No. 12 Georgia Tech and Duke will meet in a midseason game that could have significant ramifications for the Atlantic Coast Conference pecking order.
The game Saturday afternoon in Durham, N.C., has become more important as both teams enter on winning streaks.
Georgia Tech (6-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) will begin the second half of its regular-season schedule with so many possibilities still ahead.
The Yellow Jackets are 6-0 for the second time since joining the ACC in 1979.
“It’s a big deal for Georgia Tech,” coach Brent Key said. “It’s a big deal for everyone who has ever played here. It’s a big deal for the alumni and the fan base.”
Duke (4-2, 3-0), riding a three-game winning streak, was off last weekend following back-to-back road victories at Syracuse and California.
Although the two teams have not faced a common opponent in league play so far, Georgia Tech’s combined score in ACC games is 89-70 compared to Duke’s 128-57 advantage.
Quarterbacks for both teams have huge impacts, but in different ways.
Quarterback Haynes King has led Georgia Tech in various ways. He’s third in the ACC in rushing yards at 88 per game, while he has thrown for 194.2 yards per game.
“He checks every box when it comes to leadership and how he affects others,” Key said. “When the game is taking place, how Haynes can affect the game and people around him.”
The Blue Devils are expecting the unexpected, coach Manny Diaz said.
“The way that they dress up plays that they run, and one certainty is how they did it last week (vs. Virginia Tech) is not the way they’re going to present it to you this week,” Diaz said. “Whether you’re a young linebacker, an older linebacker, safety or whatever, it’s just very jarring that what you practice against all week, you’re really not going to see.”
Duke’s Darian Mensah leads the ACC with 306.3 passing yards per game and has thrown 15 touchdowns.
“They do a good job of getting the ball in space to their guys,” Key said. “Taking their shots when they’re there. The quarterback is really smart with the ball.”
Georgia Tech’s passing numbers aren’t as impressive, but the Yellow Jackets can’t be ignored in the air.
“(Georgia Tech’s) yards per completion are one of the highest in the country, which makes sense because when they do throw, they can throw for big shots because you’re so worried about stopping the run,” Diaz said.
Both Key and Diaz were bombarded with questions this week about job openings in college football, but they’ll definitely have their hands full this weekend.
“You’d rather have your name talked about in a positive way than a negative way, for sure,” Key said. “So it comes with the territory. … I’m pretty sure everybody on that football team knows exactly where I stand.”
Key said those things don’t have to be distractions if they are managed properly.
“All of that ‘noise,’ it comes with success,” Key said. “Would you rather not have it and be 3-3? Not at all. It’s part of it. True competitors get motivated by that stuff.”
