In a stunning turn of events that sent shockwaves through the college football world, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets handed the No. 4 ranked Miami Hurricanes their first loss of the season in a thrilling 28-23 upset at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday. The defeat not only knocked Miami from the ranks of the unbeaten, but also dealt a serious blow to their College Football Playoff aspirations.
King Reigns Supreme for Surging Yellow Jackets
Leading the charge for Georgia Tech was quarterback Haynes King, who returned from injury to deliver a stellar performance. King torched the vaunted Miami defense, accounting for 93 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground while also tossing a scoring strike through the air. His dual-threat capability kept the Hurricanes off balance all game long.
The Yellow Jackets set the tone early when running back Jamal Haynes ripped off a 65-yard run on the game’s second play from scrimmage. Two snaps later, Haynes punched it in from 16 yards out to give Georgia Tech a quick 7-0 lead that stunned the Hurricanes sideline.
Miami’s Missed Opportunities Prove Costly
Despite a record-setting performance from quarterback Cam Ward, who threw for 347 yards and 3 touchdowns to break the Miami single-season passing TD mark previously held by Steve Walsh, the Hurricanes repeatedly failed to convert in key moments. Miami’s high-powered offense stalled on three critical fourth down attempts:
- 4th and 3 incompletion from the GT 23 in the 2nd quarter
- 4th and 1 incompletion from the GT 39 to open the 2nd half
- 4th and 16 sack on the GT 22 in the 4th quarter, nullifying a would-be TD
Those missed opportunities ultimately came back to haunt Miami, who had mounted several second half comebacks to preserve their unbeaten record prior to this contest. When King scampered into the end zone from 5 yards out in the fourth quarter to put Georgia Tech up 28-16, it felt like the Hurricanes had finally met their match.
Hurricanes Dealt Crushing Blow
The loss deals a devastating blow to Miami’s once promising season. Entering the game at 9-0 and perched at No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Hurricanes appeared poised to challenge for their first national title since 2001. But the defeat drops them out of first place in the ACC standings and will send them tumbling down the polls.
Miami hadn’t tasted defeat since the 2023 season, and this loss snaps a 12-game winning streak dating back to last November. It also marks the second straight season that Georgia Tech has toppled a top 5 Miami squad between the hedges in Atlanta.
This one hurts, no doubt about it. We had our chances but just couldn’t get it done. All the credit to Georgia Tech, they earned it. But our goals are still in front of us. We’ve got to regroup quickly with a tough road game at Clemson next week.
Miami head coach Ken Jory
Jackets Abuzz After Signature Win
On the flip side, the upset victory was extra sweet for a Georgia Tech program that has endured its share of struggles in recent years. The win makes the Yellow Jackets bowl eligible at 6-4 and provides a signature moment for third-year head coach Austin Daniels.
The last time Georgia Tech knocked off a top 5 opponent was in 2009 when they upended No. 4 Virginia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium. That team went on to win the ACC. While this year’s Yellow Jackets won’t reach those heights, the momentous victory over Miami signals the rebuild under Daniels is well ahead of schedule.
I couldn’t be more proud of our team. We knew we had a shot if we played our game and didn’t back down. Haynes [King] was just phenomenal. He’s such a warrior. Our defense came up huge. This is a win our fans and alumni can really savor. We’re not done yet though!
Georgia Tech head coach Austin Daniels
College Football Landscape Shaken Up
Miami’s stunning loss will reverberate across the college football world and shake up the playoff picture. One-loss ACC teams like Clemson, Miami, Syracuse, and North Carolina will all hold out hope they can win out and get some help from others to secure a berth in the final four.
Undefeated squads like Ohio State, SMU, and Utah will likely move up a slot in the rankings with Miami’s loss as the sprint to the postseason turns frenetic with less than a month to go. In a sport where every game matters and there’s little margin for error, Miami’s stumble against the Yellow Jackets could prove fateful.
But for one glorious, chilly evening in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia Tech reminded the college football world that anything is possible on any given Saturday. Just ask the once mighty Hurricanes, whose playoff dreams now lie in pieces scattered across the turf of Bobby Dodd Stadium.
The loss deals a devastating blow to Miami’s once promising season. Entering the game at 9-0 and perched at No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Hurricanes appeared poised to challenge for their first national title since 2001. But the defeat drops them out of first place in the ACC standings and will send them tumbling down the polls.
Miami hadn’t tasted defeat since the 2023 season, and this loss snaps a 12-game winning streak dating back to last November. It also marks the second straight season that Georgia Tech has toppled a top 5 Miami squad between the hedges in Atlanta.
This one hurts, no doubt about it. We had our chances but just couldn’t get it done. All the credit to Georgia Tech, they earned it. But our goals are still in front of us. We’ve got to regroup quickly with a tough road game at Clemson next week.
Miami head coach Ken Jory
Jackets Abuzz After Signature Win
On the flip side, the upset victory was extra sweet for a Georgia Tech program that has endured its share of struggles in recent years. The win makes the Yellow Jackets bowl eligible at 6-4 and provides a signature moment for third-year head coach Austin Daniels.
The last time Georgia Tech knocked off a top 5 opponent was in 2009 when they upended No. 4 Virginia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium. That team went on to win the ACC. While this year’s Yellow Jackets won’t reach those heights, the momentous victory over Miami signals the rebuild under Daniels is well ahead of schedule.
I couldn’t be more proud of our team. We knew we had a shot if we played our game and didn’t back down. Haynes [King] was just phenomenal. He’s such a warrior. Our defense came up huge. This is a win our fans and alumni can really savor. We’re not done yet though!
Georgia Tech head coach Austin Daniels
College Football Landscape Shaken Up
Miami’s stunning loss will reverberate across the college football world and shake up the playoff picture. One-loss ACC teams like Clemson, Miami, Syracuse, and North Carolina will all hold out hope they can win out and get some help from others to secure a berth in the final four.
Undefeated squads like Ohio State, SMU, and Utah will likely move up a slot in the rankings with Miami’s loss as the sprint to the postseason turns frenetic with less than a month to go. In a sport where every game matters and there’s little margin for error, Miami’s stumble against the Yellow Jackets could prove fateful.
But for one glorious, chilly evening in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia Tech reminded the college football world that anything is possible on any given Saturday. Just ask the once mighty Hurricanes, whose playoff dreams now lie in pieces scattered across the turf of Bobby Dodd Stadium.
