Tennessee’s senior columnist John Adams has taken a critical look at Georgia Tech’s underwhelming preseason performance, questioning whether the Yellow Jackets can ever pose a legitimate challenge to the Volunteers this season.
Preseason Setback
The Yellow Jackets opened their campaign with a 14-13 loss to Colorado, a result that highlighted a series of costly mistakes, including a missed first‑quarter field goal and a last‑second attempt that was blocked by Boo Carter. The final scoreline underscored how narrowly the game slipped away from Georgia Tech.
Colorado’s physical approach was evident in the rushing statistics, which showed a staggering 183-51 advantage in favor of the Buffaloes, a reversal of the expectations set during the preseason. This imbalance revealed a defensive front that was unable to contain the run, allowing Colorado to dominate the ground game.
Further inspection of the offensive line exposed vulnerabilities, particularly on the left side where tackle Ethan Mackenny was repeatedly overmatched by defensive end Lamont Lester. The ineffective defensive front also failed to stop Colorado’s scoring drive, compounding the early deficit.
While Georgia Tech had counted on running backs Justice Haynes and Malachi Hosley to provide a boost, the team’s overall execution remained inconsistent, with the offense struggling to find rhythm against a disciplined Colorado defense.
In contrast, Tennessee demonstrated its offensive firepower in a 56-9 victory over Furman, leveraging a veteran offensive line and a 1,000‑yard rusher to establish a dominant rushing attack that seemed to validate the preseason optimism placed on the Volunteers.
Adams’ assessment suggests that Georgia Tech may not present a serious test until the Volunteers’ Week 2 showdown with Texas, a game that could finally reveal whether the Yellow Jackets have made enough progress to threaten Tennessee’s aspirations.