Did Georgia Tech Lose Its Identity Before Tennessee Even Arrived?

Georgia Tech lost to Colorado by one point on a blocked field goal. That sounds like a bad bounce. Look at the rushing numbers and it feels more like an alarm.

The Yellow Jackets managed 51 yards on 30 carries—1.7 per attempt—while Colorado ran for 183. Georgia Tech is now 1–28 over the past three decades when it fails to reach 80 rushing yards. That is not a quirky split. It is the identity of the program flashing red.

Alberto Mendoza played well enough in his Tech debut, completing 17 of 23 passes for 237 yards. Rahkeem Smith returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Those plays kept the score respectable. They did not fix an offense that could not move bodies or stay ahead of the chains.

Now Tennessee arrives with the worst possible matchup. The Volunteers ran for more than 300 yards in a 56–9 win over Furman. True freshman Faizon Brandon completed 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns, then added two scores with his legs. Yes, it was Furman. The point is that Tennessee can make Georgia Tech defend every blade of grass without asking Brandon to carry the game.

Last season's StatTake profile says the same thing in a less dramatic way. Tennessee finished eighth nationally in offensive EPA per touch and fifth in success rate. The defense was shakier—70th in EPA allowed and 99th in points allowed per drive—which is the reason Georgia Tech still has a path.

The counterargument is that one ugly opener does not erase an offseason. Fair. But what changes in eight days? Georgia Tech needs its line and backs to go from 1.7 yards per carry to controlling a game against a faster front.

That is too much faith for me. Tennessee's freshman quarterback will get the attention. Georgia Tech's missing run game is the part that should decide this.