One Interesting Midseason Test for Georgia Tech Football and why it's pivotal

Georgia Tech is going to have one of the hardest schedules in the ACC this season, especially when it comes to the non-conference schedule. The Yellow Jackets are going to face 11 power-four opponents, including non-conference games against Colorado, Tennessee, and, of course, Georgia at the end of the season.

The one break in the schedule for Georgia Tech is that they avoid both Miami and SMU. While the Yellow Jackets have won the last two matchups against the Hurricanes, not having the most talented team in the conference on the schedule is a plus.

But given how Georgia Tech's schedule breaks (more on that in a moment), there is one midseason game that is going to be very interesting and very pivotal for the season.

October trip to Blacksburg

Brent Key Georgia Tec — Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key looks on during the first half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

While the favored team does not always win (Georgia Tech is the best testament to that), the way that the Yellow Jackets season starts, they have a chance to get out to a hot start. They are favored in their opening game against Colorado, they will be underdogs in week two vs Tennessee, big favorites against Mercer, and favorites against both Stanford and Duke. It is the most likely outcome that Georgia Tech is 4-1 to start the season and then they head to Blacksburg, VA to face an old ACC Coastal rival.

Virginia Tech has not appeared in the ACC Championship game since 2016 and have largely been an afterthought in the conference race under head coaches Justin Fuente and Brent Pry. Now, former Penn State head coach James Franklin is in charge of the program and after an offseason where he has flipped the roster and brought in a number, the Hokies are thought to be a contender to make it to Charlotte.

The schedule for Virginia Tech has an interesting to it. They should handle non-conference tests against VMI and Old Dominion with ease and then head to Maryland for a tough test against a Big Ten opponent. They should beat Boston College and then they face both Pittsburgh and California, both of whom have ACC Championship aspirations of their own.

The Hokies have a tougher start to the season than Georgia Tech, but they could arrive at this game very much in the thick of the ACC Championship race.

If-and I stress if- Georgia Tech is 4-1 heading into this game and they were to win it, it could set them up for a big finish over the last five games.

After playing Virginia Tech, the Yellow Jackets head back to Atlanta for homecoming against Boston College, who is projected to be right at the bottom of the ACC with Stanford.

If you squint, you could see a 6-1 start for Georgia Tech leading into the final five games that include Pittsburgh, Louisville, Clemson, Wake Forest, and Georgia. That five game stretch has the potential to make or break Georgia Tech's season and be the difference in them going to the ACC Championship game or not.

Virginia Tech is not without their questions this season, but the upside is clearly there with the team. Ethan Grunkemeyer is one of the most talented QB's in the ACC, Marcellous Hawkins and Jeffrey Overton are one of the best running back duos in the country, Luke Reynolds might be the best tight end you have not heard about, and Kemari Copeland is a preseason All-ACC pick at defensive tackle. Again, they are not perfect, but if their talent comes together, they can certainly be dangerous.

Games between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech used to be a yearly matchup that determined who won the Coastal Division. This could be the first time in a long time that the game could carry that kind of weight.

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