Early history (1892–1944)

The 1893 Georgia Tech football team

Tech began its football program with several students forming a loose-knit troop of footballers called the Blacksmiths. On November 5, 1892, Tech played its first football game against Mercer University. The team lost to Mercer 12–6 in Macon, Georgia.^{[n 1]} Tech played two other games during their first season and lost both of them for a season record of 0–3. Discouraged by these results, the Blacksmiths sought a coach to improve their record. Leonard Wood, an Army officer and Atlantan, heard of Tech's football struggles and volunteered to player-coach the team.^[6] Over the span of 1892–1903, Tech only won 8 games, tied in 5, and lost 32.^[7] In 1893, Tech played against the University of Georgia for the first time. Tech defeated Georgia 28–6 for the school's first-ever victory. The angry Georgia fans threw stones and other debris at the Tech players during and after the game. The poor treatment of the Blacksmiths by the Georgia faithful gave birth to the rivalry now known as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.^[8][9] In 1902, Jesse Thrash was the team's first All-Southern selection. He began the season as a sub and closed it as the undisputed star of the Tech team.^[10] Oliver Jones Huie was selected by Ga Tech's athletic association to coach the football team for the 1903 season when the team won 3 and lost 5 games. A professional coach was desperately needed if Tech wished to build a truly competitive football program. The first game of the 1903 season was a 73–0 destruction at the hands of John Heisman's Clemson; shortly after the season, Tech offered Heisman a coaching position.

Coach Heisman.

John Heisman put together 16 consecutive non-losing seasons, amassed 104 wins, including three undefeated campaigns and a 32-game undefeated streak. From 1915 to 1918 Georgia Tech went 30–1–2 and outscored opponents 1611–93 utilizing his jump shift offense.^{[n 2]} He would also muster a 5-game winning streak against the hated Georgia Bulldogs from 1904 to 1908 before incidents led up to the cutting of athletic ties with Georgia in 1919.^[8] Heisman was hired by Tech for $2,250 a year and 30% of the home ticket sales. Heisman would not disappoint the Tech faithful as his first season was an 8–1–1 performance, the first winning season since 1893.^[11] One source relates: "The real feature of the season was the marvelus advance made by the Georgia School of Technology which burst from fetters that kept it in the lowest class for ten years."^[12] His team posted victories over Georgia, Tennessee, University of Florida at Lake City, and Cumberland, and a tie with his last employer, Clemson. He suffered just one loss, to another first year coach, Mike Donahue of Auburn. The 1905 team went 6–0–1. The 1906 team beat Auburn for the first time. Stars of this early period for Tech include Lob Brown and Billy Wilson. The 1907 and 1908 teams were led by "Twenty Percent" Davis. Pat Patterson was All-Southern in 1910. Patterson was captain in 1911, a season in which future coach William Alexander was a reserve quarterback. Heisman helped students construct Grant Field in 1913, when Alf McDonald was quarterback. The 1915 team went undefeated.

The 1916 scoreboard

Arguably the most notable game of Heisman's career was the most lopsided victory in college football history. In 1916, Cumberland College ended its football program and attempted to cancel a scheduled game with Heisman's Jackets. Heisman, however, was seeking vengeance for a 22–0 baseball loss to Cumberland in the spring of 1916, a game in which Heisman suspected Cumberland of hiring professional players to pose as Cumberland students. Heisman refused the game's cancellation and Cumberland mustered up a group of commonfolk to play Tech.^[13] Tech won 222–0.^[14] Neither team achieved a first down other than a touchdown, as Cumberland either punted or turned the ball over before a first down and Tech scored on almost every play from scrimmage.^[13] Jim Preas, Tech's kicker, kicked 16 point after tries, which is still a record for a single game.

1917 Georgia Tech backfield.

In 1917 Tech won its first national championship behind the backfield of Everett Strupper, Joe Guyon, Al Hill, and Judy Harlan. It was the first national title for a Southern team, and for many years the "Golden Tornado" was considered the finest team the region ever produced. Strupper and captain Walker Carpenter were the first two players from the Deep South ever selected first-team All-American. Heisman challenged Pop Warner's undefeated Pittsburgh team to a decisive national championship game, but he declined. In the next season of 1918, Tech lost a lopsided game to Pitt 32–0. Center Bum Day became the first player from the south selected for Walter Camp's first team. In 1919, Auburn upset Tech for the SIAA crown. By 1919, Heisman had divorced his wife and felt that he would embarrass his wife socially if he remained in Atlanta.^[15] Heisman moved to Pennsylvania, leaving Tech in the hands of William Alexander.^[16]

William Alexander had attended Georgia Tech and after graduating as valedictorian of his class in 1912, taught mathematics at Tech and served as Heisman's assistant coach.^[16] In 1920, he was given the job of head coaching Tech's football team. Alexander retained Heisman's 'jump shift' offense, and in his first season he saw Tech win an SIAA title behind captain Buck Flowers, the first Georgia Tech player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Tech suffered its only loss again to Warner's Pitt, and finished the season with a win over rival Auburn.^[17][18] Tackle Bill Fincher made Camp's first team All-America.^{[n 3]}

Georgia Tech vs Auburn, 1921

The 1921 and 1922 teams also claimed SIAA titles. The 1921 team suffered its only loss to undefeated, eastern power Penn State. Tech was captained by fullback Judy Harlan. Future Tech fullback Sam Murray was asked about a certain strong runner in the 1930s, "He's good. But if I were playing again, I would have one wish – never to see bearing down upon me a more fearsome picture of power than Judy Harlan blocking for Red Barron."^[20] Barron ran for 1,459 yards on the season.^[21]

