If a record could be 4.5-0.5, that is exactly what we would be sitting at. We pulled off the second biggest comeback in Tech history, yet in some ways it feels like a loss. But, just as I have said every week, a win is a win. All we can do is be glad we miraculously pulled it out and put it behind us. The identity of this team has been established after five weeks, and it resembles the passion and belief of their head coach and quarterback. This game was PFF’s lowest graded game of Coach Key’s tenure, and they still figured out a way to get it done. Haynes King and the entire team never gave up, and that is something to be proud of. There is still so much work to be done and so much needs to improve before we can confidently say we look like a consistent football team. Let’s just hope it was a wake-up call. Here is what I think I know before we head into our first bye week of the season.

We are 5-0 for the first time since 2014.

The last time we were 5-0, I was in seventh grade with braces and a questionable fashion sense. 11 years later, my closet has hopefully improved, and my teeth are a bit straighter. The path to get here has been rocky, but we have made it one way or another. We have come a long way, as three short years ago, we were celebrating winning two games in a row. Saturday’s victory against Wake Forest is our first road win as a ranked team since 2014 at Georgia, and our first ACC road win as a ranked team since 2011 at NC State. Let’s see how long we can keep this thing rolling.

Welcome back, coastal chaos! After Virginia upset Florida State last Friday night, it is clear that this conference belongs to anyone who wants it. The ACC standings look exactly like everyone thought they would in the preseason (not), and there is no clear winner right now. The Jackets sit in first place after Week Five, and are 2-0 in the ACC for the first time since 2017. No game can be taken lightly anymore, no matter how “easy” our schedule may seem. Hopefully, we learned that lesson last week. If we want it, it’s in our hands for the taking.

This bye week is MUCH needed

I sure know that my mental health needs a break. Even though we are doing comparatively well on the injury front, these players need a mental and physical breather. Several guys are clearly banged up, and Haynes King needs a break more than anyone at this point. He has to wake up on Sunday mornings feeling like he got hit by a semi-truck. This bye also gives us two weeks to prepare for Virginia Tech. They beat NC State last weekend, so they are no team to be slept on. Coach Key said in his press conference just how badly the team needs to recharge and reset to focus on their season goals. We haven’t seen this team at its peak yet, and this well-deserved break after some hard-fought battles gives us the perfect chance to get there. Time to recharge, refocus, and come back sharper.

Top Things I Think We Need to Work on in the Bye Week:

Good teams find ways to win

I don’t care what anyone says, a good team finds a way to win every time. This year, this team has effort, grit, and most importantly, belief. It has been a long time since we have been able to be confident that a Georgia Tech team could come back and win after being down. That has to stand for something. As Blake Gideon said in his press conference this week, “one thing I’ll say about these guys is they have a talent for winning.” That’s all that matters.

I hope everyone enjoys a stress-free weekend to open up the month of October.