If the 2024 ACC season unfolds like Saturday’s Week 0 opener between Florida State and Georgia Tech in Dublin, college football fans are in for an exhilarating ride. Aidan Birr nailed a 44-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Yellow Jackets to a dramatic 24–21 victory over the No. 10 Seminoles. Brent Key kicked off his third season as Georgia Tech’s head coach with a statement win against a top-10 team and the preseason ACC favorite.
Georgia Tech nearly lost its chance at the game-winning field goal when quarterback Haynes King fumbled a shotgun snap on the decisive drive. The miscue, caused by Eric Singleton Jr. running in motion as the ball was snapped, led to a 10-yard loss, pushing the Jackets back to the FSU 38-yard line. However, King quickly redeemed himself, connecting with Singleton on a 12-yard pass with 41 seconds left, setting up Birr for the winning kick.
The Yellow Jackets took a 21–14 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, capping off an 11-play, 89-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jamal Haynes. The Seminoles responded with a lengthy 84-yard drive in 15 plays to tie the game. The key play was a fourth-down pass from DJ Uiagalelei to Malik Benson, gaining 19 yards to the Georgia Tech 1-yard line. Roydell Williams then punched in the touchdown.
Uiagalelei finished with 193 passing yards on 19-for-27 completions, but no touchdowns. Williams led the Seminoles with 38 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while Ja’Khi Douglas caught four passes for 55 yards.
For Georgia Tech, King amassed 200 total yards, and Haynes added 75 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Malik Rutherford contributed 66 receiving yards on four catches.
The game started with a bang as FSU’s Lawrance Toafili broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown run. The Seminoles followed up with a two-point conversion on a trick play to take an 8–0 lead. Georgia Tech responded quickly, highlighted by a 42-yard catch-and-run by Rutherford, leading to their first touchdown after three running plays.
The Yellow Jackets kept FSU on their heels, taking a 14–11 lead in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by King to cap off a 75-yard drive. Florida State managed to tie the game at 14–14 before halftime with a 59-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, the second-longest in school history.
For Florida State and head coach Mike Norvell, this season-opening loss to a team that finished 7–6 last year is a significant setback. The Seminoles, who were seeking redemption after missing out on last season’s College Football Playoff despite a 13–0 record, now find themselves in an early hole in the ACC race, which could be a tough battle against Clemson and Miami. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, might have just put the conference on notice that they are a team to watch this season.