Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech: A Familiar Matchup Returns in 2025
Thanks to the ACC’s ever-changing and unbalanced football scheduling, the Syracuse Orange will once again face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 2025—marking the third consecutive season the two teams have squared off.
This upcoming matchup could carry added intrigue. Georgia Tech appears to be gaining traction under its current leadership and might be poised for a breakthrough similar to Syracuse’s 2024 success.
Getting to Know Georgia Tech
Head Coach: Brent Key
By now, Syracuse fans should recognize the name Brent Key. After back-to-back seasons facing Georgia Tech, Key has become a familiar opponent. A former standout offensive lineman, Key earned All-ACC First-Team honors at Georgia Tech in 2000, playing under head coach George O’Leary. O’Leary has deep Syracuse ties—he coached at Liverpool High School and served as an assistant and defensive coordinator for the Orange from 1980 to 1986.
Key’s coaching journey began under O’Leary as well. In 2005, he joined the UCF staff as a graduate assistant and remained there through 2015, holding multiple roles including associate head coach. From there, Key moved on to Alabama as the offensive line coach for three seasons before returning to his alma mater in 2019.
He took over as interim head coach at Georgia Tech in 2022 and was named the full-time head coach in 2023. In both of his first two seasons at the helm, he guided the Yellow Jackets to identical 7–6 records, including a 5–3 mark in ACC play each year.
Their Last Meeting: Syracuse 31, Georgia Tech 28 (2024)
The most recent clash came early in the 2024 season at the JMA Wireless Dome, where Syracuse came away with a 31–28 win. The Orange never trailed and controlled the game for most of the contest, thanks to a standout performance from quarterback Kyle McCord, who threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns.
Receivers Oronde Gadsden and Trebor Pena each hauled in two touchdown catches, helping Syracuse build a comfortable lead. Though Georgia Tech scored twice late to close the gap, the final score didn’t reflect the dominance Syracuse displayed for much of the afternoon.
Series History: A Brief, Tumultuous Past
Despite both being ACC programs, Syracuse and Georgia Tech have only met six times in their history—all since 2001—making the upcoming 2025 game just their seventh all-time matchup.
The series began in the 2001 season opener at Giants Stadium, where Georgia Tech edged Syracuse in a defensive battle, 13–7. The teams met again in the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl, a game most Orange fans would rather forget. Not only was it a lopsided 51–14 loss, but it also marked the end of Paul Pasqualoni’s tenure as head coach.
Things didn’t get any better in 2013, when Scott Shafer’s team suffered a humiliating 56–0 defeat in Atlanta—the worst loss in the series to date.
Syracuse finally broke through in 2020, securing its first-ever win over the Yellow Jackets. Unfortunately, that 37–20 victory was also the Orange’s only win during the COVID-shortened season.
In 2023, the matchup again proved pivotal in Syracuse coaching history. The Orange fell 31–22 on the road, a game in which injuries forced Dan Villari and LeQuint Allen to run the offense almost exclusively out of the Wildcat formation. The loss essentially sealed Dino Babers’ fate, as he was dismissed soon after.
Ironically—or ominously—both Paul Pasqualoni and Dino Babers coached their final game at Syracuse against Georgia Tech. Orange fans are hoping that pattern doesn’t continue with new head coach Fran Brown.
Georgia Tech’s 2024 Season Recap
The 2024 campaign was a rollercoaster for Georgia Tech, starting with a bang as the Yellow Jackets stunned Florida State in Week 1. While that upset seemed monumental at the time, it lost some shine as the Seminoles’ season unraveled.
At 4–2 midway through the season—despite road losses to Syracuse and Louisville—Georgia Tech looked well-positioned for a strong finish. But back-to-back offensive letdowns against Notre Dame and Virginia Tech stalled their momentum.
Head coach Brent Key managed to get things back on track, guiding the Yellow Jackets to signature home wins over then-No. 4 Miami and a tough NC State squad. In a dramatic regular-season finale, Georgia Tech nearly pulled off another top-10 shocker, pushing rival Georgia to eight overtimes before narrowly falling, 44–42.
Unfortunately, the season ended on a down note with a loss to Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl, capping the year at 7–6—the program’s second straight winning season under Key.
