Florida State vs. Georgia Tech score, takeaways: Yellow Jackets upset No. 10 Seminoles on walk-off field goal

Georgia Tech notched its first win against a top-10 opponent since beating No. 9 Florida State in 2015

Georgia Tech kicked off the 2024 college football season with the first top-10 upset of the season, handing No. 10 Florida State a 24-21 loss in Dublin, Ireland, in the first game of the season. The Yellow Jackets entered the game as double-digit underdogs but leave as the first-place team in the ACC standings with their 1-0 record against conference opponents.

The Yellow Jackets were fearless from the jump, marching right down the field on their first offensive possession to offer a touchdown that matched Florida State's score on the opening drive. The Georgia Tech defense also brought an aggressiveness to their approach, limiting what DJ Uiagalelei and the Seminoles offense could do, sending extra pressure into the offensive backfield and testing Florida State's downfield passing attack.

Uiagalelei did deliver in a key situation by guiding a game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that included two fourth-and-long conversions. That tied the game 21-21, but then Florida State was unable to keep Georgia Tech from getting into scoring position in the game's final minutes. From there, it was up to Aidan Birr to finalize the upset, connecting from 44 yards as time expired. 

The upset snaps a 20-game winning streak by the Seminoles against unranked opponents over the past two seasons. Conversely, Brent Key's Yellow Jackets have now recorded 10 outright wins as an underdog in that same period. Despite success punching up under Key, this marks Georgia Tech's first win against a top-10 opponent since beating the Seminoles in 2015 -- a streak of 15 games. 

CBS Sports was with you throughout the entire game with highlights and analysis. Be sure to read below for takeaways from Georgia Tech's upset of Florida State. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 5:42 pm ET · Will Backus]

Florida State's CFP outlook looks bleak 

The first game of the 2024 college football season provided what will stand as one of the most surprising results all year, as double-digit favorite No. 10 Florida State fell 24-21 to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. While this latest setback for the Seminoles doesn't throw their season completely off the rails, it re-contextualizes expectations for a team many saw making an impact on the national stage. 

Florida State was picked to finish first in the ACC preseason media poll, garnering 81 of 170 votes for the top spot. By contrast, the Yellow Jackets came in at No. 9 -- though one seemingly prescient voter did give them a nod for first place.

Florida State's College Football Playoff outlook looks bleak after upset loss to Georgia Tech in season opener

Will Backus

Florida State's College Football Playoff outlook looks bleak after upset loss to Georgia Tech in season opener

[Aug 24, 2024 at 5:40 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Florida State's loss shows transfer portal success can't patch every hole

Florida State's season-opening dud against Georgia Tech shows transfer portal success can't patch every hole

No. 10 Florida State built a College Football Playoff-caliber roster in 2023 by threading a perfect needle between transfer portal additions and internal development. Naturally, the Seminoles tried the strategy again over the offseason, reeling in 17 transfers and the No. 7 transfer class in the nation. 

But if a 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland, for Week 0 is any indication, lightning rarely strikes twice. 

The Seminoles didn't look "back" to business by any means against the Yellow Jackets or back to the levels of Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher that made them a national power. Instead, they were "back" to looking like a group playing together for the first time ever, more reminiscent of Mike Norvell's early years. 

Florida State's season-opening dud against Georgia Tech shows transfer portal success can't patch every hole

Shehan Jeyarajah

[Aug 24, 2024 at 3:57 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

What's next for the Seminoles 

Florida State does not have much time to do a deep-dive autopsy on what went wrong in the loss; its next ACC game will be in nine days against Boston College on Labor Day Monday. The challenge for Mike Norvell and the group's leadership will be to make sure that the disappointment of Saturday's defeat does not linger into preparation for the second Florida State's eight ACC games this season. While the reigning conference champs are still in the hunt to repeat, a second loss this early in the season would spell doom for their chances of making it to the ACC Championship Game. And if Florida State's biggest goal in 2024 was to make right on last year's College Football Playoff snub, the most likely path to do that after Saturday's loss is by winning the ACC and claiming the conference's automatic bid.  

