For the third straight game, the Georgia Tech defense is struggling. They couldn’t stop anything against NC State or Boston College, and they were fortunate to escape the BC game against a one-win Eagles team.
But tonight, with everything on the line and a trip to the ACC Championship Game up for grabs, the defense opened the game by giving up big plays, big drives and touchdowns.
As the Panthers jumped out to a 14–0 lead, the Yellow Jackets defense was allowing 9.3 yards per play with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
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— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) November 23, 2025
After Pitt went up 14–0, Haynes King threw an interception deep in his own territory, giving the Panthers the ball at the Georgia Tech 29-yard line.
The defense then allowed a third-and-1 completion that set up a first-and-goal for Pitt. The Panthers punched it in to go up 21–0. By the end of the first quarter, the Georgia Tech defense had surrendered 176 yards of offense.
The offense has had multiple games where they got off to a slow start, but in those games, the defense was able to play strong until the offense got rolling.
That has not been the case recently. Pitt would score to go up 28-0 with 11:47 left in the 2nd quarter. Haynes King got the offense into the red zone for the first time past the halfway point of the 2nd quarter. Brent Key chose to go for it on 4th and 4, and it paid off.
On The Scoreboard
Georgia Tech finally scored on a Haynes King keeper with 4:46 left in the first half. To cut the deficit to 28-7.
Halftime
14 quick points made the score 28-14, after a Isiah Canion touchdown catch. Pitt missed a field goal but the Yellow Jackets were offsides. The half can't end on a defensive penalty. Pitt missed the 2nd field goall attemept to end the half with a 28-14 lead.
The defense gave up 296 total yards, and 7.6 yards per play in the firs half. They do not have much room for error in the 2nd half.