No. 16 Georgia Tech’s Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season finale against Pitt on Saturday is one of the most important in program history.
For the Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1 ACC), the consequences for the game on Saturday in Atlanta are simple.
Should Georgia Tech defeat Pittsburgh, it is in the ACC Championship game for the first time since 2014. That would also serve as a runway for the Yellow Jackets’ first College Football Playoff appearance.
“There’s a big week in front of us now,” Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key said. “We’re here and it’s a great opportunity in front of us. Great opportunity Saturday, and very thankful that this game is at home. We’re playing a very good football team for an opportunity to play for the conference championship. This is a championship game in its own right. That’s the way we’re viewing it.”
Georgia Tech nearly suffered a catastrophic loss last week, narrowly escaping with a 36-34 win at Boston College. The Yellow Jackets, led by Heisman hopeful Haynes King’s 371 passing yards, totaled 628 yards, their second-most all-time in an ACC game.
Also on Saturday, Georgia Tech will honor its senior class in the final scheduled home game of the year. Most notably, King will receive a deafening ovation as the leader of a team that’s been one of the stories of the college football season.
“The command he has of the team on the field, he’s special, and it’s hard to put it into words,” Key said. “The legacy that he leaves here, hopefully, will be continued with other players on the team. I’m just excited for him, excited for his family, excited for all the seniors. It’ll be a special moment on Saturday night.”
Georgia Tech will have to take care of business against Pitt (7-3, 5-1), which has plenty of reason to play on Saturday. The Panthers had their five-game winning streak snapped with a disappointing 37-15 home loss to Notre Dame last week, but they still entertain thoughts of taking a trip to Charlotte for the ACC title game on Dec. 6.
That hope will evaporate if Pitt loses Saturday, which would eliminate the Panthers from contention.
“Their quarterback is special,” Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi said of Georgia Tech. “Haynes King is really good. I don’t listen to the news and I don’t know if he’s in for the Heisman, but the guy has thrown for almost 2,300 yards, rushed for 800. That guy should be talked about for the Heisman because I think he is about as tough as anybody in the country. … The No. 1 key to victory is being able to stop Haynes King.”
The Panthers are led by true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel (1,673 passing yards, 13 total touchdowns), who’s coming off his worst performance as a starter. The 18-year-old threw for just 126 passing yards and an interception against Notre Dame.
“Obviously a couple times (Heintschel) went to the wrong spot,” Narduzzi said. “But he’s going to learn from those things. There’s not a quarterback in the country that doesn’t go out there and throw it to the wrong spot, read a coverage wrong. There’s not one in the country.”
Pittsburgh needs to beat Georgia Tech and Miami (on Nov. 29) to have a chance of qualifying for the ACC Championship game.
–Field Level Media
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