Georgia Tech entered the ACC’s 2026 preseason poll with a fifth‑place projection, a placement that sets the stage for another campaign aimed at cracking the league’s upper tier.
Under head coach Brent Key, the Yellow Jackets have turned preseason underestimation into a recurring theme, having finished ahead of their forecast in each of the past three full seasons.
The 2025 campaign culminated in a 9‑4 overall record and a No. 24 spot in the final national rankings, while the team posted a 6‑2 mark within ACC play — its strongest conference showing since 2014.
That season also featured a tie for second in the conference after being slotted fourth in the 2025 preseason poll, and earlier years saw the team tie for fourth after being predicted as low as 10th and 12th.
Key’s consistent rise
Key’s program stands as the only squad to have placed in the top four of the ACC standings across the last three seasons, underscoring a consistency that rivals traditional powerhouses.
Fall practice began on Monday as the team gears up for its season opener against Colorado on Thursday, Sept. 3, a game that will be held at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.