Tennessee shifted to a three-down front after Georgia Tech found early success with quick throws, changing gaps, bringing pressure off the edge and dropping different defenders underneath. On Lane’s interception return, the Volunteers jumped Tech’s run-pass option passing window, Brent Key explained afterward. Tech lost 45-24. The next step for Alberto Mendoza is recognizing when the throw that worked earlier is no longer available.
Mercer visits Saturday, Sept. 19, at noon ET on ACC Network. Tech is an overwhelming favorite, with a 98.8% modeled chance to win. Yet Mercer just produced four sacks and three takeaways against Furman, enough disruption to make protection and quarterback decisions worth watching closely. The model lists no outside games to pull for this week. See the interactive guide for Tech’s projections and the methodology for how they’re calculated.
George Godsey and Jason Semore took over Tech’s coordinator jobs for 2026, putting both the offensive development and defensive repair under new direction. Godsey has backfield production worth preserving. Tech rushed for 135 net yards against Tennessee, up from 51 against Colorado. Justice Haynes supplied 81 rushing yards and caught six passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. Keeping him productive as both a runner and receiver gives Mendoza useful options without asking the quarterback to carry every possession.
But Mendoza also threw two interceptions and took four sacks against Tennessee. His interception shortly before halftime cost Tech a scoring opportunity; afterward, he acknowledged forcing the throw. Against Mercer, watch whether he can pass up a covered target and keep a possession alive, and whether the blockers account for pressure when the defensive front changes. Godsey needs answers that preserve the quick game without requiring Mendoza to throw into a window the defense has closed.
Semore’s defense has a separate, concrete repair to make. Tech hired him with an explicit vision of aggression, negative plays and takeaways. Against Tennessee, Kyle Efford recorded Tech’s only sack, the Jackets forced no turnover and the Volunteers rushed for 299 yards. Those results leave substantial work between the stated approach and dependable stops.
Key’s postgame explanation identified where to look. Interior defenders made some plays, but support disappeared when Tennessee’s runners bounced outside. Against Mercer, watch whether the next defender arrives to finish those runs before they become another manageable third down. A sack or takeaway would be welcome; repeated sound support outside would address the failure Key described.
Jaylen Mbakwe’s release Sunday after overnight hospital evaluation was reassuring news following his collision with Jordan Walker against Tennessee. Walker also needed assistance leaving the field. The available reports do not establish either player’s availability against Mercer, so Tech cannot yet count on both being available for that defensive work.
Tech enters Saturday 0-2, and Mercer closes the opening three-game home stand before the trip to Stanford. Tennessee had been a substantial road favorite, with Tech listed as a 13-point underdog, so the defeat alone should not settle the season’s expectations. Key’s teams finished fourth, fourth and second in the ACC from 2023 through 2025; sustaining that conference standing remains the larger ambition.