Homecoming is always a special time at Georgia Tech. As I walked among the numerous tailgaters on the way to the stadium, I spoke with John Beck and his family. John is a GT alum from the 1970s attending his 50^th Tech game, not to mention four times he saw them on the road. His daughter and her husband were with him for the occasion along with his grandson…all Tech students at one time or another over the decades.
  Tech is a family tradition,” he said. “I’ve been coming to games ever since I left and all of these guys wanted to join my wife and me for Homecoming.”

  R.A. Smith went here in the 90s. He stopped coming to football games quite awhile ago but says he got season tickets for this season and is glad he did. “It’s been a lot of fun. After watching them battle in Athens to eight overtimes last year, I decided I wanted to be part of it. So far, so good.”

   There were multiple Homecoming ceremonies during the game. To honor the 10^th anniversary of the 2015 Miracle on Techwood Drive victory over #9 FSU, that team was in the south end zone. The 1985 ACC Champion GT Men’s Basketball team members were introduced including John Salle and coach Bobby Cremins.

   Some might refer to this as a “trap game,” one where a team might look ahead when facing what should be an easy opponent. In fact, the next three games after this could fit that definition as fans look ahead to the showdown with UGA at the end of the regular season at MBS. But, there were no signs of a letup on the Yellow Jackets’ part providing one of their most complete games of the season.

   The best start in nearly six decades stayed perfect on Homecoming. Behind another dazzling outing from quarterback Haynes King, No. 7 Georgia Tech rolled past Syracuse 41–16 on Saturday afternoon at Bobby Dodd Stadium, improving to 8–0 for the first time since 1966 and just the eighth time in school history. 

   “This is what we’ve been building toward,” head coach Brent Key said postgame. “We’re getting closer to playing a full game, and the good thing about that is—we haven’t peaked yet.”​

   King, the core of Tech’s revival, accounted for five total touchdowns—three passing and two rushing—while piling up 395 total yards. He completed 25 of 31 passes for 304 yards and added 91 rushing yards. His .806 completion percentage is the highest in Tech single-game history surpassing George Godsey.

   They amassed a total of 543 yards of offense, a season high.

   “Man, it’s special to be part of something like this,” King said. “Every week, we talk about being 1–0. That’s all we care about. But to come home, on Homecoming, in front of this crowd, and play the way we did…it’s something I’ll never forget.”​

   Senior tight end Josh Beetham caught two of King’s touchdown passes in the second quarter after responding to early adversity. It was his first career TD. Beetham had dropped a potential score in the first period but bounced back with back-to-back red-zone grabs that opened the game wide.

   “He came off the field and I told him, ‘Move on, next play,’” Key said. “He did exactly that. That’s what this program is about—resilience, trust, and keeping the main thing the main thing.”​

   Georgia Tech’s defense shined despite missing multiple starters in the secondary, limiting Syracuse (3–5, 1–4 ACC) to just three first-half points. Safety Clayton Powell-Lee credited the team’s depth and communication. “It’s just seizing an opportunity,” he said. “When someone goes down, the next man steps up. There’s no drop in expectations.”​

   Syracuse cut the lead to 20–10 early in the third quarter behind a 34-yard touchdown from Rickie Collins to Darrell Gill Jr., but their really was no doubt as the Jackets were in control throughout. 

   “Call it confidence, call it chemistry—whatever it is, it’s growing,” Key said. “We’re protecting the football, playing complementary ball, and finding new ways to win each week.”​

   The victory marked a perfect Homecoming weekend before a capacity crowd of more than 50,000 and gave the Yellow Jackets their fifth straight ACC win, something they have never done before.

   Next up, the Jackets move to prime time with a 7:30 p.m. road start in Raleigh to take on NC State (4-4, 1-3) next Saturday. The Wolfpack are coming off a 53-34 loss at Pitt. The game at Carter Finley Stadium will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

   “We’ve accomplished a lot,” King added. “But we all know—we’ve got much more ahead of us.”