Georgia Tech Shocks No. 10 Florida State with Last-Second Field Goal Victory
DUBLIN – In a stunning start to the college football season, Georgia Tech upset No. 10 Florida State with a dramatic 44-yard field goal by Aidan Birr as time expired, securing a 24-21 victory in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday at Aviva Stadium.
As the Yellow Jackets celebrated their first win over a top-10 opponent since 2015, players Avery Boyd, Chase Lane, and Malik Rutherford led their teammates in an Irish jig, marking the perfect conclusion to a thrilling game.
Jamal Haynes was instrumental in the victory, rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Haynes King contributed 146 passing yards and 54 rushing yards. Georgia Tech (1-0, 1-0 ACC) dominated the line of scrimmage, accumulating 190 rushing yards with an impressive 5.3 yards per carry.
“Proud of the offensive line,” said head coach Brent Key. “Those guys were prepared and executed perfectly.”
Florida State (0-1, 0-1 ACC), fresh off an undefeated regular season, tied the game with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter on a 15-play touchdown drive, including two critical fourth-down conversions by quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Despite being favored by 10½ points, the Seminoles never regained possession after tying the game, as Georgia Tech controlled the clock, setting up Birr’s game-winning kick with just five seconds remaining.
Uiagalelei, in his Florida State debut, completed 19 of 27 passes for 193 yards, primarily utilizing short throws until crucial fourth-down plays late in the game. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald contributed a 59-yard field goal, a career long and the second-longest in Florida State history, just before halftime to tie the game at 14.
Despite limited possessions—each team only had seven drives—Georgia Tech’s final two were pivotal, including an 11-play, 89-yard touchdown drive and a 12-play, 49-yard series to set up Birr’s winning kick.
“Every snap in that game was monumental,” said Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, reflecting on the game’s tight nature.
Although Florida State managed four scoring drives, their offense struggled in the second half, with Georgia Tech’s defense holding them to just 98 rushing yards on 31 carries. The Yellow Jackets’ victory sends a strong message to the rest of the ACC, proving they are a force to be reckoned with this season.
Georgia Tech has built a reputation for upsetting ranked ACC teams, and this latest win adds to their record of knocking off top opponents in recent years.
Poll Implications: Florida State is expected to drop significantly in the next AP Top 25 poll, following this surprising loss.
Up Next: Florida State will host Boston College on Sept. 2, while Georgia Tech will welcome Georgia State on Aug. 31.
Feature Image Credit ESPN