Doug Wycoff

From 1923 to 1925, though Tech failed to claim a conference title, it had one of its best-ever players: fullback Doug Wycoff, "the outstanding back of the South for the past two years."^[22] Coach Alexander recalled "The work of Douglas Wycoff against Notre Dame two years in succession was brilliant in the extreme, as was his plunging against Penn. State when we defeated them twice."^{[23][n 4]} Tech and UGA renewed their annual rivalry game in 1925 after an eight-year hiatus. Quarterback Ike Armstrong thought the game clock read five seconds remaining in the game when in actuality it was five minutes. Williams set up his offense for a field goal and kicked it to put Tech up 3–0 on first down. Luckily for Williams, Tech won 3–0.

In 1927, Alexander instituted "the Plan." Georgia was highly rated to start the 1927 season, known as the "dream and wonder team", and justified their rating throughout the season going 9–0 in their first 9 games. Alexander's plan was to minimize injuries by benching his starters early no matter the score of every game before the UGA finale. On December 3, 1927, UGA rolled into Atlanta on the cusp of a national and conference title. Tech's well rested starters were helped by the rain and shut out the Bulldogs 12–0, ending any chance of UGA's first national title, while netting the SIAA title.^[25]

Coach Alexander.

Alexander's 1928 team amassed a perfect record and won the school's second national title. The team was led at center by captain Peter Pund and upset Notre Dame. "I sat at Grant Field and saw a magnificent Notre Dame team suddenly recoil before the furious pounding of one man–Pund, center", said legendary coach Knute Rockne. "Nobody could stop him. I counted 20 scoring plays that this man ruined."^[26] The 1928 team was also the very first Tech team to attend a bowl game. The team was invited to the Rose Bowl to play California.^{[n 5]} The game was a defensive struggle, with the first points scored after a Georgia Tech fumble. The loose ball was scooped up by California center Roy Riegels and then accidentally returned in the wrong direction. Riegels returned the ball all the way to California's 3-yard line. After Riegels was finally stopped by his own teammate at the 1-yard line, he was swarmed by a group of Tech players. The Bears opted to punt from the end zone. The punt was blocked and converted by Tech into a safety giving Tech a 2–0 lead.^{[n 6]} Cal scored a touchdown and a point after but Tech would score another touchdown to win the game 8–7. This victory made Tech the 10–0 undefeated national champion of 1928.^{[27][28][n 7]} Coach Alexander found campus spirit to be particularly low during the Great Depression. His football program (and the other athletic teams) had very few student fans attending the games. He helped to establish a spirit organization known as the Yellow Jacket Club in 1930 to bolster student spirit.^[30] The group would later become the Ramblin' Reck Club. Georgia Tech football declined following the 1928 championship, and did not post another winning record until 1937. The 1939 team was SEC co-champion. The only retired jersey in Georgia Tech football history is No. 19.^[31] The number belonged to Tech halfback Clint Castleberry. Castleberry played on the No. 5 ranked 1942 Tech team as a true freshman and was third place in the 1942 Heisman Trophy voting. After ending his freshman year at Tech, Castleberry elected to join the war effort and signed up for the Army Air Corps. While co-piloting a B-26 Marauder over Africa, Castleberry, his crew, and another B-26 disappeared and were never heard from again.^{[n 8]} Castleberry has been memorialized on Grant Field ever since, with a prominent No. 19 on display in the stadium.^[31] The 1943 and 1944 teams won SEC titles. Coach Alexander finally retired in 1944 after winning 134 games as head coach and taking Tech to the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl Classic, and Sugar Bowl. To this day, Alexander has the second most victories of any Tech football coach. The record for most coaching victories in Tech history is still held by Alexander's then coordinator and eventual successor Bobby Dodd.

Bobby Dodd era (1945–1966)

Bobby Dodd in 1952

President Blake R Van Leer believed athletics were an important part of collegiate life, he championed that belief with coaches like Dodd where he was recorded being proud of Dodd's accomplishments.^[33] Bobby Dodd took over the Georgia Tech football program following Coach Alexander's retirement in 1944. He did not believe in intense physical practices but rather precise and well executed practices. Dodd's philosophy translated to winning. He set the record for career wins at Tech at 165 career coaching wins including a 31-game winning streak from 1951 to 1952.^[34] He also managed to capture two Southeastern Conference Titles and the 1952 National Title, which concluded a 12–0 perfect season and Sugar Bowl conquest of previously undefeated, seventh ranked Ole Miss^[34] in a season that also included victories over Orange Bowl champions, 9th ranked, Alabama; 15th ranked Gator Bowl champions Florida Gators football; 16th ranked Duke; and a 7–4 rival Georgia. While 9–0 Michigan State would capture the AP and UP titles, the Yellow Jackets' were ranked first in the International News Service poll. Dodd also understood the deep-seated rivalry with the University of Georgia. His teams won 8 games in a row over the Bulldogs from 1949 to 1956 outscoring the Bulldogs 176–39 during the winning streak.^[35] This 8–game winning streak against Georgia remains the longest winning streak by either team in the series. Dodd would finish his career with a 12–9 record against the Bulldogs.^[35] In 1956, much controversy preceded the 1956 Sugar Bowl. Segregationists tried to keep Pitt fullback/linebacker Bobby Grier from playing because he was black. Georgia's governor publicly threatened to remove funding if Georgia Tech's president Blake R. Van Leer did not cancel the game. Dodd backed Van Leer in his desire to move forward with the game. Ultimately, Bobby Grier played making this the first integrated Sugar Bowl and is regarded as the first integrated bowl game in the Deep South.^[4]

