Another week, another ranked opponent, another chance for Georgia Tech to make amends for a disappointing loss.
Coach Brent Key’s squad will try to upset No. 17 North Carolina at 8 p.m. Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium in what would be his fourth victory over a Top 25 team. A win also would draw the Yellow Jackets (3-4, 2-2 ACC) back to .500 for the fourth time this season.
The Tar Heels (6-1, 3-1 ACC) come to Atlanta smarting from a loss at home to Virginia. Carolina had been undefeated and ranked 10th in The Associated Press Top 25 before an inexplicable defeat to the now 2-5 Cavaliers.
Saturday’s contest will be televised by ACC Network. Here are five other things to know about the matchup:
1. Quarterback play on display
Saturday’s matchup will feature two of the top quarterbacks in the ACC in Tech’s Haynes King and UNC’s Drake Maye.
King leads the ACC in touchdown passes (17) and points responsible for (120), while Maye is the league’s top QB in completions per game (24.3), passing yards (2,249), passing yards per game (321.3) and total offense (350 yards per game).
Maye is considered one of the top prospects for the 2024 NFL draft, should the 21-year-old sophomore opt to turn professional after this season.
“As a back end, we kind of embrace that challenge,” Tech safety LaMiles Brooks said about facing Maye. “A lot of us have dreams or aspirations of making it to the next level, and he’s a next-level caliber quarterback. So kind of just taking on that challenge.
“They have a lot of good receivers plus (Maye). It’ll be a great challenge on the back end. Hopefully we can kind of duplicate the success we had last season.”
On Nov. 19, Tech held Maye to 202 yards passing and a 53.3% completion rate in a 21-17 win at UNC. It was one of three outings for Maye in his past 21 games that he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass.
“A team really quarterback-driven in what they do. (Maye) is a heckuva quarterback,” Key said. “(UNC offensive coordinator) Chip (Lindsey) has a different form and style of offense, but it’s still the same in that it all goes through the quarterback.”
2. Airing it out
Tech’s passing game has struggled a bit the past two weeks. North Carolina’s pass defense may be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to the Jackets getting healthy in that area.
The Tar Heels actually have improved from last season’s mark of 271.3 passing yards per game allowed, which ranked last in the ACC, but this season they’re still giving up 240.4 yards per game (the second worst average in the ACC). They’re also surrendering 6.8 yards per pass attempt.
The Jackets, meanwhile, have thrown for only 355 total yards the past two games, and King has been picked off five times in those contests. Tech started the month with the ACC’s second-best passing offense, but now ranks fifth.
“The thing we gotta do is be able to get an efficient running game going,” Key said regarding what he thinks will help Tech throw the ball better Saturday. “To be able to alleviate the pressure that’s coming, we’ve got to be able to be balanced in what we do on offense, help out in the run game – with one goes the other. It’s not the balance of the play call, it’s the balance of the efficiency of what’s taking place.”
Tech also should have its full arsenal of wide receivers back after Eric Singleton missed last week’s loss to Boston College and Chase Lane played sparingly in that game after missing the previous four. That could aid Tech’s offensive performance as well.
“I think getting guys back, getting guys healthy and back out there playing full speed, that’s a big thing that will help,” Key said. “It helps the timing in the passing game, it helps the protection, it helps things all around.”
3. Don’t forget about Hampton
For all the focus on the game’s two quarterbacks and the expectations that the ball could be thrown all over the yard Saturday, Tech’s defense can’t forget about Omarion Hampton.
A 6-foot, 220-pound sophomore, Hampton is one of the top backs in the ACC and leads the conference in touchdowns scored with nine (eight rushing and one receiving). He is averaging 5.8 yards per carry, 18.7 attempts per game and has totaled 309 yards in the ground the past two outings.
Hampton was held to 35 yards on five runs in the 2022 matchup between Tech and Carolina. The Jackets will need to do a similar job of containing him Saturday if they want to stay in the fight.
Boston College rushed for 308 yards last week against the Jackets’ defense.
4. Old friend Nate
Nate McCollum spent three seasons in Atlanta. He caught 75 passes for 763 yards and four touchdowns and became Tech’s primary receiver in 2022.
But after that campaign, McCollum opted to transfer. He landed up the road in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. On Saturday, McCollum will make his return to Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“It may be an advantage on both sides,” Tech safety LaMiles Brooks said about playing a familiar face. “Just as much as I’ve gone up against him, he’s gone up against me. But it’s a new season, new situation, he’s in a new offense.”
From Dutchtown High, McCollum made 39 of his 60 receptions in 2022 over his final six games. In three of those outings, he eclipsed 100 yards receiving.
McCollum is one of one of five North Carolina wideouts with at least 20 receptions and 200 receiving yards this season. He had 15 catches (one short of UNC’s single-game record) for 165 yards and a touchdown Sept. 16 in a win over Minnesota.
5. Paul Johnson to be recognized
Former Tech coach Paul Johnson will be honored during Saturday’s game.
Johnson, who will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 5, won 82 games with the Jackets from 2008-18 after winning 45 games at Navy and 62 games at Georgia Southern. Tech played in nine bowl games under Johnson.
“Very fortunate to have him come back, very fortunate to have him be someone to talk to and be around,” Key said. “Credit to what he did here as the head coach, the success he had, the players he developed on the field, the players he developed in the classroom that have now gone on. … Some of those guys underneath who have graduated are now to the point in their careers where they’re going on and becoming very successful in their own rights.
“Excited to have him back around for the game on Saturday.”
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