Going into the final month of the college football season, Georgia Tech was undefeated and the favorite to win the ACC Championship. With it, the Yellow Jackets would have punched a ticket to their first-ever College Football Playoff.
After a 42-28 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday night, though, Brent Key, Haynes King and Co. Have seen their playoff hopes crumble. With a win, the Yellow Jackets would have clinched a berth in the ACC Championship; instead, the loss to the Panthers dropped Georgia Tech to 9-2 and 6-2 in the conference.
Here's how a disastrous month for Georgia Tech killed its postseason dreams.
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Georgia Tech recent struggles
Despite an impressive 9-1 record and a chance to clinch a berth in the ACC Championship Game, Georgia Tech has hit a rough patch, primarily because of significant struggles on the defensive side of the ball.
Over the last few games, the defense has failed to maintain the consistency it showed earlier in the season. The Yellow Jackets gave up 48 points in their first loss to NC State and then barely escaped against Boston College — winless in the ACC — after allowing 34. They allowed Pitt to score on 42 on Saturday.
Head coach Brent Key has taken responsibility for the team's poor defensive performance, which has allowed an excessive amount of yards and points and nearly derailed their high-stakes postseason push. The issues appear widespread, ranging from breakdowns in coverage and a lack of consistent pass rush to problems with tackling and run fits.
The defensive woes were on full display tonight against Pitt in a crucial ACC game. The Yellow Jackets had an embarrassing first half, allowing the Panthers to jump out to a commanding 28-0 lead. Pitt's offense consistently produced big plays and long drives, averaging 7.6 yards per play and racking up 296 total yards by halftime. Though the Georgia Tech offense — one of the nation's best — showed some fight by scoring 14 quick points to cut the deficit to 28-14 before the break, the deep hole dug by the defense made the task of winning significantly tougher.
The recent struggles are magnified because they threaten to overshadow what has otherwise been a strong season. While the offense, led by star quarterback Haynes King, has been explosive and productive, the defense has become a significant liability. The team ranks poorly in several defensive metrics, including 103rd in yards per game allowed and 105th in pass defense entering the Pitt matchup.
MORE: Explaining how Georgia Tech QB Haynes King is still playing college football at 24 years old
Who is Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator?
Blake Gideon is Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator.
He was hired for the position in early 2025, coming to Georgia Tech after spending four seasons on the coaching staff at Texas. He served as Steve Sarkisian's safeties coach, until Key brought him to Atlanta before this season.
MORE: Everything to know about Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key
Is Georgia Tech out of the ACC title game?
No, Georgia Tech is not totally out of the ACC title game yet, but their path is now much more complicated to say the least.
The game against Pitt was a de-facto elimination or "win and you're in" game for Georgia Tech, as they were one of several teams in contention for the top two spots in the conference.
Before the game, Georgia Tech (6-1 ACC) controlled their own destiny. But, this loss opened the door for several other teams, as the Panthers improved to 6-1; Pitt now has a major advantage and will likely clinch a spot if they win their final conference game against Miami.
There are other teams in the ACC with less losses in conference, including No. 19 Virginia, who will clinch a spot by winning its final game against Virginia Tech, and SMU, who also has one conference loss.
For Georgia Tech to make the title game, at least two of the three teams above them (Virginia, Pitt, and SMU) must lose their final conference game next week.
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ACC 2025 standings
| Rank | Team | Conference Record |
| 1. | Virginia | 6-1 |
| 2. | SMU | 6-1 |
| 3. | Pittsburgh | 6-1 |
| 4. | Georgia Tech | 6-2 |
| 5. | Miami | 5-2 |
| 6. | Duke | 5-2 |
| 7. | Wake Forest | 4-3 |
| 8. | Louisville | 4-4 |
| 9. | Clemson | 4-4 |
| 10. | California | 3-3 |
| 11. | NC State | 3-4 |
| 12. | North Carolina | 2-5 |
| 13. | Stanford | 2-5 |
| 14. | Virginia Tech | 2-5 |
| 15. | Florida State | 2-6 |
| 16. | Syracuse | 1-6 |
| 17. | Boston College | 0-7 |
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