Everything to know ahead of Georgia Tech football at Virginia Tech

Brent Key issued a new challenge to his team this week.

For most of this season, the Yellow Jackets needed to get right. Now the question is if they can stay right.

Was last week’s upset of previously undefeated Duke an emotional response from a team coming off a bye after a 1-3 start? Or was it something Tech can sustain?

That question follows the Jackets (2-3, 1-1 ACC) to Virginia Tech (4-2, 0-2) this weekend. The Jackets’ first conference road game ended in a loss at Stanford.

Now comes another chance to find out if the version of Tech that beat Duke is here to stay.

“You go out, do it one time, play together,” Key said. “Play as one, move as one, the team supports each other and is excited for each other. Or is that going to be a one-trick pony? That’s the question. That’s what we’ve been talking about all week.”

Georgia Tech football at Virginia Tech: What you need to know

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Blacksburg, Virginia. Lane Stadium (66,233 capacity)

TV: ACC Network

Radio: Georgia Tech Sports Network, 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan, SiriusXM 180/235

Odds: Virginia Tech is a 10-point favorite, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is 55½.

Series history: Virginia Tech leads 12-9. The Yellow Jackets won the most recent meeting ,35-10 on Oct. 11, 2025, in Atlanta.

Weather: 52 degrees at kickoff with a 10% chance of rain, per accuweather.com.

Top storylines ahead of Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech

Suddenly thin at running back

Tech was so loaded at running back entering the season that it listed three players — Justice Haynes, Malachi Hosley and Trelain Maddox — as starters on the depth chart.

Maddox might be the only one available on Saturday.

Hosley will miss his third straight game with an ankle injury, and Haynes is listed as doubtful with an undisclosed injury.

“I said numerous times before the season started, I’ve said it in the past, that’s a position that gets banged up,” Key said. “And you need a lot of them. Your third-team back can become your first-team back really fast.”

Haynes will be difficult to replace if he can’t go.

The senior has more than 50% of Tech’s carries on the season, leads the team with 462 rushing yards and has five touchdowns.

Maddox’s production over the past two games gives the Jackets another proven option.

The redshirt sophomore was already crucial to the entire operation, playing multiple roles on offense and special teams.

Now he’s producing more at running back, too. Maddox has scored five touchdowns over the past two games, including a 60-yard run against Duke that was Tech’s longest offensive play of the season.

Key said Maddox, a team captain, has focused more on his running back responsibilities as injuries have mounted. But when Tech scores a touchdown, Maddox is still on the field for the ensuing kickoff. When the Jackets punt, he’s out there covering that, too.

“He doesn’t want to come off the field,” Key said.

“He’s a running back first, but you have a really good player that’s capable of doing a lot and especially when it comes to the benefit of the football team.”

If Haynes can’t play, Tech won’t just lose its leading rusher. It will lose the combination of Haynes and Maddox that has allowed the two backs to complement each other.

In the first half against Duke, Haynes carried eight times and Maddox seven.

“Justice starts the game off, he sees all the dirty looks and nasty looks,” Maddox said. “I come in there and get the pretty ones. So shout out to him for taking the tough yards.”

Key listed senior Chad Alexander, sophomore Shane Marshall and J.P. Powell as next in line behind Maddox for Saturday.

“We’ve got quality guys there, and I’m confident in all those guys,” Key said.

Production from defensive front

Tech’s defense has just six sacks through five games this season.

Three came against FBS-level Mercer.

It hasn’t helped that defensive ends Jordan Walker, Noah Carter, A.J. Hoffler and Jordan Boyd have battled injuries. All four are out this weekend.

They were also some of Tech’s biggest players at the position. Their absence has left the Jackets smaller on the edge and narrowed the range of skill sets they can put on the field.

“You have to change a little schematically what you do, change the techniques,” Key said.

The consequences extend beyond getting to the quarterback.

The lack of depth on the edge has hindered Tech’s ability to contain the run, contributing to problems earlier this season.

Against Duke, however, the Jackets held Nate Sheppard, who entered as the nation’s leading rusher, to 3.7 yards per carry.

The interior defensive line led the effort. Senior Tawfiq Thomas has been one of Tech’s most reliable defenders all season, while sophomore Christian Garrett and freshman Christian Speakman have emerged as contributors.

“When guys do their job and believe in each other, there’s not much people can do with us,” Thomas said. “When we get greedy and have the mindset, well I’m going to make this play, is when things start gashing us and you can see us. I’m just glad everybody is playing together, trusting the coaches.”

Keeping it simple

Ask Key how Tech will win this weekend, and you’ll get a predictable answer: Don’t turn the ball over. Be effective on first down. Remain disciplined.

It all sounds so simple. And Key usually adds that field position often comes into play, especially in conference games where the margin between winning and losing can be small.

Against Duke, the Jackets’ offense had two scoring drives of 90-plus yards. Tech hadn’t done that in a game since 2013, in a 70-0 victory against Elon.

Those drives against the Blue Devils featured an offense that seemed to be figuring things out. But Tech can’t count on repeatedly driving the length of the field, especially on the road.