But there are positives to build on as Florida State eyes the potential of running the table the rest of the way in conference play. The ground game, for one, looked strong early on and sprung multiple explosive runs for Roydell Williams and Lawrance Toafili. But once Georgia Tech started making defensive adjustments, those big runs were harder to come by, and the pair finished with just 70 combined yards on 20 combined attempts. If Florida State can find ways to keep leaning on its experienced offensive line to clear the path like it early, the offense should have more success than it did for the middle of the game against Georgia Tech. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 3:55 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Florida State's first real stumble since 2021

After helping turn around a program that had been moving in the wrong direction, this marks the first really notable regular-season setback for Mike Norvell in a couple years. The Seminoles had not previously lost to an unranked opponent since 2021, going 20-0 in that span, and had not lost as a double-digit betting favorite (FSU was -10.5 or -11.5 at close) since that 2021 season as well. While Norvell and his staff were able to collect yet another impressive transfer portal haul to replace the departing talent, Saturday's loss seemed to illuminate the absence of 10 NFL Draft picks from last year's ACC championship squad. 

Of those draft picks that were missed, few stood out more than ACC Player of the Year Jordan Travis at quarterback. Because while the addition of DJ Uiagalelei was supposed to serve as a bridge from Travis' run as the team's starter, his performance against Georgia Tech showed a drop-off from what the former Seminole was able to accomplish, particularly in 2022 and 2023. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 3:53 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

How Georgia Tech won 

Brent Key was the offensive line coach for Georgia Tech prior to being named the interim coach in 2022 and eventually the full-time coach heading into 2023. His team has matched the ethos of winning at the line of scrimmage, and it brought joy to Key's face when he was asked about the performance of his offensive line in the win. Key offered only three words during his post-game interview on ESPN, "Run the ball," and at halftime quarterback Haynes King repeated the phrase "hat on a hat" during his television interview. This is a team that is building its success from the line of scrimmage out, with even the quarterback and skill players adopting the mentality. 

There also is a spotlight on Key's defensive coordinator hire from the offseason, tapping former Duke defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci to flip the fortunes of a group that finished dead last in total defense in the ACC in 2023. Santucci's game plan, plus the addition of a few new arrivals from the portal, really shined as Florida State spent much of the afternoon unable to move the football with any consistency. Florida State looked great on their first and final possessions of the game — both touchdowns — but totaled just six points in their five possessions in between.  

[Aug 24, 2024 at 3:15 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Georgia Tech upsets Florida State on walk-off field goal

Georgia Tech 24, No. 10 Florida State 21

What a finish to a brilliant opening game for the 2024 college football season. Georgia Tech stuns No. 10 Florida State on a 44-yard walk-off field goal from Aidan Birr to secure its first win against a top-10 opponent since 2015 (also Florida State). 

The Yellow Jackets nearly fumbled away a chance at a makeable field goal after a botched exchange on second down with about a minute remaining, but a nifty catch and run by Eric Singleton Jr. got the Bees back in position on third-and-17 to set up the more manageable 44-yard attempt by Birr. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 2:47 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Tie game in Dublin 

4Q: Florida State 21, Georgia Tech 21 

Florida State is showing its championship DNA right now, offering the response needed to avoid getting knocked off by Georgia Tech in the opener. DJ Uiagalelei shook off what has mostly been an uneventful second half and orchestrated a 15-play, 84-yard drive that -- maybe most importantly -- took up 8:18 of game time and allowed FSU's defense to get some rest. Along the way, DJU converted on two fourth-down tries, each of more than 7 yards, and then Roydell Williams punched in the game-tying score. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 2:34 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Georgia Tech back in front!

4Q: Georgia Tech 21, Florida State 14

Light the upset alert sirens, because Georgia Tech has put together yet another long touchdown drive on this Florida State defense and now holds a 21-14 advantage in the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jackets went 89 yards over 11 plays and ate up 6:22 of game clock between the end of the third and the start of the fourth quarter. Now, DJ Uiagalelei and the Florida State offense are in a position where flipping field position or settling for a field goal is no longer a success. The Seminoles need to find the end zone, something they haven't done since the first drive of the game.  

[Aug 24, 2024 at 2:23 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Third quarter dominated by the defenses 

End of 3Q: Florida State 14, Georgia Tech 14 

There have been four possessions so far in the second half (two each), and the two teams have combined for zero points; a missed field goal by Georgia Tech is the closest either team has come to scoring. Florida State has not gained more than 25 yards on either of its third-quarter possessions, and with Georgia Tech's defense continuing to send extra rushers into the backfield, the pressure is on DJ Uiagalelei to elevate the Seminoles passing attack. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 1:33 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Best boot ever in a rugby stadium? 

