Georgia Tech heads into Saturday’s matchup at Virginia Tech with a little more confidence and a fresh uniform look to match.
The Yellow Jackets announced they’ll wear gold helmets, white jerseys and white pants for the trip to Blacksburg, where they’re trying to keep the momentum rolling after last Saturday’s upset win over Duke. It’s the kind of game that can shift a season’s tone quickly, and Georgia Tech has already shown a knack for catching ACC teams off guard under Brent Key.
That was the story again last week. The Jackets came off a road loss to Stanford, cleaned up enough to get past Duke, and now they’re walking into another conference test with a belief level that looked a lot different a few weeks ago. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, opened 4-0 and drew plenty of buzz as a team that could reach Charlotte for the ACC Championship, but that picture has dimmed after losses to Pittsburgh and California.
The Hokies are still favored, even if that status feels a little less sturdy than it did not long ago. Georgia Tech can point to that, but also to what Brent Key said Thursday when he spoke to reporters about what awaits his team.
"They are really good against the run. They're good getting pressure on the quarterback.
Brent Priy is a guy that we know very well. Have gone against him a lot.
One of the good guys in the business really is. Brent is a hell of a guy, hell of a coach.
Really looking forward to going against his defense and what he does on defense. Offensively, a couple of new guys in the league that follow James with him and the offensive coordinator.
Really on offense starts with quarterback. Older guy experienced, does a really good job running the offense, can make all the throws, sneaky fast in how he moves, and he'll throw it up there.
So they get three really good running backs. Can't really tell who's the starter, who's not the starter there with those two guys, with two of them.
And then they have, in my opinion, what is the best tight end room in the country. They are deep."
Georgia Tech has already had success in Blacksburg before, and that history gives this matchup a little extra intrigue. Whether the Yellow Jackets can pull off another surprise is the question hanging over Saturday.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Faces A Familiar Problem Entering Virginia Tech Game
Georgia Tech is heading into its Week 7 matchup with Virginia Tech carrying the kind of injury uncertainty that has started to feel familiar this fall. The Yellow Jackets report features several notable absences, including offensive linemen Ethan Mackenny and Markell Samuel, along with Malachi Hosley and starting cornerback Daiquan White, while Noah Carter is expected back. For a team trying to settle into a rhythm, the availability picture matters on both sides of the ball, especially up front.
The depth chart could also get thinner if Haynes is unable to go, leaving another position group in question as Saturday approaches. And in a longer-term development for the program, Kyle Efford has medically retired because of injuries, a reminder that the roster turnover around the season is not only about game-day status but also about careers interrupted by health issues. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Techs Bowl Push Faces A Bigger Test Than Duke
Georgia Tech got the result it needed against Duke, its first Power Four win since Nov. 15, 2025, and the performance offered a glimpse of a more balanced attack. The run game was steadier, the offense found ways to finish drives and the win kept the Yellow Jackets moving in the right direction as they try to stay in the bowl conversation.
The challenge ahead looks tougher in a different way. Virginia Tech brings a more complete offensive test, with quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer steering the unit and a capable running back duo behind him, while Georgia Tech still has real issues to clean up on the other side of the ball. Third downs have been a trouble spot and the Jackets have yet to come up with a turnover this season, leaving little margin for error as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Can Make A Statement In The ACC's Week 7 QB Debate
Week 6 in the ACC brought the usual mix of big performances, injury questions and quarterbacks trying to separate themselves from the pack, and the leagues Week 7 conversation is already starting to sort out who belongs near the top. Georgia Tech finally enters that discussion after its win over Duke, a result that gave the Yellow Jackets a more visible place in the conferences quarterback picture as the rankings expanded to include eight names worth watching heading into the next slate.
For Georgia Tech, though, the broader takeaway is still less about a runaway star turn and more about steady control of the offense. The Yellow Jackets are being evaluated more as a game-manager operation than a fireworks show, even with Mendoza completing just under 70 percent of his throws and averaging 238 yards per game. That leaves Miamis looming chance to make a statement in the ACC debate with the clearer spotlight, while Tech waits to see whether its place in the ranking becomes a foothold or just a brief appearance. [Read more 🡒]