Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) seems onto the coin toss earlier than the primary half of the sport in opposition to Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Pictures As No. 7 Georgia Tech continues to rack up victories, coach Brent Key acknowledges there might be gratification from two completely different views.
Key definitely is concentrated on his group’s long-term success this season, however he additionally desires his gamers to take pleasure in every win — a run he hopes will proceed Saturday afternoon when the Yellow Jackets face Syracuse in Atlanta.
“The reward comes on the finish of the 12 months,” Key stated earlier this week, “however there are small rewards inside there every week.”
The Yellow Jackets (7-0, 4-0 ACC) have skilled loads of these one-week rewards to this point, having rolled to an undefeated begin that has included wins over Clemson, Wake Forest and Duke. Most not too long ago, Georgia Tech topped the Blue Devils 27-18 as Haynes King collected 325 whole yards and a landing and Omar Daniels returned a fumble 95 yards for a rating.
Georgia Tech has received its first seven video games for the primary time since 1966. The group has 4 contests in opposition to unranked opponents remaining earlier than a showdown with No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 28.
King has not thrown an interception since Week 1 and, whereas he solely has 4 passing touchdowns this season, he has 10 dashing scores — not less than one in each recreation — with 4 100-yard dashing performances for the season.
Along with King, who has a team-high 560 dashing yards, the Yellow Jackets have a strong operating again tandem in Jamal Haynes and Malachi Hosley. The duo has mixed for 816 yards and 9 scores on the bottom.
“No one (on our group) actually panics,” King stated. “Towards the top of the sport, everyone nearly form of has that very same objective, that very same mentality that we’ll will ourselves to win.”
Whereas King continues to face out for the Yellow Jackets, the Orange (3-4, 1-3) are looking for solutions on the quarterback place. Steve Angeli is out for the 12 months with a torn Achilles, leaving sophomore Rickie Collins below heart — and it has not gone properly.
Collins was briefly benched in final weekend’s 30-13 defeat vs. Pitt in a recreation wherein he went 15 of 31 for 126 yards with three interceptions and two touchdowns.
“In the mean time, Rickie’s our quarterback,” Syracuse coach Fran Brown stated this week. “I simply hope that it continues to get higher. I hope that he learns extra from this weekend and watching himself play.”
Syracuse has misplaced three video games in a row, by a mixed margin of 99-34. The group nonetheless has three extra street video games in opposition to ranked groups on its schedule, together with Saturday’s contest.
“We’re gonna struggle to the top,” Brown stated. “That is whenever you discover out who’s an actual soccer coach and who is not and the way the group responds, how the group continues to play.”
Along with Collins’ struggles final week, Yasin Willis was restricted to 16 yards on 13 carries. As a group, Syracuse managed solely 212 whole yards in opposition to the Panthers.
“We simply gotta work out and get ourselves out of this gap and end the season sturdy for the fellows that is draft eligible and the seniors,” stated Collins.
Syracuse and Georgia Tech have solely met 5 instances. Most not too long ago, the Orange received 31-28 final season as Kyle McCord threw for 381 yards and 4 touchdowns.
–Area Stage Media
