When Florida State made the trip across the pond to tackle ACC rival Georgia Tech, it was supposed to be a soft spot in their schedule. The Yellow Jackets have a dangerous offense, but their defense came in soft as a pillow.
Guess again. This game was an absolute nail-biter, and ACC fans who made the trip to Dublin got to watch a surprisingly close contest. Georgia Tech's offense dominated, shredding the FSU defense for almost 200 yards with a 5.3 yard per carry average as the Yellow Jackets squeaked out a 24-21 win on a last-second field goal.
Haynes King shows out
Rushing attack aside, this game was all about Yellow Jackets QB Haynes King, who established himself as a CFB household name. Insiders knew him as a winner of the Manning Award, but everyone will know who he is after this game.
King's numbers weren't gaudy, but his poise was beyond impressive. He threw for 146 yards, completing 11 of 16, and he added another 54 on the ground. He made his name in the last minutes with Georgia Tech driving for a game-winning field goal until a fumble cost them 11 yards when their jet motion mishap.
King remained unfazed. With the Yellow Jackets basically out of field goal range, he completed a short pass to get them back inside the 30, and kicker Aidan Birr sealed the deal with a 44-yard field goal as time ran out.
The other star of this game was the Georgia Tech ground game, which simply pounded the Seminoles into submission, especially early on. Jamal Haynes ran for 2 TDs and 75 yards while averaging 6.8 yards a carry, and the size of the holes opened by the Yellow Jackets offensive line was truly shocking. Moreover, it gave King a balanced attack that formed a foundation for his stellar playmaking.
The Yellow Jackets may or may not have established themselves as ACC contenders, but no one who saw this thriller will forget the way King had ice in his veins down the stretch. Future opponents will have to be able to counter that ground game as well, and at the very least, Georgia Tech now has a signature that will be viewed very favorably as they try to vie for another bowl bid.
The implications for the Seminoles
For Florida State, this loss is an especially bitter pill to swallow. They were denied a playoff berth by the NCAA last year despite an undefeated regular season, and their 63-3 loss to Georgia in the Capital One Cotton Bowl added insult to injury. This was supposed to be their retribution year, especially with the playoff field expanding to twelve teams.
Now, an undefeated repeat season is off the table, and the Seminoles sustained a big hit to their playoff hopes. Their season isn't over yet, but it might be on the ropes if they play the way they did against Georgia Tech.
This game was supposed to be about FSU's new quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei, an Oregon State program who was supposed to pick up where last year's star, Jordan Travis, left off. The new guy's numbers weren't awful at 19 for 27 for 193 yards, but a stodgy run game that averaged just 3.2 yards a carry left them vulnerable to Georgia Tech's powerhouse ground game.
Both teams get a soft opponent next week, with Florida State matched up against Boston College, while the Yellow Jackets will welcome Georgia State to their US home opener, although they were listed as the home team against FSU.
They certainly enjoyed the Dublin hospitality in this one, as the stadium was buzzing with excitement throughout. And they had to appreciate whatever luck of the Irish they received in this game, which seriously changed the early-season complexion of the ACC.