Georgia Tech knows this script. Brent Key’s team has made a habit of embracing the underdog role, and the Yellow Jackets have already cashed in on it before with wins over Miami and North Carolina in 2023 and Miami and Florida State in 2024.
That history is why Saturday night against No. 18 Tennessee feels like another one of those games where Georgia Tech will need to lean into what has worked when almost nobody gave them a chance.
The problem is that the opener left plenty of doubt. After the loss to Colorado in Week 1, the biggest question facing Georgia Tech is whether the line of scrimmage can hold up against a Tennessee team loaded with talent. If the Yellow Jackets get pushed around again, this one could unravel quickly.
That’s especially true because Tennessee brings more than just reputation up front. The Vols’ pass rush was a question entering the season, but that doesn’t mean the front seven lacks ability. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has a track record of manufacturing pressure through scheme, and Georgia Tech’s protection has to be much sharper than it was last week.
The same battle applies on the other side of the ball. Georgia Tech has to be sturdier at the point of attack and keep Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop from taking over on the ground. At the same time, the Yellow Jackets need enough push to deal with Tennessee’s veteran offensive line and make life uncomfortable for first-year quarterback Faizon Brandon.
Brandon’s debut went about as well as possible, even though it came against an FCS opponent. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns, and he added 68 rushing yards and two more scores. Now comes a much different test: his first game against a Power-Four opponent and his first road start.
Georgia Tech didn’t force a turnover against Colorado, and that has to change if the Yellow Jackets want a shot at an upset. Jason Semore was brought in to coordinate the defense for exactly these kinds of moments, and his group needs a far better showing than it delivered in Week 1.
The formula is the old familiar one: win the turnover battle, control the clock, and run the ball. Georgia Tech still has the pieces to do that, especially with Justice Haynes and Malachi Hosley in the backfield. Last week’s numbers don’t tell the whole story on that room, and if the offensive line can hold up, both backs have the ability to pop big plays.
That’s the real question hanging over Saturday night. Was the ground game against Colorado just a bad night, or was it something more troubling? The answer may go a long way toward deciding whether Georgia Tech can pull off another one of those Brent Key special upsets.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Faces One Defining Problem Against Tennessee
Georgia Tech heads into its matchup with No. 18 Tennessee still sorting through the biggest issue that showed up against Colorado: whether the offensive line can hold up well enough to let the rest of the offense function. The Jackets have already made roster changes up front, and the staff is leaning on younger players to sharpen both the run game and pass protection before the stakes rise again.
Tae Harris has made the point plain, stressing that physical play at the line of scrimmage has to improve on both sides if Georgia Tech is going to be more than just competitive in a test like this one. Against a ranked opponent, the Yellow Jackets do not need perfection, but they do need more sturdiness up front than they showed last time out, and that remains the defining question as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has A Line Of Scrimmage Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Georgia Techs trip to Colorado in Week 1 offered an early look at just how difficult life in the trenches could become for the Yellow Jackets this season. Colorado second-year lineman Chauncey Gooden came away from the opener with the Outland Trophys National Player of the Week honor after a performance that stood out on both sides of the line, and his ability to work at offensive guard and defensive line was part of what made the Buffaloes so hard to sort out.
For Georgia Tech, the bigger concern is less about one award than the broader problem it pointed to. Gooden became only the second two-way player in the Coach Prime era at Colorado, and Deion Sanders said he earned that chance by first taking over one side of the ball. That kind of versatility can stress an opponent in a hurry, and it is the sort of line-of-scrimmage edge the Yellow Jackets cannot afford to overlook as they move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Faces Its First Real Test After That Explosive Opener
Georgia Tech opened its season with a gut-punch loss to Colorado, dropping a game that slipped away on a late touchdown. It was the kind of finish that leaves a team with a quick chance to respond, and now the Yellow Jackets get a much better read on themselves with Tennessee coming in after a dominant Week 1 win.
For Tennessee, this is the kind of early-season road check that can show whether the opener was a true statement or just a warm-up. DeSean Bishop looked ready for a bigger role right away, and after his strong first game, the Volunteers are expected to lean on him more heavily as the matchup gets tougher and Georgia Tech tries to turn a painful debut into something sturdier. [Read more 🡒]