Dodd's tenure included Georgia Tech's withdrawal from the Southeastern Conference.^[34] The initial spark for Dodd's withdrawal was a historic feud with Alabama Crimson Tide Coach Bear Bryant.^[36] The feud began when Tech was visiting the Tide at Legion Field in Birmingham in 1961. After a Tech punt, Alabama fair-caught the ball. Chick Granning of Tech was playing coverage and relaxed after the signal for the fair catch. Darwin Holt of Alabama continued play and smashed his elbow into Granning's face causing severe fracturing in his face, a broken nose, and blood-filled sinuses. Granning was knocked unconscious and suffered a severe concussion, the result of which left him unable to play football ever again. Dodd sent Bryant a letter asking Bryant to suspend Holt after game film indicated Holt had intentionally injured Granning.^[36] Bryant never suspended Holt. The lack of discipline infuriated Dodd and sparked Dodd's interest in withdrawing from the SEC.^[37] Another issue of concern for Dodd was Alabama's and other SEC schools' over-recruitment of players.^[36] Universities would recruit more players than they had roster space for. During the summer practice sessions, the teams in question would cut the players well after signing day thus preventing the cut players from finding new colleges to play for. Dodd appealed the SEC administration to punish the "tryout camps" of his fellow SEC members but the SEC did not. Finally, Dodd withdrew Georgia Tech from the SEC in 1964.^[36] Tech would remain an independent like Notre Dame and Penn State (at the time) during the final four years of Dodd's coaching tenure. In 1967, Dodd passed the head coach position to his favorite coordinator, Bud Carson. Dodd simply retained his athletic director position, which he had acquired in 1950. He would not retire from athletic directing until 1976.

Bud Carson era (1967–1971)

Bud Carson was Tech's defensive coordinator in 1966. His job was to appease the Tech fan base Bobby Dodd had accumulated. Carson was not the charismatic leader like Dodd but rather a strategy man that enjoyed intense game planning. Carson's most notable achievements included recruiting Tech's first ever African American scholarship athlete and being the first Tech head coach to be fired. Carson recruited Eddie McAshan to play quarterback in 1970.^[38] After several Summer practices, McAshan won the starting quarterback job and became the first African American quarterback to start for a major Southeastern university.^[38] This decision initially polarized Georgia Tech's fan base, but after winning his first 4 starts and leading Tech to a 9–3 season after three straight 4–6 seasons, McAshan won the hearts of the Tech faithful. McAshan's besting of UGA in the annual rivalry game made McAshan a fixture on campus. The following season, however, led to Carson's demise. In 1971, Tech went 6–6 and a fan base used to Bobby Dodd's 8 wins per season average forced Carson out by James E. Boyd's hand. Carson went on to form the Steel Curtain Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Bill Fulcher era (1972–1973)

Bill Fulcher supplanted Bud Carson. Fulcher appeared to be the right choice but quit after two seasons, overwhelmed by racial incidents. Fulcher's tenure included a terrible feud with Eddie McAshan, which peaked before the 1972 UGA game. McAshan had requested additional tickets for the game so that his family could attend. Fulcher refused the ticket request and McAshan sat out of practice in protest.^[38] Fulcher responded by suspending the quarterback for the UGA game and the upcoming Liberty Bowl. The story exploded on the national scene when Jesse Jackson attended the UGA game, allowing McAshan to sit with him outside of the stadium in protest.^[38]

Pepper Rodgers era (1974–1979)

Alumnus Pepper Rodgers was hired soon after Fulcher quit, hired away from UCLA. Like Carson and Fulcher, he simply could not return Tech to its national prominence of Dodd's era; in six seasons, his overall record was 34–31–2 (.522).^[39] Rodgers' flamboyant demeanor shortened his welcome at the school, and athletic director Doug Weaver replaced him with Bill Curry after the 1979 season. Homer Rice became athletic director and attempted to reinvigorate Tech's program by joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1980.

Bill Curry era (1980–1986)

Alumnus Bill Curry had no experience as a head coach, but was a refreshing change after the flamboyant Rodgers. Curry's early years saw Tech reach its lowest point in modern history. His first two Tech teams in 1980 and 1981 went 2–19–1 (.114), with the only bright spots being a brilliant 24–21 road victory over Bear Bryant's Alabama team at Legion Field to open the 1981 season and a 3–3 slug fest in 1980 with top-ranked Notre Dame at Grant Field. Things had gotten so bad, they could only get better.^[40]

Curry slowly rebuilt the team, restored a winning mentality to the Georgia Tech fan base; Tech won nine games in 1985, including a 17–14 victory over Michigan State in the All American Bowl. Tech's 1984–1985 teams featured the "Black Watch" defense; created by defensive coordinator Don Lindsey, it featured linebackers Ted Roof and Jim Anderson, safety Mark Hogan, and lineman Pat Swilling.^[41][42] The elite defensive players were awarded black stripes down the center of their helmets and black GT emblems on the side of their helmets.^[42] Curry's leadership and ability to build a winning program sparked interest from the Crimson Tide and Alabama hired Curry away from Tech in 1986.^[43]

Bobby Ross era (1987–1991)