HALFTIME: Florida State 14, Georgia Tech 14 

Florida State makes the most of a frenzied finish to the half after failing to move the ball deep in Georgia Tech territory, but the Seminoles are bailed out for the second time with a 50-plus yard field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald. The game-tying kick came from 59 yards out -- a career long for Fitzgerald -- allowing Florida State to get something out of the final possession of the half. Scoring was crucial because Georgia Tech will receive the opening kickoff of the second half, and after getting a 14-11 lead, it threatened to create more distance on the scoreboard.  

[Aug 24, 2024 at 1:12 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Georgia Tech jumps in front with a long TD drive 

2Q: Georgia Tech 14, Florida State 11 

Georgia Tech spent more than half of the second quarter clock -- 7:53, to be exact -- grinding the ball down the field against this Florida State defense. The 14-play, 75-yard march included nine combined runs from quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes, with Haynes punching in the final score on third down near the goal line. It's an impressive statement for Georgia Tech's offensive line, which brings back four of its five starters from a year ago, to assert its dominance against a Florida State defensive front that has as much talent as any group in the ACC. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 1:01 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Florida State extends its lead with a long FG 

2Q: Florida State 11, Georgia Tech 7 

The Seminoles were the beneficiaries of a third-down facemask penalty on Georgia Tech after an apparent stop, and with an explosive play by Roydell Williams to advance the ball past midfield, Florida State's offense was able to setup kicker Ryan Fitzgerald with a 52-yard attempt. Fitzgerald connected on the long field goal, extending Florida State's lead to four. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 12:49 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Florida State holds possession, lead heading into 2Q

End 1Q: Florida State 8, Georgia Tech 7 

After both teams opened their offensive seasons with touchdown drives, things have calmed down a bit in the later portions of the quarter. Georgia Tech's defense rose up with key stops on both third down and fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs when FSU was just outside of field goal range, but the Yellow Jackets were unable to do any damage with their possession. As the quarter comes to a close, the Seminoles have the ball in their own territory. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 12:30 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Georgia Tech offers a thunderous response 

1Q: Florida State 8, Georgia Tech 7 

Georgia Tech did not face a third down on its entire 79-yard touchdown drive, which, like Florida State, featured a heavy dose of the ground game. Backup quarterback Zach Pyron came into the game near the goal line to punch in the score, which comes just as Aviva Stadium in Dublin is being pummeled with sheets of rain. The Yellow Jackets imposed their will on Florida State's defensive front early, picking up first downs on their first three plays of the game. Then it was just down to converting in the scoring area, matching Florida State's touchdown drive and cutting the lead to just one point. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 12:18 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Florida State marches to a TD with ease, adds 2-point try 

1Q: Florida State 8, Georgia Tech 0 

The Seminoles were incredibly efficient on their opening drive, marching 75 yards in seven plays for a touchdown on the first drive of the 2024 college football season. Florida State had its way at the line of scrimmage behind an experienced offensive line, collecting 58 of those 75 yards on the ground. The exclamation point was Lawrance Toafili exploding to the second level and pulling away for a 28-yard touchdown. 

Adding insult to injury for Georgia Tech, the Seminoles got the look they wanted with their swinging gate extra point attempt, and ran in a 2-point score. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 11:50 am ET · Chip Patterson]

Georgia Tech expected to play two QBs 

Interesting note from ESPN prior to kickoff. Pete Thamel reports that both Haynes King and Zach Pyron are expected to play. King led the ACC in passing touchdowns last season and is one of the top returning passers in the conference, but according to the report, Pyron will be featured as well to help provide some versatility to the run game. Pyron recorded eight rushing attempts across six games of action last season, totaling 29 yards on the year. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 11:30 am ET · Chip Patterson]

Game prediction best bet: Target the total! 

I see this as a matchup-based play where the strengths and weaknesses for both teams could end up creating some stalemate possessions. New Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci was a part of Duke defenses that did a terrific job of limiting scoring over the last two years, and I think he'll have some things cooked up schematically to make life tough on DJU. That will have Florida State responding by leaning on the run game, which is what I think will be their strength and keep the clock moving as opposed to pass-happy attack. On the other side of the ball, I think Georgia Tech's offense will have its hands full with one of the best pass rush duos in the country with Florida State's Pat Payton and Marvin Jones Jr. Their impact on the game will make it difficult for Haynes King to convert in third-and-long situations.  Pick: Under 55.5 

See all expert predictions below. 

