Georgia Tech vs. Bowling Green: Three Biggest Takeaways from Yellow Jackets stunning loss

What are the biggest takeaways from Georgia Tech's loss over Bowling Green?

It is hard to paint a pretty picture of what happened on Saturday afternoon for Georgia Tech. 

The Yellow Jackets walked into Bobby Dodd Stadium as three-touchdown favorites against Bowling Green and after it was over, one of the worst losses in program history occurred. 

Georgia Tech went up 14-0 after two quick scores and it looked like the route was on. Bowling Green proceeded to score 38 unanswered points and the Georgia Tech defense could not tackle or get off the field on third down. 

This is a big setback for Brent Key and the program. Georgia Tech got a nice win over Wake Forest last week and followed it up in the worst way imaginable. This was not a fluky win for Bowling Green, it was a beatdown, and only garbage time allowed the game to appear closer than it actually was. 

Here are my three biggest takeaways from today's loss. 

1. The defensive staff is under a lot of pressure after today

Nobody coming into the season expected Georgia Tech to have one of the best defenses in the country, especially after losing Keion White to the NFL, as well as Ace Eley and Charlie Thomas. 

There is no reason for the team to look unprepared and outcoached each week as they have this season. 

The run defense has been one of the worst in the country all season and the tackling is some of the worst in the country. The linebacker play is near the bottom of the ACC and after an offseason of talking about the depth on the defensive line, there has been no substance to it. 

Is Georgia Tech the most talented defense in the country or ACC? No, but they look out of position every game, even against Wake Forest. Andrew Thacker has been the defensive coordinator since 2019 and was retained after a strong finish to the 2022 season. Wake Forest game aside, this defense has been poor, and allowing nearly 450 yards to Bowling Green is inexcusable. On top of that, Bowling Green was 10-17 on third downs and Georgia Tech could not get off the field. 

It is not going to get any easier either. Georgia Tech travels to Miami next Saturday and the Hurricanes have a great offensive line and running game, which does not bode well for the Yellow Jackets. Thacker needs to get things going in the right direction on that side of the ball and quickly. 

2. A bowl game is not going to happen in 2023

Bowling Green defeated Georgia Tech 38-27 in Atlanta today / Nathaniel Caudell

Georgia Tech's chances of making a bowl game rose after they defeated Wake Forest last week, but they are all but done now. 

Even in a best-case scenario, if Georgia Tech beats Virginia, Boston College, and Syracuse, they are only at five wins. They would need one against Miami, North Carolina, or Georgia, and I don't think the team you saw today is capable of that. 

Bowling Green is a game that Georgia Tech should always win and there is no excuse for a performance like this. The program had a chance to be above .500 going into October for the first time since 2017. Now the Yellow Jackets are 2-3 heading into a game against No. 18 Miami. 

Miracles happen in college football, but the first postseason since 2018 for Georgia Tech is likely not going to happen in 2023. 

3. This is a big step back for the program

Georgia Tech has not made a bowl game since 2018 and suffered three straight three-win seasons under Geoff Collins. After Collins was fired after a 1-3 start in 2022, Key went 4-4 down the stretch, including some big upset wins against Pitt and North Carolina. The team looked much improved (but not perfect) through four games this season, but they fell back to the bottom tonight. 

This was always going to be a rebuild, but losses to Bowling Green should not happen, especially in this manner. Key now has to rally the team and get them to play hard the rest of the way and not let one loss turn into two. Will they be able to do that? We'll see, but this is a major step back for a program that could ill afford to have one. 

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