1990 AFCA National Championship Trophy Georgia Tech received.

After Curry's departure, Tech hired the talented Maryland Terrapins Coach Bobby Ross,^[44] who departed a Maryland athletic program in turmoil after the Len Bias tragedy.^[45] Bobby Ross came from Maryland after winning three ACC titles over four years. Ross' first season at Tech experienced a severe talent vacuum after Curry's departure, and the players Ross inherited resisted the changes he demanded. The team only won two games, and Ross contemplated ending his coaching career after a humbling loss to Wake Forest in 1987. Ross decided to remain at Tech and continued to rebuild Tech's program. The turning point came in 1989 with the recruitment of Shawn Jones and several other key freshman. After two seasons and only five total wins, Jones helped the Jackets rebound at the end of the 1989 season.^[46] In Jones' sophomore season, Tech powered through their schedule and won the ACC. The four-game unbeaten streak in 1989 extended all the way through 1990 and into the 1991 Citrus Bowl. The key victory in the streak was a huge 41–38 come from behind upset victory over then No.1 ranked Virginia in Charlottesville before a nationwide TV audience. Tech demolished Nebraska 45–21 in the 1991 Citrus Bowl, finishing the season 11–0–1, and earning a share of the 1990 National Title with the Colorado Buffaloes.^[47][48] Tech's winning streak ended against Penn State in the 1991 Kick Off Classic. Ross and Jones never replicated that 1990 season but managed to win 8 games in 1991 making Shawn Jones one of the most heralded quarterbacks in Tech history. Ross was offered a head coach position after the 1991 season for the San Diego Chargers, which he took.^[49]

Bill Lewis era (1992–1994)

After first considering Ross assistant coaches, Ralph Friedgen and George O'Leary, Tech hired Bill Lewis away from East Carolina soon after Ross' departure.^[50] When Lewis was hired, the Tech faithful hoped he would continue to build on Ross' success. He had just led East Carolina to an 11–1 record and a final ranking of ninth in the nation. However, Lewis' first season at Tech in 1992 saw the Jackets collapse to only a 5–6 record just two years removed from a national championship. Preseason All-American Shawn Jones suffered from nagging injuries, leaving Tech's offense inept. After Jones' fourth year ran out, redshirt freshman Donnie Davis stepped in to fill his shoes in 1993, which saw another 5–6 season. In just two years, Lewis had completely squandered the successful momentum established by Bobby Ross. During the Summer of '94, George O'Leary was rehired as defensive coordinator. With Davis injured in spring practice, Lewis recruited Tom Luginbill as his replacement. Luginbill was a proficient passer at Palomar College, a junior college in California, and his first two games in 1994 showed promise. Tech almost upset Arizona who was projected as the No. 1 team in the nation by Sports Illustrated and won 45–26 over Western Carolina. However, Tech lost its next six games before Lewis was fired with three games remaining in the season.^[51] O'Leary was named interim coach for the rest of the season.^[52]

George O'Leary era (1994–2001)

Georgia Tech lost their final three games, including a 48–10 drubbing at the hands of Georgia. Despite this, Tech dropped the "interim" tag from O'Leary's title and named him head coach in 1995. O'Leary's first season saw Senior Donnie Davis return as starter and Tech won 6 games. O'Leary's second season saw the emergence of Joe Hamilton as starter when Brandon Shaw struggled in his first two starts. Hamilton would eventually lead the Jackets back to bowl contention and Tech attended its first bowl in six years, the 1997 Carquest Bowl. Hamilton's prowess as a runner and passer thrilled the Georgia Tech fans. Offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen utilized a complex offense with Hamilton that featured option football mixed in with complex timing routes. Hamilton racked up yardage, touchdowns, and wins for Tech. In 1998, Hamilton and Tech's high powered offense won 10 games and a season ending victory over Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. Hamilton's senior year put him on the national stage. He was a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy against rushing phenomenon Ron Dayne. Hamilton passed for over 3,000 yards and rushed for over 700 yards.^[53] But while Hamilton dazzled, the Georgia Tech defense was a liability (they allowed around 28 points per game), and may have ultimately cost Hamilton the 1999 Heisman Trophy. In a late-season, nationally televised game against Wake Forest, Tech gave up 26 points and Hamilton threw two interceptions and no touchdowns. As an indirect result, Dayne went on to win the Heisman (Joe was runner-up). Hamilton's Georgia Tech career ended on a sour note in the 2000 Gator Bowl against the Miami, where the Jackets lost 28–13.^[54] The following season, redshirt junior George Godsey, a more traditional pocket passer, succeeded Hamilton at the helm of Tech's powerful offense. The drop-off was minimal—Godsey continued where Hamilton left off, winning 9 games in 2000 and 8 games in 2001. In 2000, Godsey also led Tech to their third straight victory over the archrival Georgia Bulldogs.^[55]

The end of the 2001 season saw George O'Leary entertain a coaching offer from Notre Dame after Bob Davie announced resignation as Irish head coach.^[56] O'Leary was eventually awarded the position, but it was revoked shortly thereafter when Notre Dame discovered that O'Leary had fabricated several aspects of his resume.^[57] He claimed to have played three years for the University of New Hampshire and to have attained a master's degree from New York University; in actuality, he had attended NYU but did not graduate, and he never played a down of New Hampshire football.^[58][59] Following O'Leary's departure, Mac McWhorter was named interim head coach for Georgia Tech's bowl game, a victory over Stanford in the 2001 Seattle Bowl.

