2020 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team explained

The 2020 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Yellow Jackets were led by second-year head coach Geoff Collins. They played their home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium and competed as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

After finishing their season with a 3–7 record (3–6 in ACC play), the Yellow Jackets determined that they would not consider a bowl bid (the NCAA waived bowl eligibility requirements for the 2020–21 bowl season).^[1]

Preseason

Death of Bryce Gowdy

On December 30, 2019, Georgia Tech signee Bryce Gowdy, from Deerfield Beach, Florida, committed suicide by walking in front of a freight train.^{[2] [3]} He died aged 17 and had received a full scholarship to play football at Georgia Tech, having signed on December 18.^[4]

ACC media poll

Schedule

Spring game

The Yellow Jackets held spring practices until early March, when the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of all NCAA activities. The Georgia Tech football spring game was scheduled to take place in Atlanta, GA on April 10, 2020, but was also canceled.

Regular schedule

Georgia Tech had games scheduled against Gardner–Webb and Georgia, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^{[5] [6]} This became the first season since 1924 that the Yellow Jackets do not play Georgia.

^[7]

The ACC released their schedule on July 29, with specific dates selected at a later date.

The above is the original schedule planned for 2020 before changes were made due to the coronavirus pandemic. (needs to be completed) ^[8]

Game summaries

At Florida State

See also: 2020 Florida State Seminoles football team.

Statistics	GT	FSU
First downs	24	21
Total yards	438	307
Rushes/yards	161	109
Passing yards	277	198
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–35–2	23–45–1
Time of possession	29:28	30:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Tech	Passing		24–35, 277 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Jeff Sims	13 carries, 64 yds
Receiving	Malachi Carter	6 receptions, 66 yds, 1 TD
Florida State	Passing		23–43, 198 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		6 carries, 39 yds
Receiving		8 receptions, 55 yds

vs UCF

See also: 2020 UCF Knights football team.

Statistics	UCF	GT
First downs	31	23
Total yards	660	471
Rushes/yards	243	227
Passing yards	417	244
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	27–41–1	18–37–2
Time of possession	31:52	28:08

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UCF	Passing		27/41, 417 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		18 carries, 88 yds, 1 TD
Receiving		10 receptions, 154 yds, 2 TD
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	18/36, 224 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Jeff Sims	16 carries, 82 yds, 1 TD
Receiving		4 receptions, 60 yds, 1 TD

At Syracuse

See also: 2020 Syracuse Orange football team.

Statistics	GT	SYR
First downs	23	14
Total yards	453	357
Rushes/yards	52/275	41/163
Passing yards	178	194
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–32–4	13–24–1
Time of possession	34:08	25:52

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	13/28, 174 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT
Rushing	Jahmyr Gibbs	18 carries, 105 yds
Receiving	Malachi Carter	4 receptions, 47 yds
Syracuse	Passing		13/24, 194 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		24 carries, 112 yds, 2 TD
Receiving	Nykeim Johnson	4 receptions, 87 yds, 1 TD

vs Louisville

See also: 2020 Louisville Cardinals football team.

Statistics	LOU	GT
First downs	24	19
Total yards	471	450
Rushes/yards	48/242	34/192
Passing yards	229	258
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–33–0	12–22–0
Time of possession	36:38	23:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisville	Passing		19/33, 229 yds, 2 TD
Rushing		26 carries, 155 yds
Receiving	Marshon Ford	5 receptions, 89 yds, 1 TD
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	11/21, 249 yds, 2 TD
Rushing	Jeff Sims	7 carries, 64 yds, 1 TD
Receiving	Malachi Carter	3 receptions, 89 yds, 1 TD

vs Clemson

See also: 2020 Clemson Tigers football team and Clemson–Georgia Tech football rivalry.

Statistics	CLEM	GT
First downs	29	7
Total yards	671	204
Rushes/yards	39/171	44/123
Passing yards	500	81
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	33–49–1	6–14–1
Time of possession	35:53	24:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Clemson	Passing		24/32, 404 yds, 5 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		11 carries, 44 yds, 1 TD
Receiving		6 receptions, 161 yds, 2 TD
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	6/13, 81 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Jahmyr Gibbs	15 carries, 67 yds
Receiving		1 reception, 59 yds, 1 TD

At Boston College

See also: 2020 Boston College Eagles football team.

