stem and create pressure with their second and third level guys with movement,” Swinney said last week.

“They have the ability with the talent they have, they can be an even front or an odd front an entire game just based on what they feel gives them the best chance. They have flexibility within their scheme.”

To boot, Swinney noted, the Bulldogs are always coached-up well.

“They tackle well, they really do, first game, I’m pretty sure there will be missed tackles on both sides in a game of this magnitude,” Swinney said

“You see them throughout the year, they get better and better. They leverage the ball well, they know how to play to the sideline, they take good angles.”

That was certainly the case on Saturday, even as Clemson managed to knock three starting defensive linemen out of the game in this physical match.

The Tigers return to action at 8 p.m. next Saturday against Appalachian State in Death Valley.