By Luke Fletcher | Atlanta, GA

Georgia Tech heads into its rivalry matchup with Georgia this weekend at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a real chance to change the story of its season. The Yellow Jackets know they’ve been up and down this year, but they’ve also shown they can be one of the most explosive teams in the ACC when everything clicks. In a game like Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, that kind of upside matters.

A lot of Tech’s hope rests on quarterback Haynes King, who has turned the offense into one of the nation’s most exciting units. His combination of deep-ball accuracy and scrambling ability has given the Jackets a spark they’ve missed in recent years. When King is aggressive and comfortable, Tech can move the ball in chunks—and that’s exactly what they’ll need against a Georgia defense that rarely gives away anything easy.

Tech’s playmakers at receiver have also grown into reliable threats. Whether stretching the field or turning short passes into long gains, they’ll have to find ways to create space and pull Georgia’s defense out of its comfort zone. Sustaining drives, especially early, will be a major test.

On the defensive side, the Jackets face one of their toughest assignments all season. Georgia is disciplined, physical, and patient on offense. For Tech to stay in the game, the defense must avoid the breakdowns that have cost them in recent weeks and focus on forcing the Bulldogs into uncomfortable situations. A timely turnover or a big stop on third down could shift momentum quickly.

Playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium adds a different feel to the rivalry. The fast turf suits Tech’s style, and the atmosphere is always electric when these two programs meet. A big play on special teams or an early scoring drive could give the Jackets the confidence they need to push the Bulldogs into a four-quarter fight.

Georgia will be favored, as usual, but this rivalry has produced its share of surprises. For Georgia Tech, this game is about showing how far the program has come—and how close it is to competing at the level it expects. A strong performance for the second straight year wouldn’t just be a highlight of the season; it would be a clear sign that Tech is building something real.  Georgia Tech absolutely has a chance to compete with Georgia again this year, but it’s going to depend on which version of the Yellow Jackets shows up on Saturday.

On the positive side, Tech’s offense gives them a real shot. When Haynes King gets into a rhythm and the receivers start making plays downfield, Tech can score on anyone — even a defense as talented as Georgia’s. Brent Key has also built a team that doesn’t back down from big moments. Last year’s game proved that the Jackets aren’t intimidated by Georgia, and they matched their physicality for most of the night. Playing inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium helps, too. The fast turf suits Tech’s speed, and it gives their offense a little more room to create explosive plays.

But there are also some challenges. Tech has been inconsistent this season, especially on defense. Missed tackles, broken coverages, and long third downs have come back to haunt them in the last three games. Georgia is the wrong team to make those mistakes against,  they’ll turn them into points quickly. And while Tech has improved its depth, Georgia still rotates elite players at almost every position.

So can Tech keep it close again? Yes, if they play one of their cleaner, more disciplined games of the season. If they start fast, avoid turnovers, and steal a possession or two with a big play, they can make Georgia sweat. If not, Georgia’s depth and efficiency could take over in the second half.

In short: the opportunity is there, but Tech has to bring its best game of the season! After last week’s pitiful showing when they were playing for a spot in the ACC title game, I predict: Georgia over Georgia Tech 34-20!

• Date: Friday, November 28,  2025  3:30 pm. ET
• City: Atlanta, Georgia
• Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• TV: ABC