Chan Gailey era (2002–2007)

The following spring, Chan Gailey was hired to replace O'Leary as Georgia Tech's head coach.^[60] Chan Gailey came to Georgia Tech in 2002 after head coaching stints with the Dallas Cowboys, Samford Bulldogs, and Troy Trojans. Gailey's first team in 2002 managed to win seven games under the quarterbacking of A.J. Suggs. The most notable game of the 2002 season was an upset of National Title Contender North Carolina State. Georgia Tech rallied in the fourth quarter to upset NC State and end Philip Rivers's Heisman Trophy hopes. In 2003, eleven Georgia Tech players were found academically ineligible.^[61] Despite the academic losses and the playing of true freshman Reggie Ball, Gailey would lead Tech to a seven-win season and humiliation of Tulsa in the Humanitarian Bowl. P.J. Daniels racked up over 300 yards rushing in the effort.

Calvin Johnson catching a pass

2004 and 2005 saw Georgia Tech improve talent and skill wise but Tech won seven games again. Star Calvin Johnson arrived as a true freshman in 2004. His performance against Clemson in 2004 helped cement Johnson's place in the annals of all-time Tech greats. Two off-the-field problems affected the Yellow Jackets' 2005 season. First, Reuben Houston, a starting cornerback, was arrested for possession of over 100 pounds of marijuana. Houston was dismissed from the football team immediately following this arrest but a later court order forced Coach Gailey to allow Houston to return to the team. Houston would see little playing time following the court order.^[62][63] At the end of the 2005 season, an NCAA investigation found that 11 ineligible players had played for the Yellow Jackets between the 1998 and 2005 seasons.^[64] These players played while not making progress towards graduation on the NCAA-approved schedule. The football victories for that season were initially revoked, and Georgia Tech was put on two years of NCAA probation. Twelve football scholarships were stricken from Georgia Tech's allotment for the 2006 and 2007 freshman classes.^[65] The Georgia Tech Athletic Department appealed this decision by the NCAA, and the records were restored but scholarship reductions and probation remained.^[66] Athletic Director Dave Braine retired in January 2006, and Dan Radakovich was hired as athletic director. Gailey's most successful year at Georgia Tech was in 2006 with nine victories and the ACC Coastal Division championship. The Yellow Jackets football team reached its first New Year's Bowl since the 1999 Gator Bowl and played the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Gator Bowl. Tashard Choice led the ACC in rushing yards and Calvin Johnson led the ACC in receptions and receiving yardage. After an impressive 33–3 victory at Notre Dame to open the 2007 season, the team slid to finish 7–6. On the morning of Monday, November 26, 2007, Gailey was fired from the Yellow Jackets, two days after another heartbreaking loss to the University of Georgia.^[67] The Yellow Jackets' Athletic Department hired Paul Johnson, then the head coach at Navy and former Georgia Southern head coach, as Gailey's replacement on December 7, 2007.^[68]

Paul Johnson era (2008–2018)

On Friday, December 7, 2007, less than two weeks after Georgia Tech announced the firing of Chan Gailey, Paul Johnson was announced as the new Georgia Tech head football coach.^[68] Johnson was hired under a seven-year contract worth more than $11 million. Johnson immediately began installing his unique flexbone option offense at Georgia Tech.^[69] By the regular season's end, Johnson had led the Yellow Jackets to a 9–3 record including an ACC Coastal Division Co-Championship and a 45–42 win in Athens, Georgia over arch-rival UGA, Tech's first win against the Bulldogs since 2000.^[70] In recognition of his accomplishments in his first season, Johnson was named 2008 ACC Coach of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association as well as the CBSSports.com coach of the year.^[71][72]

GT vs. UNC, 2009

Several weeks after Johnson's defeat of rival Georgia, Georgia Tech rewarded Johnson with a new contract worth $17.7 million, a 53% raise that made him the second highest paid coach in the ACC before he had even completed his first year in the conference.^[73] In 2009, Johnson led the Yellow Jackets to historic wins over Florida State in Tallahassee, No. 4 Virginia Tech (breaking an 0–17 losing streak to top five opponents at Grant Field in the past 47 years), and Virginia in Charlottesville. The jackets went on to defeat the Clemson Tigers to make them ACC champions, a title that would be vacated on July 14, 2011, due to NCAA infractions.^[74] The Yellow Jackets went on to lose to Iowa in the Orange Bowl, 24–14. Georgia Tech had another significant win over the No. 5 Clemson Tigers on October 29, 2011, giving the Tigers their first defeat of the season and enabling QB Tevin Washington to rush for 176 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown, breaking a school record.^[75] In 2012, Georgia Tech was declared the winner of the ACC Coastal Division on November 19, 2012, clinching it with a victory over Duke 42–24 and finishing with a 5-3 ACC record. Georgia Tech played against Florida State in the 2012 ACC Championship Game, which was coach Paul Johnson's second appearance in the title game. The Yellow Jackets lost to the Seminoles 21–15.^[76][77][78]

GT vs. Duke 11/17/12

The 2014 Yellow Jackets, despite being predicted to finish 5th in Coastal Division by ESPN, garnered a 10–2 regular season record (6-2 ACC),^[79] including wins over then No. 19 Clemson and No. 9 Georgia to finish the regular season ranked No. 11 by the recently created College Football Playoff Committee. The highlight of the season was an overtime thriller that lead to the defeat of the Bulldogs in Athens, featuring Harrison Butker's 53-yard field goal that sent the game into overtime, a 1-yard rushing touchdown by RB Zack Laskey, and a game clinching interception of UGA quarterback Hutson Mason's throw by cornerback D.J. White.^[80] Georgia Tech met No. 4 Florida State in the 2014 ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, North Carolina, losing 37–35.^[81] Following their conference championship, Florida State was chosen in the top four (ranked No. 3), under which circumstance the Orange Bowl selected Georgia Tech (now No. 12) as its replacement to face the No. 7 Mississippi State Bulldogs on December 31, 2014.^[82] Justin Thomas led the Jackets to a dominating 49–34 win for the Yellow Jackets, finishing the season 11–3, No. 8 in AP poll and No. 7 in the American Coaches Poll.

