Georgia Tech rolls into game week fresh off a nail-biter over Boston College. With a Charlotte ticket on the line against the Pittsburgh Panthers, Brent Key has one message for the fanbase. Georgia Tech head coach has urged fans to stay 100% locked, loud, and loyal. No half-hearted vibes accepted. This is just Key’s way to keep themselves boosted as the ACC mess looms in the corner.

On November 18, FOX analyst Miles Garrett shared a clip of Key’s latest presser. The face-off at Bobby Dodd Stadium is already keeping Key awake at night with excitement.

“Yeah, there’s no maybe what it may look like. There’s no probably. In this program, we eliminate any grey area…It’s not going to maybe be full. Bobby Dodd Stadium is going to be rocking on Saturday night from 7 to about 10:30 at night,” said the head coach.

Tucked right under Atlanta’s towering skyline, Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field delivers one of college football’s most iconic and unmatched vibes. With a capacity for 51,913 fans, the modern setup blends perfectly with the century-old tradition that has made this place a true gem.

“It is the greatest venue in the country to be able to play a night game here at Bobby Dodd,” added Key. “I cannot wait to see the people in the stadium and how loud they’ll be. We’re gonna need them all and have that 12th man advantage.”

The stadium’s 2020 facelift brought major upgrades. New high-end LED lights, a revamped sound system, and a full signage rebrand featuring Clint Castleberry’s retired No. 19, honors for Tech’s Hall of Famers, and a bold back-lit Georgia Tech sign on the Wardlaw Building. Key has reasons for expecting a full house.

Saturday, November 22, doubles as a celebration. Senior Day for 26 Yellow Jackets, including Heisman contender Haynes King, plus Military Appreciation Day and the 25th anniversary of the Michael Isenhour Toy Drive. In the win over Boston College, Key’s QB rewrote the record books with his eighth 300-yard outing and joined the elite 7,000-yard club after tossing for 371 yards. Now he’s cranking up the hype even more for the Georgia Tech–Pitt showdown.

The stakes have never been higher for Key or King. One win over Pitt, and King pilots Georgia Tech back to the ACC championship stage. A feat they would witness for the first time in 15 years. But what if even then, a playoff ticket is not confirmed? Yes, that’s what awaits Georgia Tech. 

ACC program’s surge leaves Brent Key and co. pushed to the corner

There was plenty of frustration with Georgia Tech’s ranking last week, especially with the Yellow Jackets sitting behind two-loss Miami. And there was a real possibility they would slip one spot, maybe even two, in the upcoming release.

With few teams ahead of Key’s program taking losses, there wasn’t much room for the Yellow Jackets to climb. The win over Boston College wasn’t pretty, but it was clutch. One more W against Pitt might send Key’s boys to the ACC title game. Along with this, a rivalry upset of Kirby Smart could nudge their seeding up a spot or two. But there might be a lingering worry. 

As Joe DeLeone shared on The Ruffino & Joe Show, “The teams that are currently sitting at the top of the ACC are Georgia Tech, Virginia, Pitts, SMU, Duke, Louisville, Miami…Miami plays NC State, Virginia Tech, and Pitt.” Key, just like other ACC teams’ head coaches, might be petrified by Mario Cristobal’s program.

The Miami Hurricanes just blew to the top of the ACC mountain. Sitting at No. 15 in the latest CFP rankings, they’re officially the conference’s playoff front-runners. In Week 13’s bracket shuffle, Miami once again slides into the national picture, helped by the new format that rewards the five best conference champions. However, at No. 13 overall, Miami holds the ACC’s top perch, giving it a temporary rocket boost in playoff positioning.

Brent Key isn’t letting the road ahead rattle him. The way he’s doubled down on Georgia Tech, has he just chained up the exit door on those swirling job-rumor whispers?