Key Returners to Wa
tch in 2025
At the center of Georgia Tech’s optimism heading into 2025 is the return of quarterback Haynes King. While not the flashiest passer, King was efficient and composed in 2024, throwing just two interceptions and completing nearly 73% of his passes. His overall numbers—2,114 passing yards and 14 touchdowns—were modest, but his dual-threat ability added a dangerous dimension to the offense.
King was Georgia Tech’s second-leading rusher and led the team with 11 rushing touchdowns, using his legs effectively in key moments—something Syracuse saw up close in last season’s matchup.
With King back under center, Georgia Tech has a solid foundation as it looks to build on back-to-back 7–6 seasons and emerge as a legitimate contender in the ACC.
Georgia Tech’s Key Returners
Quarterback Haynes King isn’t the only familiar face returning for the Yellow Jackets in 2025. Senior running back Jamal Hayes is back after a productive 2024 season, racking up 944 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Together, King and Hayes form a potent backfield duo that should be the engine of Georgia Tech’s offense.
At wide receiver, Malik Rutherford returns after being one of two Yellow Jackets to eclipse 700 receiving yards last season. His presence provides a reliable target for King, though much of the remaining receiver depth chart is filled with newcomers or unproven players.
On defense, Kyle Efford anchors the unit once again. The linebacker led Georgia Tech in both tackles (64) and sacks (3) in 2024, serving as a steady force in the middle of the defense. In the secondary, the Yellow Jackets return plenty of experience with senior cornerback Ahmari Harvey, and the safety duo of Omar Daniels and Clayton Powell-Lee—helping form a veteran-laden defensive backfield.
Notable Additions for 2025
To offset some offseason losses, Georgia Tech was active in the transfer portal—especially along the offensive line and at the skill positions. The Yellow Jackets added William Reed (Princeton) and Malachi Carney (South Alabama) to reinforce the offensive line, a key area that will determine the offense’s ceiling this year.
At wide receiver, Georgia Tech brought in a trio of transfers—Eric Rivers, Rahkeem Smith, and Dean Patterson—all of whom will compete for roles and look to bring much-needed depth and explosiveness to the passing game.
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets added key pieces to bolster the front and secondary. A.J. Hoffler (Clemson) and Akelo Stone (Ole Miss) bring Power Five pedigree to the defensive line, aiming to improve a pass rush that lacked consistency in 2024. In the secondary, Jy Gilmore (Georgia State) and Savion Riley (Colorado) are both poised to contribute immediately. Don’t overlook incoming four-star freshmen Tae Harris and Dalen Penson, either—both have the tools to make an early impact in the defensive backfield.
2025 Season Outlook
With a strong finish to 2024—including an upset of Miami and a near-win over Georgia—momentum is building in Atlanta. The return of King and Hayes gives Georgia Tech a potentially dangerous ground game, provided the revamped offensive line can hold its own. King’s efficiency and mobility make him a steady presence under center, but unlocking the passing game will depend on how quickly the new receiving corps can mesh.
Defensively, there’s enough veteran leadership and portal talent to believe this unit can improve, particularly if the additions up front help create more pressure.
If everything clicks, Georgia Tech could find itself not only competing for another winning season but possibly contending in a wide-open ACC. And if King takes a step forward, the Yellow Jackets might just be a dark horse in the conference title race.
Looking Ahead: Georgia Tech’s 2025 Schedule & Syracuse Matchup
We won’t have to wait long to get a true read on Georgia Tech in 2025. The Yellow Jackets open their season on the road against Deion Sanders and Colorado—a marquee matchup that should set the tone for what’s to come.
The rest of the schedule offers reasons for optimism. Georgia Tech will face national powerhouses Clemson and Georgia, but both games are at Bobby Dodd Stadium, offering the Yellow Jackets a chance to spring a home upset. Crucial ACC contests against Syracuse and Pitt also come at home, where Tech hopes to create a stronghold.
On the road, Georgia Tech visits Wake Forest, Duke, NC State, and Boston College—none of which appear insurmountable if the Yellow Jackets can maintain consistency.
If things break the right way, the path to double-digit wins, a spot in the ACC title game, or even an outside shot at the College Football Playoff is narrow—but very real.
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