Georgia Tech had its moments against Tennessee, but the final result was the kind of lopsided loss that exposes everything. The Volunteers pulled away for a 45-24 win, and for the first time since 1989, the Yellow Jackets are 0-2. That leaves plenty for this team to sort through before next Saturday’s home game against Mercer.
The biggest issue was the same one that has already been hanging over Georgia Tech: the offense just didn’t do enough. The Yellow Jackets didn’t get their first offensive touchdown of the season until the third quarter, and they finished the night with only two offensive touchdowns. There were chances to make Tennessee uncomfortable, but too many drives ended with empty possessions and wasted opportunities.
Mendoza threw two interceptions, and one of them turned directly into points for Tennessee when it was returned for a touchdown and pushed the Volunteers ahead 17-10. Then, late in the first half, Georgia Tech was trying to chip away at a 24-10 deficit, only for Mendoza to throw another interception in the red zone and kill off a scoring chance.
Protection was another problem. Tennessee got to Mendoza for four sacks and added seven TFLs, and the Yellow Jackets also dealt with injuries to Ethan Mackenny, Jameson Riggs, and Malachi Carney along the offensive line. That made an already shaky night even harder to manage.
There was at least a little more from the run game, even if it still wasn’t the kind of production Georgia Tech usually expects. The Yellow Jackets ran for 135 yards on 31 carries, good for 4.4 yards per attempt.
Justice Haynes led the way with 81 yards on 14 carries, while Malachi Hosley finished with 40 yards on six carries. Through the air, Kevin Roche Jr, Dalen Penson, and Haynes each caught six passes.
Georgia Tech should have a better chance to get right against Mercer, but the start to George Godsey’s run as play-caller on The Flats has been far from smooth.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets were also pushed around again. After allowing 189 rushing yards to Colorado last week, Georgia Tech came close to giving up 300 on Saturday night.
All-SEC running back DeSean Bishop had 20 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns, while Daune Morris added 98 yards on 10 carries and broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Georgia Tech managed one sack and five TFLs, but it never consistently disrupted Tennessee’s explosive attack.
Special teams was the one area that gave Georgia Tech a real spark. The Yellow Jackets briefly held a lead when they were down 7-3 and then blocked a punt for a touchdown. That came after Rahkeem Smith’s kickoff return touchdown last week, giving Georgia Tech another special teams score to go with its lone offensive touchdown at that point.
Freshman cornerback Trae Stevenson made the play, and it was a good one. Whether this kind of special teams production can keep showing up is another question entirely.
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Former Alabama Player Jaylen Mbakwe Was At Center Of A Scary Scene
A frightening moment overshadowed part of Georgia Techs game against Tennessee when Jaylen Mbakwe and Jordan Walker both went down after Mbakwes helmet collided with Walkers knee. Medical personnel rushed in quickly, and both Yellow Jackets needed assistance to leave the field, turning a routine play into a scene that quieted the stadium in a hurry.
Mbakwe was eventually transported by stretcher to an ambulance after being taken off on a cart, but he offered a thumbs-up to teammates and coaches as he was escorted away, a reassuring sign that he was conscious. For Georgia Tech, the immediate concern shifted far beyond the scoreboard, with the health of two players suddenly the only thing that mattered. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Just Got Pulled Into A Brutal Week 2 Debate
Georgia Techs early-season buzz has given way to an uncomfortable reality after the first two games, and the latest Week 2 conversation only made that louder. The Yellow Jackets were grouped with some of the weeks biggest disappointments after a rough start that has raised fresh questions about how quickly this team can find its footing and whether last seasons momentum can be carried over in any meaningful way.
The broader issue is bigger than one bad Saturday or one ugly stat line. With the offense still searching for answers and the spotlight now drifting toward Brent Keys staff and personnel decisions, Georgia Tech has been pulled into a debate about whether the pieces on hand are enough to recreate the success the program showed a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has One Bright Spot In A Loss That Raised Bigger Concerns
Georgia Techs home loss to Tennessee left a familiar kind of frustration: one bright moment, then a long stretch of problems that were hard to ignore. The Yellow Jackets were outplayed on both sides of the ball in a 45-24 defeat, managing only two offensive touchdowns while their defense spent much of the afternoon chasing Tennessees ground game. Special teams briefly gave the home crowd something to cheer about, but it was not enough to change the tone of a game that raised more questions than answers.
The larger concern came from how easily Tennessee controlled the line of scrimmage and how little Georgia Tech could do to slow it down. Alberto Mendozas interceptions added to the strain, and the Yellow Jackets never found much rhythm after their early spark. The one encouraging sequence mattered because it showed a unit capable of creating a big play in a tough spot, but for Georgia Tech the bigger issue now is whether that was a one-off highlight or the start of something more dependable. [Read more 🡒]