The 2015 season showed the Yellow Jackets a 3–9 record, after numerous injuries throughout the entire year. Their only notable win was a 22–16 upset over No. 9 Florida State on Tech's Homecoming Night, when the Yellow Jackets blocked an attempted field goal by Florida State Kicker Roberto Aguayo, which was picked up by Lance Austin and returned for the game-winning touchdown. This was later coined the "Miracle on Techwood Drive".^[83][84] 2015 year marked the first year since 1996 that Georgia Tech did not make a bowl appearance. The next year, 2016, marked a bounce-back season, with the Yellow Jackets, led by team captain Justin Thomas, posting a 9–4 record, including a win over Kentucky in the TaxSlayer Bowl. 2016 also saw a 28–27 victory over Georgia in Athens featuring a 14-point comeback in the 4th quarter topped off by a 6-yard TD rush on third down by Qua Searcy, with 30 seconds left in the game. The Yellow Jackets took a step back in 2017, finishing 5–6 (4–4 ACC) with close losses to Tennessee (42–41 in 2OT) at the Chick Fil A Kickoff Game in the newly constructed Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and at Miami (25–24). Despite starting the 2018 season 1–3, the Yellow Jackets rallied to finish the regular season 7–5. The most notable victory was that against rival Virginia Tech, making Georgia Tech the only conference opponent to win three consecutive games in Lane Stadium against Virginia Tech.^[85] The season ended with the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl, where the Jackets fell 34–10 to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.^[86] Johnson announced his retirement on November 28, 2018, effective following the team's bowl game.^[87] Geoff Collins was named Johnson's replacement on December 7, 2018.^[88]

Geoff Collins era (2019–2022)

Geoff Collins was announced on December 7, 2018, as the new head coach, to replace the retiring Paul Johnson, starting the 2019 season.^[89] Collins was hired under a seven-year contract worth more than $23 million.^[90] Geoff Collins, a native of Conyers, Georgia, was previously the head coach at Temple, defensive coordinator at Mississippi State and Florida, and previously worked with Georgia Tech as a graduate assistant and recruiting coordinator.^[91] In his first season the Jackets experienced several significant losses. A loss against The Citadel was the Jackets' first loss against an FCS opponent since 1983, and a 45–0 loss to Virginia Tech was the Jackets' first shutout loss at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 1957.^[92][93]. Geoff Collins was fired from Georgia Tech along with athletic director Todd Stansbury on September 25, 2022, after three 3-win seasons and a 1–3 start in 2022. His final record at Georgia Tech was 10–28, one of the worst coaching records in Georgia Tech history.^[94]

Brent Key era (2022–present)

Brent Key, a Georgia Tech alumnus and football letterwinner who at the time was the OL coach, was named the interim for the rest of the 2022 season.

Key led the Yellow Jackets to a 4–4 record over the final eight games of the 2022 season. The four wins included two road victories over nationally ranked opponents – a 26–21 win at No. 24 Pitt in his first game at the helm on October 1 and a 21–17 triumph at No. 13 North Carolina on November 19. The Jackets overcame a plethora of injuries (which included its top two quarterbacks.) to finish 5–7 overall and 4–4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play after a 1–3 start. The overall and conference win totals were Tech's highest since 2018, as was its fourth-place finish in the ACC Coastal Division standings. Key's Jackets also defeated the three teams that finished ahead of them in the coastal division. (North Carolina, Pitt and Duke).

Tech enters the field before a game with North Carolina in 2023.

On Tuesday November 29, 2022 the interim tag was stripped and Key was named Georgia Tech's 21st head football coach. One of Key's most memorable wins came on October 7, 2023, when following an embarrassing loss to Bowling Green the week prior, the Yellow Jackets defeated the then 17th ranked Miami Hurricanes'. Miami could have won the game by taking a knee, but they ran the ball before fumbling with 26 seconds left. Tech drove 74 yards in four plays to win the game on a last second 44-yard touchdown pass from Haynes King to Christian Leary. It was Key's third win over a ranked ACC opponent on the road.

Tech finished the 2023 regular season at 6–6 and made its first bowl since 2018. The Jackets went 5–3 in ACC play and finished 4th in the conference. They then defeated UCF 30–17 in the Gasparilla Bowl to finish 7–6. It was their first winning season since 2018 and their first bowl win since 2016.

National championships

Georgia Tech has been named national champion seven times by NCAA-designated major selectors.^{[95]: 111–114 [96]} Georgia Tech claims the 1917, 1928, 1952, and 1990 championships.^{[97]: 149–150}

Conference championships

Georgia Tech has won 16 conference championships, nine outright and seven shared. Their 2009 ACC championship was later vacated by the NCAA.^[98][99]

† Co-champions
‡ Vacated by the NCAA

Division championships

Georgia Tech has won five division championships, with four of those leading to an appearance in the ACC Championship Game.

