In a recent ESPN article by Bill Connelly, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets matchup with the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Birmingham Bowl made an exclusive list, “My five favorite non-playoff bowls”. Connelly says in the article that both teams have had memorable seasons, despite the Yellow Jackets being 7-5 and the Commodores being 6-6. He praised both Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King and Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia.
It comes as no surprise that the matchup is being pinned as a marquee one, as both the Yellow Jackets and Commodores have had their fair share of highs and lows this season. The Commodores beat the then-No.1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Oct. 5 to secure the program’s first win against an AP Top 25 team, and nearly knocked off No. 5 Texas four weeks later in a 27-24 loss. The Yellow Jackets held their weight against tough competition within the ACC, knocking off then-No. 4 ranked Miami Hurricanes on Nov. 9, then taking then-No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs to eight overtime’s before falling 44-42 in what many fans consider the game of the year.
The lows for both teams could be argued, with the Commodores having lost to Georgia State 36-32 on Sept. 14, and the Yellow Jackets perhaps had their worst outing in a 21-6 loss to also 6-6 Virginia Tech on Oct. 26.
The two teams are set to square off on Friday, Dec. 27 on ESPN, in what should be one of the most anticipated matchups of the bowl season.