Georgia Tech came out of Saturday’s 45-24 loss to No. 18 Tennessee with the same problem that has followed it for two straight weeks: too many mistakes, not enough clean football.
The Yellow Jackets were undone by turnovers, penalties, missed blocks and big plays allowed, and the result was their fifth straight loss dating back to last season. It also dropped Brent Key’s team to 0-2, the program’s worst start since 1989.
There were a few signs of life, but not nearly enough to change the outcome. Georgia Tech’s offense finally reached the end zone for the first time this season when Alberto Mendoza hit Justice Haynes on a swing pass, trimming the margin to 14 as the game was slipping away in the second half. The next drive had a chance to make things interesting, but poor red zone execution shut that down before it could turn into a real push.
"We've just got to execute better," Haynes said after the game. "At the end of the day, that's what we gotta to do.
It's not the what, it's the how. Coach Key talks about it all the time."
Mendoza had a rough afternoon against Tennessee’s defense, throwing two interceptions that both carried real damage. One was returned for a first-half touchdown, and another likely erased a scoring chance just before halftime. He was under constant heat, too, taking four sacks as the Volunteers kept him uncomfortable.
"I felt like I could have been more efficient," Mendoza said. "On that pick to Jordan Allen (just before halftime), if I get it two feet higher so I can float it right over the backer, and we get a score right before the half, which would be crucial. It's just little things that make a big difference, and attacking those details and getting better in those aspects will help me in my career."
The ground game never gave Georgia Tech much of a cushion either. The Yellow Jackets were held under 100 rushing yards for the second straight week, something they did only once last season. Since Key took over in 2023, they are 2-11 when they finish below 140 yards on the ground.
That lack of balance made life even harder for Mendoza. With pressure coming off the edge and little help from the run game, he was forced into short check-down throws, and Tennessee clearly believed Georgia Tech couldn’t string together long drives. The Yellow Jackets never proved otherwise.
There were some brighter moments after halftime. Georgia Tech produced nine of its 11 explosive plays in the second half, but by then the damage was already done. Mendoza said the offense is still figuring out how to operate together, especially with so many new faces.
"Obviously, there's a lot of transfers, me and Justice being two of them," he said. "When you get that many transfers, it takes a little bit of time to come together.
You see a lot of these [other] teams play G5 or FCS teams, and they can get away with that, but you can't get away with that against Power Four opponents. It's tough."
That chemistry issue has shown up in the results, and Georgia Tech needs it to improve quickly.
The crowd, at least, showed up. Georgia Tech sold out for the fourth straight game, the first time that’s happened since 1999, but there was little to celebrate once the ball was kicked off. One of the loudest reactions of the day came when a fan held up a Carolina Panthers Haynes King jersey and his image appeared on the jumbotron, a reminder of how much this offense has missed its star quarterback since he moved on to the NFL.
King had been the quick answer whenever things went sideways. He could change the game with his legs or his arm, and the offense ran through him. In these first two games, Georgia Tech hasn’t found anyone who can fill that role.
Mercer is up next, followed by a bye week before ACC play begins. That gives Key and his staff two weeks to hunt for answers before the conference schedule starts to shape the season. Right now, the offense still doesn’t look like it has many.
Mendoza thinks the group will get there.
"The more reps they get, the better they'll be," Mendoza said about the reserve offensive linemen who got some work on Saturday before shifting to the team as a whole. "Same with myself, same with Justice, and every other player on our team.
We'll continue to get better. I promise you that."
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Has No Room For Another Letdown Against Mercer
Georgia Tech heads into its week three meeting with Mercer still searching for its first win, and the margin for error is already gone. Through two games, the Yellow Jackets have had trouble on both sides of the ball, especially against the run on defense and in getting enough done offensively, where the scoring has been limited to just two touchdowns.
Brent Key pointed to some encouraging offensive adjustments from the last outing even as turnovers kept the results from turning in Georgia Techs favor, and that is the part the staff will try to build on now. With momentum hard to find and the slow start already lingering, this matchup is the kind of game the Yellow Jackets need to use as a reset before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Needs More Than A Win Against Mercer Right Now
Georgia Tech heads into its matchup with Mercer still looking for its first win of the season, and the timing of this one matters as much as the opponent. At 0-2, the Yellow Jackets have at least shown some signs of offensive improvement in their last outing, but the record leaves little room for patience as they get ready to host a game they are expected to control.
The broader issue is whether that progress can turn into something more tangible before the schedule gets any harder. Georgia Techs staff has already pointed to the need for cleaner offense and stronger play in the trenches, which makes this more than just a tune-up game. A win would settle the obvious part, but the larger test is whether the Yellow Jackets can finally look like a team starting to solve its early-season problems. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia's Oklahoma Test Could Say A Lot About The Bulldogs Ceiling
Georgias late-September meeting with Oklahoma already carries the feel of a measuring-stick game, even with plenty of football left to play before the Sooners arrive in Athens. The Bulldogs have looked to Gunner Stockton to steady the offense this season, while John Mateer has given Oklahoma a quarterback presence worth tracking, and the matchup adds another layer to a schedule that also includes Georgias immediate focus on Arkansas.
The setting only sharpens the interest, because this is not just another Power 5 nonconference date, it is a chance to see how Georgia stacks up against a familiar name it does not often see in person. The programs have met only once before, in a wild postseason classic, and a lot could be learned about the Bulldogs ceiling by the time this one kicks off on a national stage. [Read more 🡒]