2024 ACC Champions Georgia Tech? You’re [Steely Dan] right!
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After the abysmal years of the Geoff Collins era, I would say that expectations were pretty low for Brent Key. Sure people wanted Key to succeed, but a lot (especially outside of the GT sphere) thought he would. He proved them wrong and led Georgia Tech to its first bowl victory and winning season since Paul Johnson.
In his second full season, he has the opportunity to surpass the expectations again. How? By winning the ACC.
The first question we have to ask here is this: Is Georgia Tech a viable option for the ACC championship game? Before they can win the ACC, they have to make it to the game. Since the ACC no longer uses divisions, the ACC Championship Game features the teams with the two best in-conference records. So how foreboding is Tech’s ACC schedule?
- vs. Florida State (Ireland)
- @ Syracuse
- @ Louisville
- vs Duke
- @ North Carolina
- @ Virginia Tech
- vs. Miami
- vs. NC State
Looking at the ACC schedule, I think 5-3 within the ACC is absolutely feasible, and if Tech can pull off a couple upsets, they would be sitting very close to—if not at—the top of the ACC. Honestly, speaking, if Tech goes 7-1 in the ACC with a victory over Florida State, they are probably in 1st place in the ACC.
The point I’m getting to, though, is that although Tech’s ACC schedule is not without challenge, it’s also pretty manageable.
Beyond the schedule, is Tech good enough to make it to the ACC championship?
Without a doubt.
In Year 1, Buster Faulkner engineered a complete turnaround of the Yellow Jackets’ offense, creating one of the best offensive attacks in the ACC. In Year 2, most of the starters are back. I remember going through position previews, and with just about every single one on offense, I came to the conclusion that the group was fine and would be successful.
The defense is another story though.
After a rough season on defense, Key cleaned house and brought on an entirely new defensive staff, so that group is almost a complete unknown. But—if the defense is at least average instead of outright bad, Georgia Tech will be in the ACC Championship.
We’re five days from Gameday, so it’s time to pour yourself a Guiness (or whiskey clear) and put on your gold-colored glasses (and your Section 103 to cheer on the Yellow Jackets all the way to the ACC Championship Game. What’s the good word?