Analyst Shares His Biggest Takeaway From Georgia Tech's Bowl Win Over UCF

Georgia Tech won its first bowl game since 2016 last week against UCF

Author:
Jackson Caudell
Publish date:
Dec 28, 2023 11:38 AM EST

In this story:

Georgia Tech capped off its 2023 season with a big win over UCF last week and finished with a winning record. The Yellow Jackets adjusted well after falling behind 17-3 and ran the ball at will on their way to a 30-17 victory. Bowl games can give programs swings of momentum and with so many starters coming back, Georgia Tech can improve upon its record in 2024.

Takeaways were coming in left and right from different college football analysts around the country, including ESPN's David Hale, who covers the ACC and does a good job of doing so:

"In the run-up to the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key insisted this was simply an ending to the 2023 season, a way to send out his seniors on a high note and ensure the Yellow Jackets their first winning record since 2018. All of that, of course, was true. But given the number of players returning for the Jackets -- just two in the portal so far, and no opt-outs for the bowl -- it's also easy to see how Georgia Tech's 30-17 win over UCF on Friday could be a harbinger for things to come, too.

Haynes King combined for 176 yards of offense and two touchdowns. Jamal Hayes had 128 yards on 18 carries. Malik Rutherford's 41-yard touchdown grab was one of the game's highlights. And the Jackets' D held UCF without a rushing touchdown, something Key's team had done to just one other opponent all season. Add in the fact that Tech erased a 10-0 first-quarter deficit in the process, and there was much to like -- and most of it back for 2024.

For UCF, the game was a bitter ending to a mixed season -- the Knights' first in a Power Five league. Wins over Boise State and Oklahoma State showed the promise of this team, but a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season -- including a one-point loss to Baylor and a two-point loss to Oklahoma -- scuttled any hopes of an explosive Big 12 debut. RJ Harvey (15 carries, 120 yards) and Javon Baker (nine catches, 173 yards, and a touchdown) do offer a foundation for UCF's 2024 though."

Dontae Smith dodging a UCF defender — Georgia Tech running back Dontae Smith
Nathaniel Caudell

Georgia Tech is going to return nearly every key starter on offense next season, but the questions are going to come on the other side of the football. Key is working on trying to hire a defensive coordinator and who that hire is and the impact they can make will certainly provide an outlook for this Yellow Jackets team in 2024. If there is no regression on offense and a progression on defense, Georgia Tech can push to increase its win total from this year.