For 2 months, Georgia Tech was one of the best stories in college football. An 8-0 start had their fans thinking something magical might be happening. CFP, ACCCG, Heisman’s? It was all there for the taking.
It was NC State who looked like an 8-0 team in a dizzying offensive display that made QB CJ Bailey look like the second coming of Lamar Jackson.
Credit injury ravaged NC State outplayed and out-executed Georgia Tech the entire night. They were just the more physical and tougher team. That’s something that will burn Brent Key.
Georgia Tech was missing some defensive starters, but NC State was without its two best playmakers on offense, plus several others. The injury status was a wash at best, and the Wolfpack handled it better.
From the NC State side, this is what they do under Dave Doeren. They come up with performances that make you think how good they can be mixed in games that have you wonder if Doeren will ever move the program truly forward.
Well, there is one thing that is for sure. CJ Bailey is a QB you can build a team with. Now the Wolfpack have to continue to get players that you can put around Bailey. You can’t let players like WR KC Concepcion get away. Concepcion in now a key member of Texas A&M’s top 3 team.
Remember NC State also beat ACC-leading Virginia, too. With a finishing schedule of Miami, FSU, and UNC, the Wolfpack have a real shot at an 8 or 9-season. That would be a fine job of coaching,g considering how many injuries the Wolfpack have dealt with this year. It certainly would quiet hotseat rumors. The team from Saturday night is very dangerous.
For Georgia Tech, if you had given them an 8-1 top 20 starting Jacket fans would have taken it. That said, these kinds of opportunities don’t come around often, and Georgia Tech flopped at NC State.
In particular, on the defensive side of the ball, it was a total breakdown on every level. Georgia Tech’s bend but don’t break defense was broken time and time again.
It’s time for concern, but not panic, in Atlanta. Brent Key has never let 1 loss become many losses. Under Key, Georgia Tech has never lost more than 2 games in a row. Going into a BYE week, Georgia Tech has time to reset before Boston College. All of the Yellow Jackets’ goals are still in place, and you still have Haynes King as your QB.
Defensively, you are what you are. Georgia Tech is not a good defensive team, but they aren’t as bad as shown against NC State. This is still a D capable of quality play. They did virtually shutdown high high-powered Duke in the second half of their game.
Give Brent Key and his staff 2 weeks to prepare for a game, and I would not count Georgia Tech out in this stretch run just yet.
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