DUBLIN — Aidan Birr made a 44-yard field goal as time expired and Georgia Tech upset No. 10 Florida State 24-21 on Saturday in the first major college football game of the season.
Coming off an undefeated regular season, but with a remade roster, the Seminoles tied the game at 21 with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter on a 15-play touchdown drive that included two fourth-down conversions by DJ Uiagalelei.
Florida State (0-1, 0-1 ACC) never touched the ball again, and Birr came on with five seconds left on the clock to drill the winner.
Jamal Haynes ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns for Georgia Tech, and Haynes King threw for 146 yards and ran for 54 as the Yellow Jackets (1-0, 1-0) were able to control the line of scrimmage and accumulate 190 rushing yards and 5.3 yards per carry.
Uiagalelei completed 19 of 27 passes for 193 yards in his Florida State debut.
Ryan Fitzgerald made a 59-yard field goal, a career long and the second longest in school history, just before halftime to tie the game at 14. Fitzgerald had a 52-yarder earlier in the game.
The teams had just seven drives apiece. Georgia Tech’s final two drives were among the best, an 11-play, 89-yard touchdown drive and then the 12-play, 49-yard drive to set up Birr’s kick.
Florida State fans packed Aviva Stadium for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, the third straight Week 0 opener in Dublin.
TAKEAWAYS
Florida State: The Seminoles’ defensive line was viewed as one of the ACC’s best but did not record a sack and allowed Tech to run at will.
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets averaged 203 rushing yards per game (13th in the FBS) in 2023 and picked up right where they left off.
UP NEXT
Florida State plays host to Boston College on Sept. 2.
Georgia Tech plays host to Georgia State on Aug. 31.
In a stunning upset, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated the No. 10 Florida State Seminoles with a game-winning 44-yard field goal by kicker Aidan Birr. The victory marked a significant moment for Georgia Tech, as they were able to pull off a major upset against a top-ranked opponent.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading blows throughout the four quarters. Florida State came into the game as heavy favorites, boasting a strong offense led by quarterback Jordan Travis and a stout defense that had been dominant all season. However, Georgia Tech came out firing on all cylinders, matching the Seminoles blow for blow.
The turning point of the game came in the final minutes, with Georgia Tech trailing by two points. With time winding down, the Yellow Jackets put together a clutch drive down the field, setting up Birr for the game-winning field goal attempt. The pressure was on, but Birr remained calm and collected, drilling the 44-yard kick through the uprights to secure the victory for Georgia Tech.
Birr’s heroics were the highlight of an impressive performance by the Yellow Jackets, who showed resilience and determination throughout the game. The win not only served as a statement victory for Georgia Tech but also showcased their potential as a team to be reckoned with in the ACC.
For Florida State, the loss was a tough pill to swallow, as they had high hopes coming into the game. However, they will need to regroup and refocus as they look to bounce back from this setback and continue their pursuit of a successful season.
Overall, Georgia Tech’s upset victory over No. 10 Florida State was a thrilling and memorable moment in college football. It was a testament to the unpredictable nature of the sport and served as a reminder that anything can happen on any given Saturday. Congratulations to the Yellow Jackets on their impressive win, and kudos to Aidan Birr for his clutch performance under pressure.