Georgia Tech Looks Ahead To 2026
(photo RamblinSports)
Game One of the 2026 season for Georgia Tech is only six weeks away. Tech hosts the Colorado Buffaloes at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Thursday , September 3 at 8 pm.
This season heralds a new chapter for Georgia Tech football , what with former QB Haynes King off to the NFL. King has been the heart and soul of the Yellow Jacket attack since 2023 so his departure adds a definite element of uncertainty to the upcoming season for Tech.
Alberto Mendoza, transfer from Indiana, is listed the current starter at QB. Mendoza saw limited action during his time in Bloomington, given that he was backing up his older brother Fernando, who led the the Hoosiers to the national championship and won the Heisman Trophy in the process.
Of course, beyond the quarterback position, there are plenty of other areas "to-be-determined". Both coordinators are new, George Godsey on offense and Jason Semore for the D. Each of the coordinators has a few new position coaches plugged in as well.
As for the players , it might be simpler to consider who is not new among the starters. On offense, two linemen and one running back return. For the defense, it's a single lineman and two linebackers. As for special teams, the one returning starter is PK Aidan Birr.
But to leave it at that would be a bit misleading, since multiple players who logged plenty of snaps will be back, giving more continuity to the roster than merely counting returning starters would suggest. And that's not to mention multiple experienced incoming transfers, most notably RB Justice Haynes who arrives from Michigan for his senior year. Pair him with Malachi Hosley, and these two runners hold much promise for the Jackets for the upcoming year.
One thing that has not changed for Georgia Tech is head coach Brent Key. Not merely his presence, but his take on the college football world and his strong belief in the wisdom of a run- first attack.
Key certainly leans toward a run-heavy offense, and that philosophy will help give QB Mendoza some latitude in his ongoing development to become the centerpiece of the offense. That plan, in turn, depends on quick development of a fairly new offensive line.
If Key and his new O- line coach Allen Mogridge (formerly of Appalachian State) are able to achieve that goal, the result will a substantial positive effect on the overall quality of Tech's season. Good O line play supports a strong run game, which affords better ball control and gives a boost to the defense.
Despite the unfortunate finish to the Jackets' 2025 season ( 1- 4 in their final five games ), they did gain a measure of national attention with their 8-0 start. That attention remains in place, and so in only his fourth full year, Key will be living with an unfamiliar pressure– high expectations. Tech got a dose of that feeling down the stretch last season, and it did not go well– particularly the loss to Pittsburgh at home with a conference title game berth on the line.
All indications are that Key is not only ready, but eager to have his team tackle the task of playing up to a higher standard. Of course, the team does that by winning. This year's recipe for success on the Flats figures to be run first, play tougher defense, gather more turnovers and use excellent special teams play to secure victory.
At a glance, there is no one on the schedule who looks definitely unbeatable – including those guys in Athens.
And that situation alone represents huge progress from just a few years back. It was only five seasons ago when– under a different coaching regime– Tech lost its final six games by an average margin of 20 points. From that low point to 9-4 record of 2025 is a huge leap.
Brent Key is ready to take another leap forward. Opening Day is six weeks away. Toe meets leather on September 3.