† Co-champions

Georgia

Georgia Tech's fight songs and cheers are tailored to belittle the Georgia Bulldogs, and the perennial catch-phrase for Georgia Tech fans for many decades has been "To Hell with Georgia". Georgia Tech and the Univ. of Georgia have played each other in football over 100 times (and hundreds more times in basketball, baseball, track and field, tennis, etc.) and this rivalry has become known as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. They have been heated rivals since 1893. The annual football game is by far the most important game on the schedule for most Georgia Tech sports fans. The winner of this game takes home the Georgia State Governor's Cup. Georgia Tech trails Georgia in the all-time series 71–41–5 through the 2023 season.^[114]

Auburn

The Yellow Jackets have played the Auburn Tigers more than 90 times in football, and the series of football games between the two is the second-oldest in the Southeast. Auburn Univ. or A.P.I. is by far Georgia Tech's second-most-often played opponent in football.^[115] The rivalry is also intense in basketball, baseball, etc.

The first game took place on November 25, 1892, in Atlanta, Georgia. They played in the SIAA until it was defunct in 1922, before joining the Southeastern Conference. This rivalry lost some luster when the Georgia Tech Athletics discarded its membership in the Southeastern Conference in 1963 to become an independent institute. However, the Yellow Jackets continued their annual series of football games with the Auburn Tigers through 1987. Georgia Tech and Auburn play football games in occasional years, and games in other sports regularly. Even though the Yellow Jackets have joined the Atlantic Coast Conference for all sports in recent decades, from a historical perspective, the Auburn Tigers are Georgia Tech's second-highest sports rivalry, behind only the Georgia Bulldogs.^[115] Auburn leads in the all-time series 47–41–4 with the last game played in 2005.^[116]

Clemson

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers have the fourth-most-played series in Georgia Tech football history. They have been rivals since 1898 and Clemson is Tech's closest opponent, geographically, in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Also, in the ACC's new two-division arrangement, each team has one football opponent in the opposite division which has been selected as the two teams' official cross-division rival that they play every year. The Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers are one of these six pairs.^[117] In addition to their geographical closeness and the Heisman connection, the Georgia Tech – Clemson pairing is also a logical one because of both schools' long history in engineering, technology, and science education. Recently, the game has become known for last-minute, extremely close finishes. From 1996 to 2001, each of the six games was decided by exactly three points.

In 1977 (before the Yellow Jackets had even joined the ACC), this football series was being considered for termination by the administration of Georgia Tech. Clemson football fans, in an effort to show their economic impact on the Atlanta, Ga., area, brought with them to Atlanta large stockpiles of two-dollar bills that were stamped with Clemson Tiger Paws.^[118] Georgia Tech leads Clemson in the all-time series 50–32–2 through the 2019 season.^[119]

Virginia Tech

The rivalry with Virginia Tech has grown considerably since Virginia Tech entered the ACC. In previous years, the teams played infrequently. The intra-conference game has often seen both teams ranked and the outcome has played a key part in determining the winner of the ACC Coastal Division. Since the ACC switched to Division format in 2005, the winner of this game has gone on to win the Coastal Division all but once, with VT winning six times and GT winning four times.^[120] Dubbed the Battle of the Techs, the game has seen some very close, very intense match-ups.^[121]

Virginia Tech leads the series 11–8 through the 2022 season.^[122]

Tennessee

Georgia Tech and Tennessee hadn't met since 1987 until losing a heart breaking Labor Day game in Atlanta in 2017 that renewed the rivalry between the two.^[123] When Georgia Tech was part of the Southeastern Conference they played annually. After Georgia Tech left the SEC in 1964, the teams still met until 1987. The series dates back to 1902 and Tennessee leads the series 25–17–2 with the last game played in the 2017 season.^[124]

Vanderbilt

The Yellow Jackets and the Vanderbilt Commodores first met in 1892 in Atlanta, Georgia with Vanderbilt winning 20–10.^[125] Since 1924, the winning team in the series has received a silver-plated cowbell with the year and final score of each game engraved on it. The trophy was created by Ed F. Cavaleri was described by the Atlanta Constitution as “a faithful Georgia Tech supporter though he did not attend the Jacket institution,” according to Georgia Tech's website. Cavaleri purchased a cowbell at an Atlanta hardware store to use as a noise-maker while on his way to a game in 1924. The Commodores defeated Georgia Tech 3–0, however another fan in attendance suggested that Cavaleri award the bell to the winning team. The tradition was born and Cavaleri attended every game between the two teams from 1924 to 1967.^[126] The cowbell has a gold plate screwed into each side, with “GEORGIA TECH-VANDERBILT FOOTBALL TROPHY” inscribed at the top. Three columns list the year of each game, Georgia Tech's points scored and Vanderbilt's points scored. The results of the games from 1924 to 1967 are engraved on one side; the results from 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2016 are on the other.^[127] Georgia Tech is 20–15–3 against Vanderbilt in 38 games. The Yellow Jackets won the last matchup 38–7 in 2016.

Alabama

The Crimson Tide and the Yellow Jackets have played 52 times in a rivalry that dates back to 1902.^[128] With the exception of a four-year break during World War II (1943–1946), they squared off annually from 1922 to 1963 as members of the Southern Conference (1922–1932) and Southeastern Conference (1933–1963). The rivalry continued for one season after Georgia Tech withdrew from the SEC in 1964, then was renewed again with games in six-straight seasons from 1979 to 1984. With 52 previous meetings, Alabama is Georgia Tech's fifth-most-common all-time opponent (behind only Georgia – 114 meetings, Auburn – 92, Duke – 87 and Clemson – 85).^[129] Alabama and Georgia Tech announced in January 2020 that they are set to renew the rivalry after 36 years in 2030 and 2031.^[130] Alabama leads the series 28–21–3, and the Yellow Jackets won the last matchup 16–6 in 1984.

