The stage is set for one of the biggest battles ever between in-state arch rivals, as Georgia battles the Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. There are major stakes on the line, with a historic streak, College Football Playoff and conference championship game intrigue.
Georgia heads in with a record of 10-1, coming off a 35-3 win over Charlotte Between the Hedges. The victory over the 49ers served as a bit of a buffer on the schedule, following eight straight Southeastern Conference games and with the Yellow Jackets lurking.
Tech is 9-2, coming off a tough 42-28 loss at Grant Field to Pittsburgh. The Yellow Jackets fell behind 28-0 in the first half, but had a tremendous comeback. A second-half pick-six was critical, a potential 14-point swing, but the Yellow Jackets still fought to within seven points at 35-28. A long Panther scoring run late in the fourth quarter proved decisive and was the lone touchdown the Yellow Jackets’ defense allowed in the second half.
Quarterback Haynes King leads an explosive offense, one of the country’s best. A veteran offensive line and standout skill position personnel complement the Yellow Jackets Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year front-runner.
The Bulldogs seem to be in good shape for the College Football Playoff, even if the Jackets win Friday. Advancing to the SEC Championship Game the next week and losing a second straight week at Mercedes-Benz Stadium would be the scenario that would likely put Georgia’s chances in the most peril. For Georgia to go to the league title tilt for the eighth time in nine years, there are various scenarios in play with Alabama playing Auburn, Ole Miss battling the Mississippi State and Texas A&M tangling with Texas.
Tech could certainly boost its resume. The Yellow Jackets would have clinched a berth in the ACC Championship Game with a win over Pitt. They could still advance to Charlotte, but would need some help.
All of this is secondary to the glory and bragging rights of the Governor’s Cup and State Championship. Last year’s battle in Athens was an instant classic, one of the most memorable in this rivalry that goes back to 1893. Heavily favored Georgia fell behind the Yellow Jackets 17-0 in the first half, and trailed 27-13 late in the fourth quarter. But the Bulldogs rallied back and sent the game to overtime.
Battling past midnight, the Bulldogs prevailed 44-42 in eight overtimes, which punched a playoff ticket which would later be solidified the next week in just overtime against Texas in the SEC Championship Game.
Last season’s win in Athens marked Georgia’s seventh straight in the series. Georgia has won 20 of the last 23 meetings since 2001 (the two did not play in 2020 due to Covid scheduling). But the longest winning streak in the series still belongs to the Yellow Jackets, who beat Georgia eight straight times from 1949-1956, “the infamous drought,” as it’s known in Athens. This is the third time Georgia has carried a seven game winning streak in the series.