Survive and advance. That’s the best way to describe Georgia Tech’s 30–29 road win over Wake Forest on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets left Winston-Salem with their undefeated record intact, but it wasn’t pretty.
For a team with ACC title aspirations, this performance left as many questions as answers. Let’s dive into the key takeaways from a game that was equal parts thrilling and frustrating for Brent Key’s squad.
1. Slow Starts Continue to Haunt the Jackets
If there’s one recurring issue that could derail Georgia Tech’s season, it’s their inability to start fast. Outside of the Temple game, the Jackets have stumbled out of the gate nearly every week.
Against Wake, the offense was stuck in neutral through the first half, producing just 134 total yards, three points, and a miserable 2-of-10 on third down. Playing from behind has become the norm, and while Tech has the talent to rally, they won’t survive stronger competition if this trend continues.
2. Haynes King Wills the Team to Victory
Once again, quarterback Haynes King put the Jackets on his back. Limited to fewer than 85 total yards in the first half, King flipped the script after halftime.
He orchestrated three straight scoring drives, finishing the night with 243 passing yards, 106 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns. That’s 349 yards of offense almost entirely created by one man. Without King’s dual-threat heroics, Georgia Tech doesn’t leave Winston-Salem with a win.
3. Defense Gashed by Explosive Plays Early
Wake Forest took advantage of Georgia Tech’s secondary in the first half, ripping off three passes of 35+ yards. Those chunk plays fueled their early lead and exposed vulnerabilities in a defense that had otherwise looked stout.
The good news? Adjustments worked. No Demon Deacons receiver finished with more than 70 yards, and the Jackets clamped down in the second half. Still, the early breakdowns remain concerning.
4. Demond Claiborne Exposes Run Defense
Wake’s star running back Demond Claiborne put on a show, especially in the second quarter when he sparked a 17–0 run. He gashed Tech for 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7+ yards per carry in the first half alone.
As a team, Wake rolled up 210 rushing yards and three scores. Georgia Tech’s run defense is regressing, and Saturday proved opponents are starting to key in on that weakness.
5. Turnovers Becoming a Trend
One of last season’s strengths has flipped into a 2025 liability. After committing just 10 turnovers all year in 2024, the Jackets already have seven giveaways this season.
Saturday’s came at the worst possible time: a Jamal Haynes fumble with the game tied. Thankfully, the defense held Wake to just three points, but living on the edge this often will eventually catch up to them.
6. Eric Rivers Breaks Out
The senior wideout had his best game as a Yellow Jacket, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Rivers caught eight passes for 77 yards and his first career touchdown in a GT uniform.
He was instrumental in sparking the second-half comeback, providing quick outlets for King and making clutch plays in key moments. If Tech can keep Rivers involved moving forward, this offense will be that much tougher to defend.
7. Kyle Efford Deserves the Game Ball
On defense, junior linebacker Kyle Efford was everywhere. He led the team with eight tackles (three solo) and delivered punishing hits all afternoon.
Efford appeared to cause a critical fumble in the red zone during the first half and added a QB hit to his stat line. His physicality set the tone and gave the Jackets the boost they needed to hold on late.
Final Thoughts
Georgia Tech escaped with a win, but it was ugly. The slow starts, defensive lapses, and turnover issues are red flags for a team hoping to contend in the ACC.
On the flip side, Haynes King continues to look like one of the league’s most valuable players, Eric Rivers emerged as a weapon, and Kyle Efford put on a defensive clinic.
At the end of the day, 5–0 is still 5–0 — but if the Jackets want to stay undefeated much longer, they’ll need to clean things up fast.
