Early look at Florida State football's season opener opponent Georgia Tech
The 2024 football season is only about a month away.
Florida State football will soon start fall camp to prepare for its season opener against Georgia Tech in the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, at Aviva Stadium.
The game is set for Aug. 24 at noon EST on ESPN.
It is the second time two ACC teams face off in Dublin. For FSU, it will be the first time in program history that Seminoles participate in an international game.
Georgia Tech will play at Aviva Stadium for the second time. The Yellow Jackets last played in Ireland in 2016, when they beat Boston College 17-14.
The ACC opener can set the bar for either side.
FSU is coming off a 13-1 season, missing the College Football Playoff. Its only loss was to Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
This season will be a clean slate for Mike Norvell, who is entering his fifth season as head coach of the Seminoles.
So, what does Georgia Tech look like? We take an early look.
Who is Georgia Tech's head coach
Brent Key will be entering his second season with Georgia Tech. In his first year, the Yellow Jackets went 7-6 (5-3 in the ACC).
FSU-Georgia Tech all-time record
15-11-1, FSU
Last meeting between FSU and Georgia Tech
FSU defeated Georgia Tech 41-16 in the last meeting on Oct. 29, 2022.
Georgia Tech's top players
Offense:
QB Haynes King (2,842 passing yards, 27 TDs, 737 rushing yards, 10 TDs), RB Jamal Haynes (174 carries, 1,059 yards, 7 TDs), OG Joe Fusile
Defense:
DL Zeek Biggers (40 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT), LB Kyle Efford (81 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT)
Georgia Tech's key losses, additions
Key losses:
S Jaylon King, DL Eddie Kelly,
Key additions:
TE Ryland Goede, TE Jackson Hawes, OL Keylan Rutledge, DL Thomas Gore, DL Jordan van den Berg, DE Romello Height, DB Warren Burrell, DB Syeed Gibbs,
Chris Weinke: Former FSU QB, Heisman Trophy winner now works with Georgia Tech
Of course, FSU fans certainly remember Weinke.
Weinke is in his third year as Georgia Tech’s quarterbacks coach, his second year as the Yellow Jackets’ co-offensive coordinator and his first year as Tech’s assistant head coach.
As a player, Weinke won the 2000 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at FSU and led the Seminoles to a national championship in 1999. He went on to be selected in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft and enjoyed a seven-year career with the Carolina Panthers (2001-06) and San Francisco 49ers (2007)
Outlook on Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech was young last season but with great potential.
The Yellow Jackets played in tight ballgames and can open the season with an ACC upset. For the Seminoles, it will be an opportunity to pick up where they left off and make a statement as playoff contenders.
Florida State football schedule 2024
Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at noon p.m., ESPN
Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
Sept. 21 vs. California
Sept. 28 at SMU
Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
Oct. 18 at Duke
Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
Nov. 30: Florida
Dec. 7: ACC Championship
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football vs Georgia Tech preview for 2024 season
