Jackets drop out of top 10 in both polls after loss at NC State
Georgia Tech suffered a disappointing 48-36 loss at NC State on Saturday night, and that result was reflected in the Jackets’ fall in both major Top 25 polls on Sunday.
The Jackets (8-1, 5-1 ACC) and head coach Brent Key fell out of the top 10 in both polls dropping to No. 14 in the Coaches Poll and to No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25. That is a seven-spot drop in the Coaches and an eight-spot drop in the AP.
The first College Football Playoff Rankings will be released on Tuesday night.
Georgia Tech had just recently achieved its highest in-season ranking since November of 2009 two weeks ago when it came in at No. 7 in the Coaches Poll. They were also ranked No. 7 in that poll after the end of their 2014 Orange Bowl-winning season.
A tough night in Raleigh
It was a tough night in Raleigh on Saturday as the Jackets’ defense gave up 48 points and almost 600 total yards of offense to an NC State team playing without two of their best offensive skill players in ACC leading rusher Hollwood Smothers and tight end Justin Joly, who both missed the game due to injury.
NC State quarterback CJ Bailey threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns and backup running back Duke Scott ran for 196 yards and a touchdown as the Jackets’ defense had few answers to stop the Wolfpacks’ offensive onslaught.
Tech’s offense did its best to keep the team in the game as Heisman candidate QB Haynes King threw for 408 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and ran for another 103 yards and two TDs. Jordan Allen was the Jackets’ leading receiver with 110 yards on five catches for his first 100-plus yard receiving game of his college career.
What’s next for the Jackets
Next up for Georgia Tech is a bye week followed by a trip to Chestnut Hill, Mass. on Nov. 15 to for an ACC matchup at Boston College with a kickoff time to be announced.
