Blog Article

Georgia Tech Is About To Have Their Breakout Season

Mark Haines on February 27, 2025

Georgia Tech is on the verge of something special.

After back-to-back 7-6 seasons, the Yellow Jackets are positioned for what could be their most successful campaign in years—and I’m going to tell you exactly why. Head coach Brent Key has methodically rebuilt this program piece by piece, and 2025 is when all these pieces finally come together.

Here’s why Georgia Tech is poised to make serious noise in college football this year:

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Georgia Tech Is Loaded With Returning Talent

Georgia Tech ranks 26th nationally and 3rd in the ACC in returning production.

This isn’t just some random statistic—it’s the foundation of championship teams. When you break down the numbers, the Yellow Jackets are bringing back:

64% of their offensive production
65% of their defensive production
Their star quarterback, Haynes King (72.9% completion rate)
Leading rusher Jamal Haynes (944 yards, 9 TDs)
Top receiver Malik Rutherford (62 catches, 702 yards)
All-ACC guard Keylan Rutledge

Most college football teams would kill for this level of continuity. In the transfer portal era, keeping this much talent together is practically a superpower.

“Georgia Tech boasts one of the better quarterback situations in the ACC, with both Haynes King and Aaron Philo returning.”

This quarterback stability—rare in today’s college football landscape—gives the Yellow Jackets a massive advantage heading into 2025.

Let’s Talk About 2024: The Foundation Is Already Built

Last season showed us flashes of greatness that can’t be ignored.

The Yellow Jackets didn’t just compile seven wins—they made statements. They upset Florida State to open the season. They handed Miami its first loss. They pushed Georgia to eight overtimes in one of the most thrilling games of the year.

But what truly matters is how they did it:

They balanced their attack (237.5 passing yards, 187 rushing yards per game)
They developed an identity under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner
They showed resilience against one of the nation’s toughest schedules
They competed in every game they played

The one glaring weakness? A pass rush that generated just 18 sacks all season (last in the ACC).

The 2025 Schedule: A Path To The ACC Championship

For the first time in years, Georgia Tech has a manageable schedule.

This isn’t just good luck—it’s an opportunity to make a genuine conference title run. The Yellow Jackets could realistically be favored in at least eight games this season, with their most challenging tests being:

Season opener at Colorado (a tricky road environment but a winnable game)
Early-season clash with ACC powerhouse Clemson
Potential trap game at Duke in mid-October
Traditional season-ending rivalry against Georgia

The balanced schedule provides a realistic pathway to nine or even ten wins if things break right.

The X-Factor: New Defensive Coordinator Blake Gideon

Defense wins championships, and Georgia Tech just upgraded.

The hiring of Blake Gideon from Texas represents a critical addition to the coaching staff. While there will be a transition period, Gideon brings SEC-level experience and a reputation for developing defensive backs—an area where Georgia Tech desperately needs improvement after ranking 117th in EPA per dropback last season.

His primary challenge? Fix that anemic pass rush that generated just 18 sacks in 2024.

The Bottom Line: This Is The Year

Georgia Tech will be in the ACC Championship Game in 2025.

This isn’t just a bold prediction—it’s the logical conclusion when you analyze all the evidence. With a third year in Faulkner’s offensive system, a favorable schedule, and returning production that ranks among the nation’s best, the Yellow Jackets have all the ingredients for a special season.

The goals should be clear:

Win 9+ games for the first time since 2014
Compete for an ACC Championship
Secure a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff

After back-to-back 7-6 campaigns, Georgia Tech fans have been patient. That patience is about to be rewarded in a big way.

The Yellow Jackets aren’t just going to be better in 2025—they will be legitimately good.

Atlanta, GA / USA – October 30 2020: Team Entrance for the Georgia Tech Football Facility at Bobby Dodd Stadium

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Blog Article

2024 ACC Pre-Season Meeting of the Mascots

Jason Lucero on September 5, 2024

Meeting Minutes:

Duke Blue Devil:

As this year’s chair, I call the meeting to order. The first order of business is to welcome the latest members to the conference, Cal, Stanford, and Southern Methodist University. Then we’ll get onto pending litigation. Put the shillelagh down, Leprechaun. You know our policy on weapons in the committee room.

Notre Dame Leprechaun:

I was fully clothed at the time of the accident! Any allegation to the contrary is slander! It was not a full-size bus. That’s a gross exaggeration. It was a minibus, and I’ll have no witty remarks regarding my stature!

Duke Blue Devil:

Duly noted Leprechaun. The chair recognizes The Demon Deacon of Wake Forest.

Demon Deacon of Wake Forest:

I object to the presence of Cal and Stanford in our conference. Do I have to say it? They’re from the West! The home of sin and perdition. This is the Atlantic Coast Conference. Having Pacific Coast teams among us is wrong! It’s contrary to nature! It’s Blaspheme, that’s what it is!