Statistics	GT	BC
First downs	19	23
Total yards	362	409
Rushes/yards	33/106	44/264
Passing yards	256	145
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–32–1	13–21–0
Time of possession	26:39	33:21

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	12/18, 171 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Jeff Sims	12 carries, 47 yds, 1 TD
Receiving	Ahmarean Brown	4 receptions, 75 yds, 1 TD
Boston College	Passing		13/21, 145 yds, 2 TD
Rushing	Phil Jurkovec	7 carries, 94 yds
Receiving	C. J. Lewis	4 receptions, 58 yds, 2 TD

vs Notre Dame

See also: 2020 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

Statistics	ND	GT
First downs	24	17
Total yards	426	238
Rushes/yards	44/227	33/88
Passing yards	199	150
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–26–0	15–26–0
Time of possession	36:54	23:06

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Notre Dame	Passing		18/26, 199 yds, 1 TD
Rushing		15 carries, 76 yds, 2 TD
Receiving		5 receptions, 93 yds
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	15/26, 150 yds
Rushing	Jahmyr Gibbs	14 carries, 61 yds
Receiving	Jalen Camp	3 receptions, 64 yds

vs Duke

See also: 2020 Duke Blue Devils football team.

Statistics	DUKE	GT
First downs	23	23
Total yards	382	523
Rushes/yards	40/68	48/377
Passing yards	314	146
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–47–1	13–23–1
Time of possession	32:03	27:57

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Duke	Passing		19/40, 273 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		9 carries, 54 yds
Receiving	Dennis Smith	2 receptions, 57 yds
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	13/23, 146 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Jeff Sims	12 carries, 108 yds
Receiving	Jahmyr Gibbs	4 receptions, 48 yds

At NC State

See also: 2020 NC State Wolfpack football team.

Statistics	GT	NCST
First downs	23	34
Total yards	412	397
Rushes/yards	51/265	32/88
Passing yards	151	309
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–27–0	23–36–0
Time of possession	31:53	28:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	13/27, 151 yds
Rushing		21 carries, 99 yds
Receiving	Adonicas Sanders	7 receptions, 105 yds
NC State	Passing	Bailey Hockman	23/36, 309 yds
Rushing		15 carries, 59 yds, 1 TD
Receiving	Emeka Emezie	6 receptions, 91 yds

vs Pittsburgh

See also: 2020 Pittsburgh Panthers football team.

Statistics	PITT	GT
First downs	28	21
Total yards	513	348
Rushes/yards	54/317	29/98
Passing yards	196	250
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17–34–1	19–36–2
Time of possession	37:51	22:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Pittsburgh	Passing		17/34, 196 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Vincent Davis	25 carries, 247 yds, 1 TD
Receiving		5 receptions, 82 yds, 1 TD
Georgia Tech	Passing	Jeff Sims	17/31, 238 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Jamious Griffin	5 carries, 43 yds
Receiving	Jalen Camp	5 receptions, 97 yds, 1 TD

At Miami (FL)

See also: 2020 Miami Hurricanes football team.

Coaching staff

Geoff Collins	Head Coach	2nd	Temple (HC)
Brent Key	AHC/RGC/OL	2nd	Alabama (OL)
Dave Patenaude	OC/QB	2nd	Temple (OC/QB)
Andrew Thacker	DC/LB	2nd	Temple (DC/LB)
Nathan Burton	Co-DC/S	2nd	Temple (DB)
Tashard Choice	RB	2nd	North Texas (RB)
Marco Coleman	DE/OLB	2nd	Oakland Raiders (DL)
Kerry Dixon	WR	2nd	Toledo (RB)
Larry Knight	DL	2nd	Temple (OLB)
Jeff Popovich	CB/DST	2nd	Boise State (CB)
Chris Wiesehan	TE/OST	2nd	Temple (OL/RGC)

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2021 NFL draft.

6	209		WR	Jacksonville Jaguars
7	254	Pressley Harvin III	P	Pittsburgh Steelers

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sugiura . Ken . Georgia Tech ends season, will not consider bowl bid . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . December 14, 2020 . en . December 14, 2020.
2. Web site: Beachum . Lateshia . ‘My baby walked in front of a train.’ Georgia Tech football recruit’s mom details his final days. . Washington Post . May 20, 2020 . en.
3. Web site: Bryce Gowdy, a star Georgia Tech football recruit, dies at 17 . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . May 20, 2020 . en.
4. Web site: Bryce Gowdy, Deerfield Beach, Wide Receiver . 247Sports . May 20, 2020.
5. Web site: July 29, 2020. ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports. July 29, 2020. TheACC.com. en.
6. Web site: Talty . John . July 30, 2020 . SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season . 30 July 2020 . AL.com.
7. Web site: 2020 Georgia Tech Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . February 24, 2020.
8. Web site: 2020 Georgia Tech Football Schedule. 2020-12-04. FBSchedules.com. en-US.