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Dec 27, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) throws the ball on the run against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half of the 2024 Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Georgia Tech Football: Phil Steele Predicts Where The Yellow Jackets Finish In the ACC This Season

Originally posted on Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on SI
By Jackson Caudell | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 3:06 PM ET

The 2025 college football season is a little over two months away, and leading up to the season, one of the most interesting teams for 2025 is Georgia Tech. After back-to-back seven-win seasons, it seems like Brent Key's program might be ready to break through in a bigger way. Since taking over as the head coach, Key has put together two impressive seasons of wins over ranked teams and has added more talent to the roster. With enough returning experience, coaching stability on the offensive side of the ball, a talented transfer portal and high school recruiting classes, and a favorable schedule, some are projecting Georgia Tech to be among the ACC's top teams.

Given the experience returning and the favorable schedule, there are some favorable outcomes for Georgia Tech if things go right, but there are enough toss-up games on the schedule where a disappointing season is in the realm of possibility. There are a number of national analysts across the country who believe Georgia Tech can be among the top teams in the ACC this season, and one of them is CFB expert Phil Steele. Steele is one of the top analysts in the game, and his preseason magazine is always a must-read. Steele is projecting a top five finish for Georgia Tech in the ACC this season and sees them as a real contender to make the championship game.

Here is how he sees the ACC playing out:

1. Clemson

2. Miami

3. SMU

4. Louisville

5. Georgia Tech

6. Duke

7. Virginia Tech

8. Pittsburgh

9. Boston College

10 Florida State

11. NC State

12. Syracuse

13. North Carolina

14. Virginia

15. Cal

16. Wake Forest

17. Stanford

In a recent article, CBS Sports analyst Chip Patterson gave a best and worst case scenario for the Yellow Jackets in 2025:

"Best case 9-3: The Yellow Jackets play a big role in the ACC Championship race with an impressive stack of conference wins. Whether Georgia Tech's 9-3 will be good enough for at-large contention in the CFP comes down to its games against Clemson (in September) and Georgia (in November), but even flirting with nine wins requires another strong year from the quarterback position and more clutch performances in close games.

Worst case 5-7: Georgia Tech faces a six-game stretch -- from Virginia Tech on Oct. 11 to Pitt on Nov. 22 -- where each matchup could be a one-score game based on current projections. If the Yellow Jackets go 2-4 during that run, they could enter the final week of the season needing a win just to reach bowl eligibility, rather than trying to solidify a playoff case."

While this is the most favorable schedule that Georgia Tech has had in a long time, they are not likely to be double-digit favorites in any games aside from Gardner-Webb, Temple, and possibly Wake Forest. The seven games against Virginia Tech, Duke, Syracuse, Pitt, Boston College, NC State, and Colorado are going to be games where Georgia Tech is either slightly favored or potentially a slight underdog. Most will be focused on the two major games against Clemson and Georgia, but winning those toss-up games is going to be essential for the Yellow Jackets this season, and they have to avoid stubbing their toe.