Slowly but surely, Georgia Tech is flying under the radar is turning from a sleeper to a serious college Football Playoff contender. They are 4-0 and ranked No. 16. The Yellow Jackets also have a ranked win in week two when they beat the then 12th-ranked Clemson Tigers 24-21.
Brent Keys has significantly changed Georgia Tech since he was hired back in November 2022. They have had back-to-back winning seasons and two consecutive bowl appearances. Keys just recently received a contract extension in December 2024. The extension is five years keeping him in Atlanta through the 2029 season. It is a testament to how strong of an impact he has had on the program.
So far Georgia Tech has only played one ranked opponent in Clemson back in week 3. The tigers were the 12th-ranked team in the nation when they lost a close one to Georgia Tech. However, they will not face another ranked opponent until the last game of the season when they face Georgia. The Yellow Jackets are one of only three ranked ACC teams. If they can win out and even beat Georgia and get to the ACC championship game, their chances of making their first ever CFP appearance is good.
The return of Haynes King improved the offense and added experience. According to Jackson Caudell from Sports Illustrated Georgia tech returned 64% of its production on offense. King has shown his dual threat ability and toughness so throughout the season. He has completed 69.7% of his passes for 515 yards and two touchdowns and on the ground he has 52 carries for 274 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Brent Keys said after last week's 45-24 win over Temple, "Yeah, I mean, he plays his game. I mean, look, we put game plans together to win games."
Georgia Tech's defense has proven that they can get off the field on third down. Opponents have converted 37.6% of third downs when facing the Yellow Jackets. In only four games, they have forced two fumbles and two fumble recoveries with only one interception. They allow 19.25 points per game while scoring 38.75 per game. Certainly a winning ratio.
Depth in the running back room keeps fresh legs in the backfield. The Yellow Jackets biggest performers in the backfield are Jamal Haynes and Malachi Hosley. Haynes and Hosley are both over 200 rushing yards on the year. Keys paid tribute to Hosley last week, "Malachi has been such a great addition to the team, and the way he runs and the toughness, running between the tackles."
Georgia Tech isn't just a spoiler, their a contender. If they can win out and continue to dominate their schedule, nothing can stop them from receiving a CFP bid. For the first time in decades, the road to the CFP might just run through Atlanta.