Notre Dame

This series began in 1922. The Fighting Irish were a longtime rival of the Yellow Jackets and the two teams met periodically on an annual basis over the years, particularly from 1963 to 1981 when both schools were independents following Tech's departure from the Southeastern Conference. The 1975 Georgia Tech-Notre Dame game marked the sole appearance in an Irish uniform of Rudy Ruettiger, the subject of the film Rudy. When Georgia Tech joined the Atlantic Coast Conference beginning in 1982, they were forced to end the series after 1981 because of scheduling difficulties. Consequently, the two teams have met very infrequently since then. Georgia Tech was the opponent in the inaugural game in the newly expanded Notre Dame Stadium in 1997, then a year later they met again in the Gator Bowl. The Fighting Irish and Yellow Jackets met in the 2006 and 2007 season openers and split both games. The rivalry resumed in 2015 with a 30–22 Irish win in South Bend, and will continue on a semi-regular basis as Georgia Tech and Notre Dame are scheduled to face off five times in the next ten years starting in 2020.^[131] Notre Dame is set to play Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2020 and 2024. Georgia Tech will travel to South Bend in 2021.^[132] Notre Dame leads the series 29–6–1.^[133]

Duke

The Blue Devils and the Yellow Jackets have played 88 times in a series that dates back to 1933 and every year since.^[134] There was a long period of Duke dominance in the series from 1936 to 1945. The Blue Devils won all but one matchup including a six-game win streak, the longest in the series for Duke. The win streak also came in the glory days for Duke football, as the 1930s and 1940s featured the best Duke football teams. From 1946 to 1984, the series would be rather back and forth, teams exchanging periods of dominance over the other. Heading into the 1984 season, the series was deadlock at 25–25–1. But since then it has been nearly all Georgia Tech. In the 36 matchups since 1984, the Jackets have walked away with 26 victories, the Blue Devils have won just ten.^[135] Duke is Georgia Tech's third-most common opponent all-time (behind only Georgia – 113 meetings and Auburn – 92).^[136] Georgia Tech leads the series 52–35-1. This game decided the ACC Coastal Division champion in 2014. Although Duke won the game 31–25, they had a loss to Miami beforehand followed by losses to Virginia Tech and rival North Carolina, which allowed the Yellow Jackets to claim the division title and a trip to Charlotte for the ACC Championship as they just had 2 conference losses whereas Duke had 3. Georgia Tech won the last matchup 23–20 in 2022.

Tulane

The Yellow Jackets and the Tulane Green Wave first met on November 4, 1916, in Atlanta, Georgia. Tulane was the opponent at Bobby Dodd Stadium for the Jackets’ first-ever televised football game — a 13–7 win over the Green Wave on WSB-TV on Oct. 2, 1948.^[137] Tulane is the seventh-most frequent opponent for Georgia Tech (50 meetings).^[138] Tulane and Georgia Tech spent most of their athletic histories as members of the same conference: they were among the first to join the SIAA in 1894 then Georgia Tech left in 1921 and Tulane in 1922 to join the Southern Conference. Both schools moved yet again in 1932 to charter the Southeastern Conference, of which they were members until Tech's departure in 1963 to become independent. Tulane followed suit in 1966, but they played each other yearly until 1982. Georgia Tech is now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, while Tulane is a member of the American Athletic Conference. The rivalry was renewed on September 6, 2014, in the first football game played on Tulane's campus since Tulane Stadium was torn down in 1980. Georgia Tech leads the series 37–13. The Yellow Jackets won the last matchup 65–10 in 2015.

Heisman Trophy finalists

Georgia Tech has had several players receive votes in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Eddie Prokop finished fifth in the 1943 Heisman voting,^[145] Lenny Snow was fourteenth in 1966,^[146] Eddie Lee Ivery was eighth in 1978,^[147] and Calvin Johnson was tenth in 2006.^[148] Billy Lothridge is the only Tech player to receive votes in multiple years. He was eighth in 1962 and runner-up in 1963.^[146] Clint Castleberry was the only freshman in the history of the Heisman to finish as high as third until Herschel Walker's third-place finish in 1980.^[149] Castleberry and Walker, however, were both surpassed in 2004 by true freshman Adrian Peterson's Heisman runner-up season. Joe Hamilton tied Lothridge's runner-up status in 1999.^[150]

All-Americans

Georgia Tech has fielded 50 First Team All-Americans. The first All-Americans at Tech were Walker Carpenter and Everett Strupper in 1917 while the most recent were Durant Brooks in 2007,^[151] Michael Johnson in 2008, Derrick Morgan in 2009, and Shaquille Mason in 2014.

Position award winners

Four Georgia Tech players have been awarded the highest collegiate award possible for their position. Joe Hamilton won the Davey O'Brien Award after his senior season in 1999, Calvin Johnson won the Fred Biletnikoff Award after his junior season in 2006, and Durant Brooks and Pressley Harvin III won the Ray Guy Award in 2007 and 2020 respectively. Hamilton and Johnson were the only Tech players to be named ACC Player of the Year until Jonathan Dwyer received the honor in 2008.^[152]

Post-collegiate accolades