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Brent Key, Georgia Tech build on ‘giant killer’ reputation with upset win over Florida State
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Georgia Tech’s last-second win over No. 10 Florida State was the perfect start to the season for Brent Key and his team. It delivered the program’s first win over a Top 10 team since the Yellow Jackets knocked off the No. 9-ranked Seminoles in 2015.
And it continued a run of success the program has had against ranked ACC teams since the Key era began four games into the 2022 campaign. As Phil Steele notes, Georgia Tech is now 5-0 straight up against ranked teams in the conference, including Saturday’s win over the Seminoles.
That stretch began during Key’s first game in charge: a 26-21 win over No. 24 Pitt on October 1, 2022. The Jackets also dumped No. 13 North Carolina on Nov. 19 of that year.
In 2023, the Jackets faced two more ranked conference teams — Miami and North Carolina, both No. 17 at the time of the game — winning both.
Brent Key has taken on FIVE ranked ACC teams in his 2.5 years as head coach and is now 5-0 STRAIGHT UP in those games!
Georgia Tech delivers an Inside the Pressbox Best Bet winner for me in the first issue with outright upset of Florida State
— Phil Steele (@philsteele042) August 24, 2024
Georgia Tech hasn’t been as good vs. ranked opponents from other leagues during the Key era. The Yellow Jackets lost to both Ole Miss and Georgia last season. They’ll face the Bulldogs again in 2024 and also have a potential ranked nonconference matchup against Notre Dame coming up in October.
As of now, Georgia Tech is slated to face 2 more ranked ACC opponents in 2024. No. 19 Miami and No. 24 NC State will both make the trip to Atlanta in November. The Yellow Jackets also face Louisville and Virginia Tech on the road this season — 2 teams who could be ranked by the time those matchups occur.
Georgia Tech will host Georgia State in Week 1 on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
