Two of the top teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division standings square off on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium when Georgia Tech hosts Duke.
Following last Saturday’s 26-21 victory at 24th-ranked and defending ACC champion Pitt, Georgia Tech (2-3, 1-1 ACC) enters Saturday’s game just a half-game behind Duke (4-1, 1-0 ACC) and North Carolina atop the Coastal Division standings.
Duke is Georgia Tech’s longest continuous football rival, as the Yellow Jackets and Blue Devils have squared off on the gridiron every season since 1933. However, Saturday’s game will end the programs’ 90-year run of annual matchups, as the ACC’s new football scheduling model, which goes into effect next season, keeps Tech and Duke off each others’ schedules until 2025.
Both teams’ head coaches are getting their first taste of the GT-Duke rivalry as the leaders of their respective programs. Georgia Tech interim head coach Brent Key won his debut at the helm of his alma mater last Saturday at Pitt, while Duke’s Mike Elko has won 4-of-5 games in his first season leading the Blue Devils.
Three Yellow Jackets earned ACC Player of the Week honors for their performances in last Saturday’s win at Pitt — Running Back of the Week Hassan Hall (157 rushing yards), Linebacker of the Week Charlie Thomas (seven tackles, fumble recovery and interception in just one half) and Specialist of the Week Gavin Stewart (14 points on 6-of-6 kicking, including four field goals).
Saturday is Georgia Tech’s annual homecoming game. The Yellow Jackets are 53-18-1 all-time in homecoming contests since the Institute began celebrating homecoming in 1949.