The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets fell for the first time this season Saturday night, dropping an entertaining shootout 48-36 to the NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. No. 8 Georgia Tech (8-1, 5-1 ACC) entered the game undefeated for the first time since 1966 but struggled to contain an inspired Wolfpack offense while settling for field goals in crucial moments.

   Quarterback Haynes King shattered school records with a massive 511 yards of total offense, including 408 passing yards on 25-of-35 throws and 103 rushing yards, tossing two touchdowns and running for two more to extend his career total to 85 — breaking the school record previously set by Joe Hamilton. Wide receivers Jordan Allen and Eric Rivers paced the Yellow Jackets’ aerial attack with 110 and 97 receiving yards respectively, while tight end J.T. Byrne and wideout Zion Taylor both caught touchdown passes.

   Despite accumulating 559 yards of total offense and punting only once, Georgia Tech’s inability to finish drives with touchdowns proved costly. Tech settled for three field goals, including two in the red zone, while NC State scored on six of its ten possessions. The Wolfpack, playing without their league-leading rusher Hollywood Smothers due to injury, saw freshman Duke Scott frustratingly fill in with a career-high 196 rushing yards, including a crucial 30-yard touchdown run late in the game to put the contest out of reach.

   Quarterback C.J. Bailey also contributed 340 total yards and three touchdowns, damaging the Jackets’ defense both through the air and on the ground. NC State amassed 583 total yards and capitalized on key sequences as it erased a late second-quarter Georgia Tech lead.

   Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren praised his team’s resiliency: “It’s what we’re about. The harder it gets, sometimes the better we are.”

   Georgia Tech trailed only 38-30 heading into the fourth quarter but saw the Wolfpack score the first 10 points of the final period. A late interception sealed Georgia Tech’s fate as NC State ended its 13-game home losing streak against top-10 opponents, a victory celebrated wildly by fans storming the field.

   The loss marks a significant blow to Georgia Tech’s hopes for a College Football Playoff berth, though the team remains a strong contender for the ACC title with four games remaining.

   Tech fell to second place in the ACC behind Virginia, who has won seven straight since suffering their only loss, also to NC State.

  The Jackets have a much needed bye week before going back on the road November 18 at Boston College.