Everything to know ahead of Georgia Tech football vs. Louisville

Georgia Tech football has plenty of questions to answer with four games remaining in a disappointing season.

The quarterback position is among them.

Coach Brent Key declined to identify a starter for Saturday’s game against Louisville, leaving open the possibility of a change from Alberto Mendoza, who started the first eight games, to backup Grady Adamson.

Adamson has appeared in each of the past two games, and Key said the redshirt freshman has given the offense a “jolt of energy.” The coach said he and his staff would evaluate the position before deciding which quarterback gives the Yellow Jackets the best chance to win.

“At the end of the day, we’re going to do the best thing to give us a chance to win the football game,” Key said. “That’s what everything circles around.”

The decision comes as Tech (2-6, 1-4 ACC) tries to find answers to a season that has veered well off course.

The Yellow Jackets have lost three consecutive games, including a 34-11 defeat at Pittsburgh last week, and have struggled to perform consistently on both sides of the ball.

For the most part, Mendoza has been reasonably productive in his first year as a collegiate starter.

He’s completed 70.4% of his passes, which ranks among the better marks nationally, and has shown the ability to post big numbers, including a 335-yard, two-touchdown performance at Virginia Tech.

But last week’s loss at Pitt marked a low point for the Jackets offense. Mendoza passed for just 81 yards, was sacked five times and had four fumbles (three recovered by Tech).

Adamson entered in the fourth quarter and passed for 62 yards and ran for 63, scoring Tech’s only touchdown on an 18-yard carry. He also had a fumble.

Adamson also played against Boston College two weeks ago, completing 7 of 9 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown after Mendoza threw two interceptions.

“Grady’s come in the last two weeks and give us a jolt of energy,” Key said. “It’s always a lot easier coming off the bench as the guy, but we’ll sit down on Thursday and make a decision Thursday evening as a staff on who goes out and gives us the best opportunity to win this football game. That’s at all positions.”

Georgia Tech football vs. Louisville: What you need to know

• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Atlanta, Bobby Dodd Stadium (52,113 capacity)
• TV: ACC Network
• Radio: Georgia Tech Sports Network; 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM 176 or 234
• Odds: Louisville is a 14½-point favorite, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is 61½.
• Series history: Tied 2-2. Louisville won the most recent meeting 31-19 on Sept. 21, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Top storylines ahead of Georgia Tech vs. Louisville

Ground-game struggles

Tech’s inability to run the ball consistently has been an unexpected problem in a disappointing season.

The Jackets are averaging 119.9 rushing yards per game, ranking 114th nationally.

Key said the issues extend beyond the offensive line or running backs. Receivers and tight ends must block downfield, quarterbacks must carry out their fakes and running backs must follow the designed path of each play, even when that means settling for a short gain.

“You’ve got to put it all together,” Key said. “We need to find a way to run the football more efficiently than we’ve done to this point.”

The challenge has been compounded by a lack of continuity up front. Tech has started five different offensive line combinations in eight games because of injuries.

“No one is showing signs of quit,” said offensive guard Joseph Ionata. “Making sure that we’re focused on our next goal and going 1-0 on every play, that’s how we do it.”

Firepower

Tech’s defense has been one of the worst in the country, struggling to stop both the run and the pass.

Louisville (5-3, 4-2) brings one of the nation’s best offenses to Atlanta, averaging 40.4 points and 492.1 yards per game.

Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz has thrown for 2,094 yards and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He’s also run for 11 touchdowns.

Running back Isaac Brown has added 707 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, giving Louisville multiple ways to pressure a defense.

Key said containing a dual-threat quarterback requires discipline and sound execution before and after the snap. Defenders must recognize their assignments and resist abandoning them in an effort to make a play.

Most successful offensive plays, Key said, occur because of breakdowns before the ball is snapped.

“Everybody’s got to do their job,” he said. “They’ve got to focus in and win their one-on-one, but do it within the scheme of what we’re trying to get done on defense.”

Injury report

Tech has lost 82 player-games to injury in five ACC contests, averaging 16 players unavailable per game.

But starting cornerback Daiquan White, who has missed the past four games with an undisclosed injury, did not appear on the initial availability report the ACC released on Wednesday.