Georgia Tech defense slipping

After not giving up more than 20 points in any of the first seven games, the Jackets have yielded 24, 28 and 28 in the past three.

Big plays have been a problem. Against North Carolina, Tech gave up a 25-yard completion on a third-and-26 that led to the Tar Heels’ first touchdown.

“It’s a combination of things — not having your eyes where they belong, not paying attention to fundamentals and poor tackling,” coach Paul Johnson said.

“Sometimes, the other team just makes a big play. You have to give them credit once in a while for making big plays. Early on, we weren’t giving up those types of things. What we have to do is get back to the point where we make people beat us and we’re not doing the silly things to beat ourselves.

“Third-down stops is a good example. We went through a period where we were good at it and getting better at it, and now we have gone the other way a little bit,” Johnson added. “When you aren’t producing as much on offense, all those things get magnified. If you’re scoring 35 points a game, no one is paying attention.”

Tech ranks eighth in the ACC in third-down defense. Opponents are converting 38.4 percent.

Tributes to flow Thursday

• Before Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. game against Miami, Tech will honor the 1998 team that went 10-2 and won a share of the ACC championship.

• Amanda McDowell, who won the NCAA women’s tennis singles title in the spring, will be honored between the first and second quarters. Angelo Taylor, who won Olympic gold medals in the 400 meters and the 4x400 relay in August, will be honored at halftime.

• The honorary game captain will be Eddie McAshan, Tech’s first African-American student-athlete and the first black quarterback at a major university in the Southeast.

Tech likes ESPN Thursday nights

Tech will play its 21st Thursday night game on ESPN, with 16 of those coming at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

“The advantages are you get to showcase the school and the city in a prime-time national broadcast. That’s always phenomenal as a branding opportunity for your athletic program and the school,” athletics director Dan Radakovich said.

“Some of the drawbacks we deal with are more operationally oriented. We do have class in session, and it is a school day, so getting fans here quickly and having them have a good experience getting here sometimes is a little bit of a challenge.”