Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate Goes Big-Time: CFP Contender Georgia Meets 9-Win Georgia Tech in Historic Showdown

In a rivalry often defined by tradition and disdain, this year's meeting between No. 4 Georgia (10-1) and No. 18 Georgia Tech (9-2) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium carries stakes that transcend state pride. For Georgia, it’s a must-win game to preserve its College Football Playoff position in the top 4 and an all-important first-round bye. For Georgia Tech, a win would validate a breakthrough season, land them a major bowl bid, and snap a bitter seven-game losing streak in this series.

This marks only the third time in history that both programs have entered the game with nine or more wins, and the first time since 2014 that both are ranked in the AP Top 25. It’s also the first time the two rivals will meet at a neutral site — the glistening dome in downtown Atlanta — rather than the more traditional campus settings of Bobby Dodd or Sanford Stadium. But the setting doesn’t diminish the animosity. Georgia has won seven straight in the series, and a win today would set a new record for consecutive victories over the Jackets.

Georgia Tech’s rise under second-year head coach Brent Key has been driven by one of the country’s most explosive offenses. The Yellow Jackets average 485.9 yards and 35.3 points per game, thriving on the ground with 215.2 rushing yards per outing. Quarterback Haynes King is the center of it all, with 2,516 passing yards and 883 yards rushing, totaling 36 touchdowns. His dual-threat capabilities make him a nightmare for defensive coordinators, and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has taken notice, saying King “offers no comfort level defending.”

Still, Tech enters with questions. After dropping two of their last three — including a deflating loss to Pitt that ended their ACC title hopes — their momentum has stalled. King had a rough outing in that game, throwing a costly pick-six and looking rattled. But Brent Key stood by his quarterback, and this rivalry provides a shot at redemption. A win would give Tech just its fifth ten-win regular season in program history and their first win over Georgia since 2016. And after last year’s instant classic — an eight-overtime 44-42 loss to Georgia — the Jackets feel long overdue.

For the Bulldogs, this is business. Gunner Stockton leads an offense that ranks top-30 nationally at 430.3 yards per game. He’s completed over 71% of his passes and accounted for 27 total touchdowns. Stockton’s efficient leadership has stabilized a team that has played a challenging schedule and survived some tight SEC battles, winning ugly but winning nonetheless.

Defensively, Georgia is elite. They allow just 17.4 points per game and are especially tough against the run, giving up only 87.6 rushing yards per game. They’ll look to choke off Georgia Tech’s ground game and force King into difficult throws. That defensive pressure is the bedrock of their identity — and it’s the reason they remain a serious national title contender.

This rivalry runs deep, steeped in real animosity. From its origins in the 1890s, where Georgia changed its school colors to distance itself from Tech’s yellow — which they equated with cowardice — to fights over wartime football eligibility, there is no love lost here. With Georgia Tech surging and Georgia chasing another national title, the stakes are as high as they’ve ever been in the "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate" series.

Prediction: Georgia flexes its playoff-caliber depth and poise, pulling away late.
Final: Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 24.