Georgia Tech was ranked the 78th best team in college football by the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday.

After finishing last season with a 9-4 overall and 4-4 conference record, the Orlando Sentinel's Safid Deen writes the Yellow Jackets could be ACC Championship contenders if a strong starting quarterback can be identified.

Deen is optimistic about Georgia Tech this season because they finished the last six games of 2016 with a 5-1 record, rebounding from their three-win 2015 season.

Deen’s top returning starters for 2017 are headlined by running back Dedrick Mills— one of the Yellow Jackets top strengths— and the solid secondary of defensive backs Lance Austin, Corey Griffin, A.J. Gray and Lawrence Austin.

“Georgia Tech, looking to ride momentum from the end of its 2016 season, has a favorable schedule to start the 2017 campaign, highlighted by a matchup against Tennessee in Atlanta,” Deen wrote. “The Yellow Jackets will host Pitt and UNC, face Miami after a bye and has to travel to Clemson and Duke, but should have enough returning talent to compete for the Coastal Division crown this season.”

The rest of Deen's reasoning and the Orlando Sentinal's college football ranking list can be read on the Orlando Sentinal's website.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Easton Stick (12) gets off a pass during the second half of an NFL preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Friday, August 15, 2025, in Atlanta. Tennessee Titans won 23-20 over Atlanta Falcons. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

In 2022, Georgia Power projected its winter peak electricity demand would grow by about 400 megawatts by 2031. Since then, Georgia has experienced a boom of data centers, which require a large load of electricty to run, and Georgia Power's recent forecast shows peak demand growing by 20 times the 400-megawatt estimate from just three years ago. (Illustration by Philip Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC