With just 1:04 minutes left in the game, Clemson trailed LSU in their Week 1 game by 17-10. With the ball at LSU’s 15th yard line, all Clemson needed was one good pass from Klubnik to make the score level in a third-and-4 situation. But Klubnik threw an incomplete pass to Brant Wesco Jr., and later another incomplete pass on a 4th down Hail Mary attempt. The LSU took over in the victory formation, and it was all over. The game had implications beyond Week 1. It gave opponents confidence that Clemson can be gotten at. Georgia Tech’s Brent Key is following the plan.

In Week 2, Clemson managed to beat Troy 27-16, but not without its share of struggles. At halftime, the Tigers were trailing by 3-16. To make matters worse, Georgia Tech awaits Debo Swinney’s squad in Week, and Brent Key is pumped. The Yellow Jackets’ head coach appeared on ESPN Radio on Thursday and made it clear that he believes in his team’s ability to come out with a win against Clemson.

“They have good players, we’ve got good players. They’ve got good coaches, we’ve got good coaches. Twelve o’clock on a Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia, I don’t think you could ask for anything more. We’ll be ready to roll,” said Key. More importantly, Brent Key knows that if Clemson has Klubnik, he has an equally effective weapon in his arsenal in the form of QB Haynes King.

“Beware when the man jumps up and has a little bit of a limp to him, or starts rubbing something on his body, because it’s about to be on,” declared Brent Key about his veteran QB Haynes King. Notably, Georgia Tech opened its season with a road game against Deion Sanders’ Colorado. King helped the Yellow Jackets to a 27-20 win. In the game, Haynes completed 13 of the 20 passes for 143 yards and threw an interception, which may look a bit lackluster. But King’s real prowess showed in his running game.

The QB1 rushed for a stellar 156 yards and scored three touchdowns, along with an incredible 45-yard touchdown run with just 1:07 left on the fourth quarter clock. So, on one hand, Klubnik faltered on a crucial last-minute attempt against LSU, and King gave Georgia Tech the lead of 7 points after breaking the level (20-20) score.

Even though he missed Week 2 because of some lower-body stiffness from the Colorado game, it looks like Key is set on having King as the starter. But it’s not just King’s talent that makes Brent feel good about going up against Clemson; there’s more to it than that.

A major CFB analyst predicts an upset

In addition to the quality that Haynes brings, the return of several key players, such as the running backs and top defensive players, contributes to Brent Key’s confidence. Jamal Haynes, who leads the running back group, has already earned a spot on the Walter Camp Comeback Player of the Year watchlist. On the defensive side, Georgia Tech has talented players like Clayton Lee Powell, an All-ACC candidate, and linebacker Kyle Efford. These returning players enhanced the team’s prospects. Additionally, a prominent college football analyst supports the team’s potential as well.

“Clemson’s a three and a half point favorite in this game. So, here we are. Whose identity do you trust more? Whose identity? Who’s more in touch with their identity? Because I think the answer is Georgia Tech. I think the answer is the underdog,” declared Josh Pate and went on to expand on why he didn’t pick Clemson.

“I kind of banked on them (Georgia Tech) being competitive in this game because of that hunch, even in the preseason. And that was before I even knew what Clemson would look like. For all I knew, they were going to beat LSU. But I had this one circled and have for a while,” said Josh Pate.