Yellow Jackets Ignored: CFP Committee’s Ranking Should Light a Fire Under Georgia Tech

Respect is supposed to be earned, and through nine weeks of football, Georgia Tech has done exactly that. Yet when the College Football Playoff committee unveiled its first rankings of the season, it felt like the Yellow Jackets were told loud and clear: “Nice start, but we still don’t believe in you.”

Georgia Tech landed at No. 17, despite sitting at 8–1 and boasting one of the strongest offensive identities in the ACC. Meanwhile, ACC rival Virginia, is being handed the spotlight and projected into the 12-team Playoff as the likely ACC champion. The message from the committee? The Cavaliers are the ACC’s ticket. Georgia Tech is just… there. Not a surpsise given how the Georgia Tech defense looked on Saturday. It also does not matter. The Yellow Jackets control their own destiny.

The disrespect stings because the Jackets have put together a résumé worthy of national attention. Tough road wins, explosive scoring performances, and a defense that has shown resilience when games are on the line — this is not a team scraping by.

This is a team earning its place in the conversation. Yet when the first rankings came out, Tech found itself overlooked in favor of programs with softer schedules, weaker wins, or brand-name bias attached to their logo.

Fine. If that’s how the committee wants it, then let it be fuel.

The Yellow Jackets now have a chance to take control of their own narrative. With two ACC matchups remaining, including statement opportunities that can shift national opinion, Georgia Tech can force the committee to acknowledge what they’ve ignored.

Let Virginia hold the early praise. Let the committee hand out respect like a popularity contest. Georgia Tech doesn’t need hype,  it needs opportunity. If the  Jackets win out and win the ACC championship game they’re in the playoff. 

And if the Jackets keep winning, they won’t just earn respect.
They’ll demand it.