Georgia Tech ready for home finale in Thursday clash with NC State

A pair of well-rested teams will meet Thursday in Atlanta, when Georgia Tech hosts North Carolina State in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Neither team has played since Nov. 9, with each coming off bye weeks.

The last time Georgia Tech played, the Yellow Jackets (6-4, 4-3 ACC) delivered one of the biggest upsets of the college football season, knocking off then-No. 4 Miami in Atlanta, 28-23.

In the program's first win against a top-five team since 2009, Georgia Tech became bowl-eligible for the second straight season -- the first time the Yellow Jackets have done that since qualifying for 18 straight bowl games from 1997-2014.

Georgia Tech aims to build on that momentum on Thursday, when it vies for its first win against the Wolfpack since 2019.

"We've had a couple extra days to get our guys healthy," Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key said. "To me, your signature win is your last win and you're only as good as your next one. We're focused on putting together the best plan for NC State and having that be our most electric game of the season.

Key played for Georgia Tech from 1997-2000 and said Thursday night home games were some of his fondest memories.

"To give these seniors one last, lasting memory of Bobby Dodd Stadium, it can't be more important," Key said.

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King is coming off a two-touchdown performance (one passing, one rushing) against Miami, while Jamal Haynes ran for 83 yards and a score. King has passed for 1,600 yards and nine touchdowns this year, along with 446 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. Haynes has rushed for a team-best 681 yards and nine touchdowns.

Standing in the way of a celebratory senior night is North Carolina State (5-5, 2-4), out to clinch a fifth straight bowl bid.

Last time out, the Wolfpack had their season-best two-game winning streak snapped in a 29-19 home loss to Duke. North Carolina State managed just 268 total yards as true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey was held to 184 passing yards.

At the tail end of a disappointing season, the Wolfpack still have an opportunity to finish their year on a high note.

"It's how you finish. That's what we've been talking about," North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren said. "You've got two opportunities, and you need at least one to be in a bowl situation. How we finish matters, and now we've got to do it against a team that's peaking."

Bailey, who took over for injured starter Grayson McCall, leads the team with 1,794 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, while sixth-year running back Jordan Waters has rushed for 400 yards and four scores.

--Field Level Media