Georgia Tech Football: Things I Think I Know – Stanford

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Georgia Tech is traveling to the West Coast this weekend to take on Stanford. I am fully expecting my sleep schedule to be ruined on Saturday night after watching the Jackets’ kickoff at my typical bedtime, so let’s pray we get a win to make the loss of precious sleep worth it.  Interestingly, of the three recent 2024 additions to the ACC (Cal, Stanford, and SMU), this is the first time Georgia Tech will play any of them, and we are Stanford’s last ACC opponent they have yet to face. After Stanford’s recent struggles, many Tech fans assumed this game would be an automatic win. However, after our underperformance, this matchup is a toss-up, especially given the time change and the late start. Here is what I think I know before the Jackets head to California for the first time since 2005 to take on the Stanford Cardinal. 

We are not good. 

Given the talent this team has, there is no excuse for the product we have seen on the field. After three games, it is clear that this is not yet the football team many of us expected. The offensive line has experienced its biggest drop-off in years, and that was especially evident when Alberto Mendoza was almost immediately sacked on the opening play against Mercer. After a relatively clean special teams performance against Tennessee, we had yet another kick blocked against the Bears, and this was on an extra point. The very next extra point barely made it through after a bad snap. These are the kinds of head-scratching mistakes that have become too common in 2026, making this program look far less polished than it should be. 

I was hoping last week’s game would provide an opportunity to clean things up, but instead, there were still too many of the same issues. When we continued to struggle to line up in Week Three, that is when I knew things were still looking bleak. The Bears rushed for 188 yards and averaged 4.1 yards per carry, marking the third straight week in which Georgia Tech has been out-rushed. The run defense remains a major concern, especially when Mercer’s backup quarterback, JP Pickes, entered in the third quarter and then proceeded to rush for 53 yards himself. Another alarming statistic is that the Jackets converted just 2-of-11 on third downs, which simply cannot become a trend if we want to win. 

Yes, Georgia Tech won the game comfortably, and there were some positives to take away from the victory. However, the performance still left me and many fans feeling frustrated. There is plenty of time left in the season to turn things around, but I have said that each week now, with little improvement to show for it. I am officially concerned about what this team can accomplish this season, and I sure hope Brent Key and his staff are just as determined to address these issues as the fans are to see them get fixed. 

Stanford’s football program has had a rough few years, and this year doesn’t seem to be much better. 

Stanford went 3-5 in the ACC last year and 2-6 the year before, so they have yet to have much success in their new conference. They have opened up this season at 0-2 in conference play, with losses to Miami and Duke by a combined score of 80-13. This is a disappointment for first-year head coach Tavita Pritchard, but he was given a tough task given how this program has been struggling over the years. 

Thankfully for our defense, their offense has struggled mightily so far this season. They are averaging only 103 rushing yards per game, 334.7 total yards, and only 16.7 points. This is somehow even worse than the Jackets. However, running back Micah Ford has a lot of experience and could definitely have a big game if he gets into a rhythm. He finished 2025 with 643 yards and has 202 so far this season. 

Their defense has also struggled to stop opponents, ranking 127th in the country and allowing 448 yards per game, with 303 yards passing per game. Opposing quarterbacks are completing 67.6% of their passes against the Cardinal, and Alberto Mendoza’s completion rate so far this year has been 69%. If our coaching staff lets Alberto sling it, we could have success on that side of the ball. 

As far as the ground game goes, Stanford played Duke last week, and Blue Devils running back Nate Sheppard had 154 yards and averaged 6.7 yards per carry. Stanford’s run defense sits at 88th in the country and is somewhat decent, so our offensive line will actually have to have a pulse for Justice Haynes to have a big night. This game could come down to which team’s defense can step up: Tech’s run defense, or Stanford against the pass? 

Stanford’s quarterback is Michigan transfer Davis Warren, who started nine games for the Wolverines in 2024 and missed 2025 with a torn ACL. He is having a pretty average year with 675 yards and only two touchdowns. Thankfully for us, he does not have much success running the football, as his rushing total for the year is -15 yards. The last thing we need to see right now is a mobile quarterback (eg, JP Pickles and Faizon Brandon) because we cannot stop them. 

Justice Haynes is finding his footing 

Justice Haynes finally seemed to be playing with the athleticism and confidence that we are used to seeing from him at his previous schools. He finished the game against Mercer with 141 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns to show for it. He also added two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown. He made several impressive plays and seemed to be finding his rhythm. The run offense as a whole was very disappointing, as Haynes was the only back to get over 11 yards. He is easily the best player on offense, and we will need to keep seeing big games from him to keep the offense going. 

After three weeks of frustration, this feels like a prove-it game for Georgia Tech. If we can play clean football, protect Mendoza and Haynes, and establish a somewhat solid run defense, we can show that the last three weeks may not define the season. But if the same mistakes continue, the concerns become much harder to dismiss. 

We have a chance to hit the ground running at 1-0 in conference play and turn things around this year. First-year head coach Tavita Pritchard and general manager Andrew Luck are trying to get the program back on track, and a win against the Jackets would help kick-start that. This is a game Tech needs to find a way to win, especially with several much tougher ACC matchups still ahead. The Jackets have what it takes; we just need to pull it together. 

Go Jackets.

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