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech live stream, where to watch, TV channel, prediction, pick, spread, odds

Chip Patterson

[Aug 24, 2024 at 11:05 am ET · Chip Patterson]

CFB in Ireland has produced some thrillers 

Last year's 42-3 win for Notre Dame against Navy in the Aer Lingus Classic broke a streak of one-score games when college football is played in Ireland. Each of the previous three times an early season game was hosted in Ireland, it produced a thrilling finish, including Northwestern storming back from a double-digit, second-half deficit to beat Nebraska 31-28 in 2022, Georgia Tech beating Boston College 17-14 with two fourth-quarter scores and Penn State winning with a walk-off field goal against UCF in 2014 for the first win of the James Franklin era. 

[Aug 24, 2024 at 10:45 am ET · Chip Patterson]

Biggest key for a Georgia Tech upset 

Brent Key's breakthrough season with the Yellow Jackets was powered by an offense that led the ACC in rushing and ranked third in the conference (and top 30 nationally) in total offense, averaging 424.6 yards per game and 6.34 yards per play. That group brings back its starting quarterback, Haynes King, its leading rusher, Jamal Haynes, four of its five starters along the offensive line and three of its top four receivers. The biggest question mark for the Yellow Jackets heading in 2024 is the defensive side of the ball, which underwent a leadership change after finishing last in the ACC in total defense. Fixing that side of the ball is the challenge for new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci, who arrives after a successful defensive coordinator stint under Mike Elko at Duke. If Georgia Tech is going to pull off the overseas upset, it will need its defense to show more than a couple leaps in performance.

[Aug 24, 2024 at 10:25 am ET · Chip Patterson]

DJU making his ACC return, FSU debut 

Another year brings another wave of new faces for Florida State as Mike Norvell has once again tapped the transfer portal for instant-impact additions. There are familiar names throughout the group of newcomers — including multiple players off last year's SEC Championship squad at Alabama — but no player is going to command attention quite like quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Once one of the Seminoles' biggest rivals from his time at Clemson, Uiagalelei arrives after a one-year stint at Oregon State that featured career highs in yards per game (219.8) and yards per attempt (8.4), along with the best passer rating since he became a full-time starter. The offense has a great foundation thanks to an experienced offensive line and some strong talent at running back, but being as dynamic as Florida State was last season will require Uiagalelei to help elevate the offense with the passing attack.

Read more about DJU's return to the ACC from Dennis Dodd below.

Back in the ACC at school No. 3, DJ Uiagalelei eyes growth from journeyman to NFL prospect at Florida State

Dennis Dodd

[Aug 24, 2024 at 10:05 am ET · Chip Patterson]

A unique kickoff to a first-of-its-kind season 

The 2024 college football season kicks off in a big way on Saturday with a top-10 team in action as No. 10 Florida State takes on Georgia Tech in the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland. The conference showdown also kicks off an unprecedented year of ACC football after the league expanded to 17 full-time members with the additions of Cal, Stanford and SMU over the summer. 

So, in a year of change, it's fitting that the reigning ACC champs begin their pursuit of another conference crown in a most unique setting. Ireland has hosted games in Aviva Stadium, the home turf for Ireland's national teams in both rugby and soccer, in each of the last two seasons and has future dates set for 2025 and 2027. It's a one-of-a-kind experience for the players, coaches and fans but has come with some cost in terms of an accelerated fall camp schedule to accommodate the travel. 

While pomp and circumstance of college football abroad will make for quite a spectacle, at the heart of this matchup are two teams with expectations of building on last season's success. Florida State eyes another ACC title and with it a spot in the College Football Playoff after last year's snub. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, has a ton returning from a team that finished tied for fourth place in the ACC standings and reached a bowl game for the first time since 2018. Any of their goals are still attainable with a win on Saturday, which brings midseason urgency to this early season showdown.

[Aug 24, 2024 at 9:36 am ET · Ben Kercheval]

Florida State to be without heralded WR 

Hykeem Williams, the crown jewel of Florida State's 2023 class and a projected impact player at wide receiver, has been ruled out for today's game with an unspecified injury, per 247Sports. The injury could linger into Florida State's Labor Day matchup against Boston College for Week 1 but isn't considered a long-term problem. Still, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Williams was projected to be a key player in the Seminoles' wide receiver room. Alabama transfer Malik Benson figures to garner several targets today, but this is largely a new-look group of pass catchers with a lot to prove, especially with Williams out.