The Georgia Tech Yellowjackets are 7-0 and in the Top 10 for the first time in many years. Their 2025 schedule has been tough, but Tech has been tougher. Now comes the Syracuse Orange.
How To Watch The Georgia Tech Game
- Gameday: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
- Teams: Georgia Tech (7-0) vs. Syracuse Orange (3-4)
- Game time: 12:00 pm ET
- TV: ABC/ESPN+
- Streaming: FuboTV (Free Trial)
- Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium; Atlanta, Ga.
Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse: A History
The football series between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Syracuse Orange is a relatively short one, dating back to 2001. As of October 2025, they have met five times, all in the regular season (no bowl games). Syracuse holds a slight edge with a 2-3 all-time record against Georgia Tech.
cuse.com The Orange are undefeated at home (2-0) but have struggled on the road and neutral sites (0-3). Syracuse enters their next matchup (scheduled for October 25, 2025) on a one-game winning streak after a narrow victory in 2024.Key series stats:
- Total points: Syracuse 97, Georgia Tech 148
- Average score: Syracuse 19.4, Georgia Tech 29.6
- Largest Syracuse margin: 17 points (37-20 win in 2020)
- Largest Georgia Tech margin: 56 points (56-0 win in 2013)
- Closest game: 3 points (31-28 Syracuse win in 2024)
Game-by-Game History
| Date | Season | Location | Result (Syracuse Score – Georgia Tech Score) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 7, 2024 | 2024 | Syracuse, NY (Home) | W 31-28 | Narrow upset; Syracuse rallied in the fourth quarter. |
| November 18, 2023 | 2023 | Atlanta, GA (Away) | L 22-31 | ACC matchup; Georgia Tech controlled the second half. |
| September 26, 2020 | 2020 | Syracuse, NY (Home) | W 37-20 | COVID-shortened season; Syracuse’s defense dominated. |
| October 19, 2013 | 2013 | Atlanta, GA (Away) | L 0-56 | Blowout loss; Georgia Tech’s offense overwhelmed Syracuse. |
| August 26, 2001 | 2001 | East Rutherford, NJ (Neutral) | L 7-13 | Kickoff Classic; low-scoring defensive battle. |
Georgia Tech’s 2025 Football Success: A Recipe
As of October 23, 2025, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are undefeated at 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the ACC, leading the conference standings and ranked No. 7 in both the AP and Coaches Polls—their highest regular-season ranking since 2009.
This marks the program’s first 7-0 start since 1966, with a balanced offense averaging 36.7 points per game, a stout defense holding opponents to 17.7 points, and several signature wins, including a 24-21 upset over then-No. 12 Clemson on September 13 (sealed by a 55-yard field goal) and gritty road victories at Colorado (27-20) and Wake Forest (30-29 in overtime).
The team’s success stems from a combination of coaching stability, player talent, cultural shifts, and strategic investments, transforming a program that had back-to-back 7-6 seasons into a legitimate ACC title and College Football Playoff contender.Key Reasons for the Turnaround
Momentum from Upsets and Favorable Schedule:
Signature wins like the Clemson field-stormer and a 35-20 rivalry triumph over Virginia Tech have built camaraderie and fan energy, with attendance upticks reflecting national buzz. A soft ACC slate (avoiding Miami and SMU) provides a clear path forward, though Key keeps focus on the present ahead of Saturday’s homecoming vs. Syracuse.
Brent Key’s Coaching Philosophy and Staff Continuity: In his third full season as head coach (and a former Tech offensive lineman), Key has instilled a culture of relentless toughness, discipline, commitment, and execution—core principles drawn from his time under Nick Saban at Alabama. He emphasizes weekly preparation to combat complacency, using metaphors like the perils of descending Mount Everest to keep the team grounded despite rising rankings. Offensive coordinators Buster Faulkner and Chris Weinke (both in their third year) have crafted a pro-style scheme that maximizes balance, while new defensive coordinator Blake Gideon has shored up the unit, limiting foes to under 25 points in most games and forcing key turnovers (e.g., two interceptions vs. Clemson). Key’s 7-1 record against ranked ACC opponents underscores this sustainable approach.
Haynes King’s Dual-Threat Leadership at Quarterback: Transfer QB Haynes King (from Texas A&M) has been the on-field catalyst, completing 80.5% of his passes for 1,175 yards and five TDs with just one INT, while adding nine rushing TDs (including 156 yards and three scores vs. Colorado). His grit—powering through defenders for crucial scores and embodying Key’s “toughness awards” ethos—has made him a dark-horse Heisman candidate.
King’s off-field dedication, like sleeping in Bobby Dodd Stadium during camp, fosters team buy-in and has elevated the rushing attack to 200+ yards in multiple games.
Balanced Offense and Transfer Depth
The Yellow Jackets boast a punishing ground game led by RBs Malachi Hosley (transfer from Penn; 129 yards and a TD vs. Virginia Tech) and Jamal Haynes, complemented by explosive receivers like Eric Rivers (from FIU; 77 yards and a TD vs. Wake Forest) and Malik Rutherford.
With 22 incoming transfers bolstering the roster, the offense has racked up advantages in first downs (e.g., 27-19 vs. Colorado) and time of possession (often 30+ minutes). Special teams shine too, with kicker Aidan Birr nailing long field goals (e.g., 55 yards vs. Clemson) and a blocked FG returned for a TD vs. Gardner-Webb.
Institutional Investments Elevating the Program
Under President Ángel Cabrera and new AD Ryan Alpert, Georgia Tech launched a $500 million “Full Steam Ahead” campaign to upgrade facilities like Bobby Dodd Stadium and secured a lucrative Under Armour NIL deal (six times the prior value).
Playing annually at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (including vs. Georgia on November 28) generates $10 million in revenue for NIL and House settlement obligations, attracting top talent in the transfer era. This positions athletics as the “front porch” of the school, blending academic excellence (team GPA >3.0) with the Total Person Program for career development—making Tech a compelling recruiting pitch.