Upsets are a staple of college football every year, and 2024 should be no exception. As the season approaches, betting lines are out, and underdogs are emerging. One clear underdog, even without the need for betting lines, is the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who will face their in-state rival, the Georgia Bulldogs, in the “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” rivalry.
The Bulldogs have claimed two national championships in the past three seasons, while the Yellow Jackets have only had three winning seasons since 2015. Georgia Tech hasn’t beaten Georgia since 2016, but 2024 could bring a different outcome.
Why might the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeat the Georgia Bulldogs in 2024?
1. Brent Key
Head coach Brent Key has had strong support from Yellow Jackets players since his time as an assistant. After the previous head coach, Geoff Collins, was fired, Key led the team to a 4-4 record in 2022 as the interim coach, which earned him the permanent head coach position for the 2023 season.
In his first full season, Key guided the Yellow Jackets to their first winning record since 2018, finishing 7-6. With a second full season ahead and much of the team’s production returning, expect even better results in 2024.
2. 17 Returning Starters
The Yellow Jackets will enter 2024 with 17 returning starters, making them one of the most experienced teams in college football. This includes most of their offensive line, leading rusher Jamal Haynes, and top receivers Malik Rutherford and Eric Singleton.
The most critical returnee might be starting quarterback Haynes King.
3. Haynes King
After transferring from Texas A&M, King had his first full season as Georgia Tech’s starting quarterback in 2023, throwing for 2,842 yards and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns. With a year of experience and a solid supporting cast, King is poised to improve in 2024.
4. Higher Stakes
The expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams in 2024 means that teams with a loss or two still have a chance to compete. If the Yellow Jackets enter their matchup against Georgia with three or fewer losses, they could be playing for a potential playoff berth, adding extra motivation, even with the game being in Athens.
Even if the playoffs aren’t on the line, the Yellow Jackets are likely to have more at stake than in recent years, thanks to Key’s leadership.
5. Georgia’s Tough Schedule
Georgia’s 2024 schedule is ranked as the 13th toughest in the nation, featuring road games against SEC powerhouses like Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss before their season-ending clash with Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs will likely be more worn down by the time they face the Yellow Jackets, having gone through a grueling SEC schedule.
These factors suggest that fans should be on alert for a potential upset in this rivalry game. The tide has to turn eventually, and 2024 might just be the year it happens.
