Georgia Tech will face the No. 9 team in the country Saturday in Florida State. While the Yellow Jackets are in the throes of a five-game losing streak, coach Paul Johnson continues to be encouraged by his team’s perseverance.

“The one thing I am proud of the kids for is they play hard,” Johnson said. “Saturday (against Pittsburgh), they played hard. I haven’t seen anybody lay down or give up or quit yet. I think that says something about their character.”

Tech has a 2-1 record against top-10 teams at home in Johnson’s tenure, with wins over No. 4 Virginia Tech in 2009 and No. 6 Clemson in 2011 with the loss against No. 10 Virginia Tech, also in 2011. Prior to Johnson’s arrival, Tech was 2-21-2 against top-10 teams at home.

“We try to look at it like an opportunity,” Johnson said of the Seminoles’ arrival. “That’s what I talk to our guys about. It’s not often you get to play a top-10 team at home. We have that opportunity.”

Florida State is favored by six points. The Seminoles are the third team in the top 11 of the Associated Press poll that Tech has faced this season, following No. 6 Clemson and No. 11 Notre Dame.

“We’ve got to put them in a better situation to win,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to find a way to get them over the top, over the hill.”

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