The College GameDay crew didn’t leave much suspense for Georgia Tech fans on Saturday. When the show wrapped in Austin, Texas, and the picks were in for tonight’s matchup in Atlanta, every voice on the panel landed on Tennessee.
Desmond Howard picked Tennessee. Rece Davis picked Tennessee.
Pat McAfee picked Tennessee. Nick Saban picked Tennessee.
Glen Powell picked Tennessee. Kirk Herbstreit picked Tennessee.
That clean sweep puts the spotlight right back on Georgia Tech, which has spent the week hearing plenty about Tennessee and not much about its own upset chances. Brent Key’s team has built a reputation for knocking off bigger names over the past four seasons, but the national prediction business clearly isn’t buying into that tonight.
The Yellow Jackets will need a sharper performance across the board if they want to flip the script. Tennessee brings a different kind of offense to the table, and Georgia Tech hasn’t seen a scheme quite like it. The Volunteers also have a quarterback who has already drawn attention fast: former top-10 overall recruit Faizon Brandon.
Brandon flashed last week, but this will be a new kind of test. It’s his first start on the road, and his first start against a Power-Four opponent. Key said earlier in the week that Brandon’s size, arm talent and poise jump off the screen.
“He is talented. He's a big man standing back there; he can rip it.
They're doing a good job of-The, I can imagine he will continue to do a good job of putting him in a position to make plays but not have to carry the whole thing, right? He pulls it down, and he can run the thing too.
He's a big joker. But the poise he has, the command of the offense.
Man, he was impressive to watch, really. Man, he was impressive to watch, really, the first game.
But seeing him as a high school player coming up, you saw that, everyone saw that,” said Key.
Georgia Tech’s challenge doesn’t stop with the quarterback. Tennessee’s offseason move to bring in Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator has already raised the level of difficulty. Key pointed to Knowles’ track record at Duke, Oklahoma State, Ohio State and Penn State, along with the kind of disciplined, assignment-sound defense his teams play.
“Jim Knowles is a really, really good defensive coordinator. He’s had a lot of success.
From Duke to Oklahoma State to Ohio State and Penn State, he’s done a great job. Puts his players in position to make plays, right?
Not real complicated appearing. Then they play a really sound, fundamentally sound scheme and it fundamentally sound players and they're good players doing it so.
Look,It'll be a challenge for us. We're excited about it.
I'm excited about it. If anybody in this building it excited about it, they better go find a better be in,” said Key.
Georgia Tech and Tennessee kick off tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET, with the game set for ESPN.
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Colorado Still Has One Receiver Problem To Solve Fast
Quanell Farrakhan Jr. arrived at Colorado with plenty of recruiting buzz, but his first game showed how much work remains before he becomes a bigger part of the Buffs plan. Through the season opener, the former four-star recruit had only a limited role on offense and special teams, a quiet start for a player the staff clearly expects more from as the season unfolds.
Jason Phillips and Deion Sanders have both addressed Farrakhans need to sharpen his game, while also pointing to personnel choices that have shaped the special teams picture. Colorado could be looking for a way to get him more involved soon, and the Week 2 meeting with Weber State feels like the kind of game where those touches might start to come. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Has A New Game Day Twist As Its Firepower Keeps Growing
Georgia is adding a fresh look to a week already defined by depth and momentum, and the timing only makes the Bulldogs more interesting to watch. After rolling past Tennessee State 63-3, the offense kept stacking productive drives with Gunner Stockton steering five straight touchdown marches before giving way to the backups, a reminder that the programs firepower is not limited to one quarterback or one pace.
Ryan Puglisi got into the act with 109 passing yards and a touchdown, and Ryan Montgomery showed why the staff feels comfortable expanding the rotation when he connected on a long scoring strike. Now the focus shifts to Western Kentucky, where the uniform change will grab attention, but the deeper storyline is whether Georgia can keep stretching what its offense can do while bringing more of its depth into the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Fans Will Be Watching What Colorado Does Next
Colorado is turning its attention to a home opener against Weber State after a Week 1 trip that already gave Georgia Tech fans a fresh reason to track the Buffaloes. Deion Sanders has spent the extra preparation time stressing improvement, and the matchup now gives Colorado a chance to settle in at home after opening the season on the road. The Jackets, naturally, have reason to keep one eye on what comes next for a team that already made a statement.
Weber State may not be the headline opponent, but its offense brings a few names worth watching, especially freshman quarterback Nate Dahle and receiver Noah Kjar. For Colorado, the bigger subplot is how quickly all the new faces fit together, with a roster that has been reshaped by a heavy influx of transfers and newcomers. If the Buffaloes get control early, the game could become as much about evaluation as execution, which is the kind of September detail Georgia Tech followers will not want to miss. [Read more 🡒]