Chaos Reigns in Raleigh: NC State Stuns No. 8 Georgia Tech, Delivers Massive Blow to CFP Hopes

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RALEIGH, N.C.—The dream season on The Flats has officially run into a nightmare in Raleigh. The No. 8 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets suffered their first loss of the season Saturday night, falling in a high-octane shootout to the NC State Wolfpack with a final score of 48-36.

The loss ends the Yellow Jackets’ first $8-0$ start since 1966 and, more importantly, delivered a significant blow to their aspirations of an ACC Championship appearance and a coveted bid in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The defeat couldn’t have come at a worse time, just days before the first crucial CFP rankings reveal.

Wolfpack Offense Explodes in Statement Win

NC State (5-4, 2-3 ACC), a team that had previously struggled to find consistency, turned in a flawless offensive performance, stunning the Yellow Jackets’ defense from the opening drive. The Wolfpack finished with a massive 583 total yards of offense and scored on eight of their ten drives.

Duke Scott Steals the Show: Stepping in for the injured league rushing leader Hollywood Smothers, running back Duke Scott delivered a career-best performance, rushing for 196 yards on 24 carries, including a $30$ -yard touchdown run that sealed the game late in the fourth quarter.
CJ Bailey’s Big Night: Quarterback CJ Bailey was clinical, throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns, while adding another score on the ground.

“They lined up and physically kicked our [butt] in a lot of ways,” a dejected Georgia Tech coach, Brent Key, admitted after the game, taking responsibility for the defensive breakdown.

Red Zone Woes Haunt Yellow Jackets

Despite the loss, Georgia Tech’s offense, led by ACC Quarterback of the Week Haynes King, put up impressive numbers:

Haynes King: $408$ passing yards, $2$ passing TDs, $103$ rushing yards, $2$ rushing TDs.
Total Offense: 559 yards (just slightly less than NC State).

However, the Yellow Jackets repeatedly failed to convert scoring chances into touchdowns—a critical failing in a high-scoring affair.

Red Zone Troubles: Tech was forced to settle for three field goals after driving deep into Wolfpack territory.
Self-Inflicted Errors: One field goal attempt even came after a false-start penalty on a crucial fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, forcing a short kick instead of a go-ahead score.

As King threw a game-ending interception on a desperation heave, the Wolfpack fans stormed the field, celebrating their first win against a Top-10 opponent in over four years.

CFP Hopes Take a Plunge

Entering the game at No. 8 in the AP Poll, Georgia Tech was positioned to be one of the highest-ranked one-loss teams in the CFP’s first ranking on Tuesday. Now, their path is significantly more difficult:

Projected Drop: Analysts predict the loss will drop the Yellow Jackets at least five spots, likely pushing them to the edge of the Top 12.
ACC Picture: The loss throws the ACC title race wide open, giving new life to Virginia (7-1) and Louisville (6-1). Georgia Tech still controls its destiny, but any second loss would almost certainly be fatal to its playoff chances.
The Mandate: Georgia Tech’s mission is now simple: Win out, including their season finale against a highly-ranked Georgia team, and secure the ACC title. As Coach Key stated, “Everything that we have wanted to do is still in front of us. It’s our choice and our decision how we respond to this outcome.”