Hokie Bird of Virginia Tech:

Give it a rest, deacon. You went 4 and 8 last year. Times are changing.

Duke Blue Devil:

The chair recognizes the Clemson Tiger. Thank you for raising your paw.

Clemson Tiger:

Yeah, man. Oski the Bear. I get that—a bear. I’m a tiger, and he’s a bear. But what the hell is going on with Stanford? A tree? You come in here as a tree?

Stanford Tree:

I have googly eyes! I’m both relatable and ironic!

Clemson Tiger:

No man. That’s abstract. You got to be something real. Like a tiger, for example. People understand tigers.

Ramblin’ Reck of Georgia Tech

I’m with Syracuse. Nobody likes concepts. I’m a wreck, a wrecked car. It’s a thing. People like wrecked cars!

Notre Dame Leprechaun

I rest my fecking case.

Duke Blue Devil

Language Leprechaun!

Otto the Orange of Syracuse:

I protest that reasoning! I’m orange! I’m not an orange. I’m not the orange. I’m just orange. I’m a concept. A tree is a concept too! You all need to open your minds!

Duke Blue Devil

6-7 last year Syracuse. You might consider running the ball. The chair recognizes Mrs. Wuf, from North Carolina State.

Mrs. Wuf of NC State

I rise to speak to the issue of academic excellence. Our friends from the west come with august records of academic achievement. Some among us have allowed our standards to lapse.

Osceola and Renegade – Florida State

Here we go again, everyone hating on Florida.

Sebastian the Ibis – University of Miami

Excellence has a price. Sometimes the students have to pay it. That’s all I’m saying.

Duke Blue Devil

Put out the cigar Sebastian. There is no smoking in the committee room! The chair recognizes the Wahoo.

The Wahoo – University of Virginia

Let’s get down to the real issue here, competitiveness. I’m talking TV ratings and NIL. Cash in hand! Daddy needs a new stadium. Who is to say these new teams can run with the ACC?

Duke Blue Devil

Okay. Uh, for Southern Methodist University we have Peruna the Mustang. Can you speak to that question?

Peruna of SMU

Thank you Blue Devil. It’s a pleasure to be here. We went 9-0 last year, and won our division. We deserve to play in the ACC.

The Hokie Bird of Virginia Tech

You were in the AAC! You beat Tulsa, Temple, and the University of East Carolina. If your schedule was any lighter you’d be playing high school teams!

Duke Blue Devil

Settle down everyone! Settle down! Oskie? Any comment?

Oski the Bear – Cal

We’re rebuilding. We have a great team this year and we’re looking forward to returning to the Rose Bowl!

The Hokie Bird of Virginia Tech

The last time you were in the Rose Bowl was 1959. When are you going to be done rebuilding, the year 3000?

Ms. Wuf – North Carolina State.

I find Oski’s cardigan very attractive.

Duke Blue Devil

Ms. Wuf, where is Mr. Wuf today?

Ms. Wuf

We’re exploring our sexuality through an open relationship. He’s up chasing a Husky in Connecticut. Oski? Are you into experimentation?

The Demon Deacon of Wake Forest

Abomination! We cannot have inter-conference, inter-species, intermingling! I object! I object! I object!

Duke Blue Devil.

4 and 8 last season. Maybe a little less from the pulpit and a little more from your backfield. Stanford?

The Stanford Tree

We have twenty Nobel laurites on our faculty!

The Clemson Tiger

You went 3 and 9, second worst in our division!

The Stanford Tree

Our band is extremely unconventional!

Duke Blue Devil

Settle down everyone, settle down! Well, it’s not like we have a choice in the matter. They’re in the conference now and that’s that. Oskie, we’ll give you the last word.

Oski the Bear – Cal

Thank you, thank you. Well, it’s no secret that we miss the Pac- 10. We miss bus rides up and down the coast, playing the other schools in the West as the sun set over the Pacific. I guess the only comfort we can find is that no matter how stupid it is for us to play in the ACC, how illogical, how ridiculous it is… at least Stanford has to do it too.

Duke Blue Devil

Quiet everyone, quiet! Leprechaun! Are you peeing in the closet?

The Leprechaun of Notre Dame

I had a late breakfast.

Duke Blue Devil

Hey Clemson! Florida, and Florida State. Sit down. The meeting isn’t over. Where do you think you’re going?

The Clemson Tiger

The SEC is having a tailgate. We thought we would stop by and do some networking.

Sebastian the Ibis – University of Miami

This is fun and all, but keep one word in mind going forward: “realignment.”

The Duke Blue Devil

Meeting adjourned!

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