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Georgia Tech (1-2, 0-0 ACC) at Stanford (1-2, 0-2 ACC)  Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California  Date and Time: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. Eastern/7:30

Sep 19, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Justice Haynes (22) runs the ball against the Mercer Bears in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Sep 3, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA;  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key takes the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.  Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Sep 3, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA;  Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key during practice before the game at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.  Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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JOL publisher Kelly Quinlan and staff writer Alex Farrer share thoughts and answer questions from viewers and subscribers about Georgia Tech's 44-11

Sep 19, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets cheerleader waves a flag against the Mercer Bears in the first quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Georgia Tech bounced back after a tough 0-2 start for an easy 44-11 win over Mercer in Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday. Here are the grades and

Sep 19, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Tawfiq Thomas (95) celebrates after a victory over the Mercer Bears at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

PFF Grades: Georgia Tech vs Mercer

For the first time since the 2018 season opener, a team failed to score a touchdown against Georgia Tech. Mercer hit three field goals and converted

Postgame Notes

Team Notes

Georgia Tech moved to 1-2 on the season, while Mercer fell to 2-2.
Georgia Tech moved to 15-1-1 all-time against Mercer.
Georgia Tech extended its winning streak over Mercer to 13-straight games, dating back to a 12-12 tie on Nov. 21, 1898.
Georgia Tech extended its unbeaten streak against Mercer to 16-straight games, dating back to a 12-6 loss to the Bears in the first football game in GT history on Nov. 5, 1892.
The win was Georgia Tech’s first since a 36-34 victory at Boston College on Nov. 15, 2025, snapping an overall five-game skid.
The win was Georgia Tech’s first at home since a 41-16 victory over Syracuse on Oct. 25, 2025, snapping a three-game skid at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.
Georgia Tech moved to 11-3 in its last 14 games at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
The attendance of 50,852 was Georgia Tech’s sixth-straight crowd of at least 50,000 at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field, which is its longest streak since it had seven-consecutive crowds of 50,000-plus from 1966-67.
 

Individual Notes

Fifth-year PK Aidan Birr tied Georgia Tech’s all-time record with his 61st career field goal in the second quarter. The 32-yard field goal moved Birr into a tie with Travis Bell (61 career FG – 2004-07) for the school record.
 

GEORGIA TECH CAREER FIELD GOALS

61 – Aidan Birr (2023-pres.)

61 – Travis Bell (2004-07)

60 – Scott Sisson (1989-92)

54 – Luke Manget (1999-2002)

43 – Harrison Butker (2013-16)


Sr. RB Justice Haynes rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries (6.4 avg.). The 141 yards were his most as a Yellow Jacket and the fourth-most of his 35-game collegiate career (2023-24 – Alabama, 2025 – Michigan). He was just 18 yards short of his career high of 159, set vs. New Mexico on Aug. 30, 2025 when playing for Michigan.
The 100-yard rushing game was Haynes’ first as a Yellow Jacket, eighth of his career and seventh in his last 10 games.
Haynes also had two receptions for 26 yards and touchdown, giving him 167 total yards from scrimmage, the second-highest total of his collegiate career (career high: 171 vs. Michigan State – Oct. 25, 2025 when playing for Michigan).
Haynes had a rushing touchdown (1 yard) and a receiving touchdown (1 yard) in the same game for the second-straight week (prev.: last Saturday vs. Tennessee). Prior to last week, he had never had a rushing TD and receiving TD in the same game in the first 33 games of collegiate career.
Jr. QB Alberto Mendoza’s three touchdown passes were the most of his collegiate career (prev.: 2 vs. Indiana State – Sept.12, 2025 when playing for Indiana).
Mendoza’s 249 passing yards were also a career high (prev.: 237 vs. Colorado – Sept. 3).
Fifth-year WR Jaiven Plummer’s 37-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter came on his first catch as a Yellow Jacket. He had two receptions in four seasons at Cal (2022-25), including his only previous touchdown, which came on a 35-yard reception in Cal’s 2025 regular-season finale vs. SMU.
Jr. WR Debron Gatling’s 33-yard touchdown in the third quarter came on the first reception of his collegiate career.
Sr. RB Chad Alexander’s 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the second of his career and first since a 2-yard TD run at North Carolina on Oct. 12, 2024.
Sr. DE Taje McCoy’s forced fumble in the first quarter was his first as a Yellow Jacket and the second of his collegiate career (prev.: Oct. 25, 2025 vs. Texas Tech when playing for Oklahoma State).
Fr. DT Christian Speakman recovered the fumble forced by McCoy. It was the first fumble recovery of Speakman’s career.

Tech's defense holds Mercer out of the end zone

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Jackets get in the win column with 44-11 victory over Mercer

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Sep 16, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offensive linemen Ethan Mackenny (78) lines up prior to the snap against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Injury concerns for Tech going into the Mercer game

Mercer (2-1) at Georgia Tech (0-2)  Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia  Date and Time: Saturday, 12 p.m.  Spread: Georgia Tech -39.5, O/U 55.5 (as

Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) runs while defended during a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Sept. 12, 2026.

Gameday Preview: Mercer at Georgia Tech

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Behind Enemy Lines: Mercer

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Sep 3, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA;  The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets cheerleaders perform at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.  Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images