Georgia State at Georgia Tech (1-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (ACC Network)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Georgia Tech with 21 1/2.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Georgia Tech wants to maintain the momentum of its surprising upset against No. 10 Florida State in the season opener in Dublin, Ireland. Another win would likely put the Yellow Jackets in the Associated Press Top 25. Georgia State opens its first season under Coach Dell McGeea former Georgia assistant coach who stepped in after Shawn Elliott left for an assistant job at South Carolina. The Panthers should be highly motivated for their first meeting with Georgia Tech, a Power Four school just a few miles from their own campus in downtown Atlanta.

KEY GAME

Georgia Tech QB Haynes King against Georgia State’s defense. King has the ability to beat a team with his arms or legs, and he’ll be facing a defense that allowed more than 30 points per game last season (101st nationally). The Panthers have allowed an average of 279.5 yards through the air — only five schools have allowed more — so expect their secondary to be tested early and often by Georgia Tech’s talented signal-caller.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Georgia State: Quarterbacks Christian Veilleux and Zach Gibson. Both are newcomers to the program, Veilleux transferred from Pittsburgh and Gibson from Georgia Tech. Both were listed as possible starters before the game. Whoever takes the first snap will have big shoes to fill. Darren Grainger threw for 2,621 yards and 20 touchdowns last year, as well as 736 yards and 10 TDs on the ground.

Georgia Tech: RB Jamal Haynes. The receiver turned running back rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries in the win over Florida State. He also had two catches for 16 yards. Haynes rushed for 1,059 yards last season, becoming the Yellow Jackets’ first 1,000-yard runner since 2017.

Facts & Figures

This is the first of two games between the cross-city rivals. Georgia Tech will make the short trip to Georgia State in 2026 and visit the stadium that once housed the Atlanta Braves and has now been converted into the Panthers’ football home. … The Yellow Jackets are seeking their first 2-0 start since 2016.

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