Tech Dumps The Dookies
Does a foitball team have a personality? Most coaches say yes. But this 2026 Georgia Tech team has been difficult to characterize since before the season started. The one word that seems to fit is "unpredictable". That word still holds– this time, in a good way--following the Jackets' narrow upset win over previously undefeated Duke at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday.
After all, the Blue Devils came to Atlanta as a touchdown favorite. Their goal was to best a Tech team that they had not beaten since 2019.
Tech, of course, came into the game at 1-3, having lost games to both Colorado and Stanford, two teams who were clearly less talented than the Jackets. Talent aside, that quality of play from the season's first month readily explained the odds-makers' favoring Duke.
So of course this game unfolded differently. Tech took the opening kickoff and drove the field smoothly to earn a 7-0 lead on a five- yard pass from Alberto Mendoza to Jordan Allen . From there the two teams traded scores and at the half, Tech led 14-10.
The Jackets scored again early in the third stanza on an electrifying 60 yard sprint by RB Trelaine Maddox. He crept through the middle on a counter play, then cut sharply right and accelerated into open space. That score bumped Techs lead to 21-10 in the third quarter.
From there, though, Tech's offense sputtered a bit and Duke scored twice in succession, and added a 2 point conversion, to take a 25- 21 lead. At that moment there was a specter of that third- quarter collapse at Stanford when Tech gave up 17 points to forfeit a lead.
But Yellow Jacket QB Alberto Mendoza was up to the challenge presented to him on this day . He guided his team the length of the field on a drive that took under two minutes and culminated in a one- yard touchdown plunge by Maddox– his third score of the game--to retake the lead at 28- 25, following an Aidan Birr PAT.
Only problem was that Duke had 54 seconds left with which to make a challenge. And they did just that, moving downfield largely on the strength of a 42 yard catch and run by RB Nate Sheppard. The Blue Devils lined up for a 33 yard field goal to attempt to gain a tie and force overtime.
But Duke freshman kicker Gavin Strange pulled it far left– from the right hash--and that was the game.
Thus Tech's first conference win of the season came over the defending league champs. Who would have predicted that? And they had a big dose of help from a freshman place kicker. But they won.
Brent Key saluted his team for playing " like a complete team" in this win. Of note, his prior description of his own team had been to say they were playing like 11 "independent contractors". In this game, by contrast, he praised their communication and plain old enthusiasm.
That's heartening to Tech fans , some of whom feared that a loss to Duke in this game might have set in motion a sad season for the ages.
Instead, Tech has new life. There are still plenty of ways to improve– including 11 more penalties--but this ACC win brings hope.
From here, the schedule goes six straight weeks with conference foes before the game vs UGA in late November. With the parity prevailing in the ACC this year, none of those league games appears out of reach.
Next on the docket is Virginia Tech, another team undergoing an up and down year. To have a chance, the Jacketswill have to shore up a leaky defense that almost cost them this game against Duke.
But they got the "W". That matters most.
Patrick Conarro
RamblinSports.com