Georgia Tech Bowl Projections After Their Loss to NC State

Where is Georgia Tech projected to play after taking their first loss of the season?

Nov 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack saftey Tristan Teasdell (19) attempts to tackle Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) during the fourth quarter at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Georgia Tech is coming off of its first loss of the season, as the previously eighth ranked Yellow Jackets were taken down in Raleigh by NC State. Georgia Tech still has its biggest goals in front of them, but they are going to have to play a lot better (especially defensively) if they want to achieve those goals.

Over the past few weeks, Georgia Tech was getting projected to play not in a regular bowl game, but in the college football playoff. With the loss to the Wolfpack, the Yellow Jackets are no longer the favorite to win the ACC and disappeared from nearly every CFP projection.

Projections for the Yellow Jackets

Nov 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brent key during the first quarter at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

The one major outlet that still has Georgia Tech in the CFP is CBS Sports. The Yellow Jackets are still being projected to win the ACC and hosting a first round game as the No. 8 overall seed in the playoff. Who is their opponent? None other than Ole Miss. The Rebels handed the Yellow Jackets losses in 2022 and 2023.

ESPN's Mark Schlabach has taken the Yellow Jackets out of the playoff and placed them in the Pop Tarts Bowl against Cincinnati. The Bearcats are in the running to make the Big 12 Championship game, though those hopes took a hit this past Saturday in a blowout loss to Utah.

ESPN's Kyle Bonagura has slotted Georgia Tech in the Holiday Bowl against USC. USC is 6-2 this season and just picked up a win against Nebraska on the road. The Trojans are still in the CFP race as well and they have one of the most explosive offenses in the country. These two teams met in the 2012 Sun Bowl, a game in which Georgia Tech got the win.

Still have everything in front of them

While the loss to the Wolfpack ends Georgia Tech's unbeaten season, they still have a chance to get to the ACC Championship. According to Fanduel Sportsbook, Duke is now the favorite to win the ACC at +240 while Georgia Tech is second at +310.

Here are the rest of the odds:

Louisville- +360

Virginia- +370

SMU- +1000

Pittsburgh- +1700

Miami- +3500

Let's look at the remaining ACC schedules for each team listed:

Georgia Tech- At Boston College and home vs Pitt

Duke- Virginia, at North Carolina, and Wake Forest

Virginia- Wake Forest, at Duke, and Virginia Tech

Louisville- Cal, Clemson, and at SMU

SMU- At Boston College, Louisville, and at Cal

Pittsburgh- At Georgia Tech and Miami

Miami- Syracuse, NC State, at Virginia Tech, and at Pittsburgh

Defense needs to be better

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey had one of the best games of his young career vs Georgia Tech. Bailey finished the game 24-32 for 340 yards and three total touchdowns. He was able to make plays on the fly and hit his receivers deep down the field. Even with star tight end Justin Joly and the ACC's leading rusher in Hollywood Smothers, out for this game, the NC State offense could not be stopped by the Georgia Tech defense.

The offense for Georgia Tech was elite as well, but the problem for them was that they could not convert in the red zone. Georgia Tech had to settle for four field goal attempts tonight, making three and missing one. In a game like this, touchdowns are at a premium and despite the best efforts of quarterback Haynes King, the Yellow Jackets offense could not execute in NC State territory.

Now where does Georgia Tech go after their first loss of the season?

The Yellow Jackets still have plenty in front of them, even if the ACC race is getting messy and crowded. Now, Virginia remains the only unbeaten team in conference play after their win over California today. Georgia Tech, Duke, Louisville, SMU, and Pittsburgh all have one loss in conference play and will be trying to get to Charlotte for the ACC Championship.

Georgia Tech will finish with games at Boston College, home against Pittsburgh, and against Georgia in Mercedes Benz Stadium. The Yellow Jackets still have a chance to finish 11-1 if they play better, but that is the key. Georgia Tech's defense is going to have to play better to give this team a chance down the stretch.

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