Honestly, if you told a Georgia Tech fan three years ago that a nine-win season would feel like a "disappointment," they probably would’ve laughed you out of Bobby Dodd Stadium. But here we are. It is January 2026, and the vibe around the Flats is... well, it’s complicated. On one hand, you’ve got a football program that just tied for its 10th-most wins ever. On the other, there’s this nagging feeling that the 2025 season was a massive "what if" after that 8-0 start fizzled out.
If you're looking for the latest ga tech sports news, you've probably noticed that the honeymoon phase for Brent Key is officially over. Not because people want him gone—the man just signed a fat five-year extension through 2030—but because the bar has been moved. It’s no longer about just being competitive. It’s about the College Football Playoff.
The Portal King: Justice Haynes is Finally Coming Home
Let’s talk about the biggest bombshell in recent ga tech sports news. The transfer portal is usually a place of anxiety for Tech fans, but this month it felt like Christmas. Justice Haynes, the former Buford superstar and son of Tech legend Verron Haynes, is officially transferring back to Georgia to play for the Jackets.
He was the top-ranked running back in the country coming out of high school. Seeing him in White and Gold is going to be surreal for the older fans who remember his dad's "Punt, Haynes, Punt" era. He isn't the only one, either. Key has been aggressive. He snagged Noah Carter, a high-impact linebacker from Alabama, and Taje McCoy from Oklahoma State.
Basically, the defense is being rebuilt on the fly. And they need it. Blake Gideon left for Texas, and the rotating door at defensive coordinator continues. Jason Semore is the new guy in charge for 2026. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he’s a former Tech assistant. He’s the fifth DC in four seasons. That kind of turnover usually spells disaster, but Key seems to think Semore’s familiarity with the roster will stop the bleeding.
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The Haynes King Sized Hole
The elephant in the room? Quarterback. Haynes King is out of eligibility. He was the heart and soul of that 9-4 run, and replacing his dual-threat production is a nightmare scenario. Aaron Philo, who everyone thought was the heir apparent, decided to bounce to Florida to follow former OC Buster Faulkner.
That leaves a massive vacuum. The 2026 recruiting class has Cole Bergeron, a four-star out of Louisiana, but asking a freshman to start in the ACC is a tall order. We’re likely looking at a spring battle that will determine whether Tech remains a top-25 threat or slides back into the middle of the pack.
Basketball Blues at McCamish
While football is riding a wave of (mostly) positive momentum, Damon Stoudamire’s squad is having a rough go of it. As of mid-January 2026, the Jackets are staring down a 10-7 record and a dismal 1-3 start in conference play.
The recent 82-72 loss to Syracuse at home was a gut punch. You could hear the frustration in the arena. They look desperate. They’re heading into a stretch where they face Pitt and NC State, and if they don't find a way to stop the bleeding, the season could be over before the calendar even hits February.
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There is a bright spot, though. Jalan Wingfield, the prize signee whose father Dontonio played in the NBA, is carrying massive expectations. But one freshman can’t fix a team that struggles to close out games in the second half. Stoudamire’s "NBA-style" system looks great when the shots are falling, but when they aren't? It gets ugly fast.
Baseball is Actually the Team to Watch
If you want some actually exciting ga tech sports news, look toward Danny Hall’s—well, actually James Ramsey’s—dugout. First-year head coach James Ramsey has inherited a Ferrari.
D1Baseball just ranked the Jackets No. 5 in their preseason poll. Perfect Game has them at No. 2. That is the highest preseason ranking for the program since 2003. They have four preseason All-Americans on the roster. For a school that hasn't been to the College World Series in 20 years, the hype is reaching a fever pitch.
- Rankings: No. 5 (D1Baseball), No. 2 (Perfect Game).
- The Goal: Ending the 20-year Omaha drought.
- The X-Factor: A lineup that basically leads the nation in every power category.
The Ryan Alpert Era Begins in Earnest
We can’t talk about Tech sports without mentioning the man in the suit. Ryan Alpert, who came over from Tennessee last summer, is already making moves. He’s the one who locked down Brent Key. He’s also the one spearheading the massive renovations to Bobby Dodd Stadium and the Zelnak Basketball Center.
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Alpert isn't a "wait and see" kind of AD. He’s a revenue guy. He saw what happened at Tennessee and is trying to replicate that "Power 5" (or Power 4 now, I guess) intensity in Atlanta. He recently mentioned on the Helluva Podcast that the 2026 home schedule is the most anticipated in years, featuring games against Colorado and Tennessee at the Dodd.
Getting Under Armour out and bringing in a new apparel provider (likely Nike or Jordan, though it hasn't been officially confirmed as of this second) is another major part of his 2026 roadmap.
What This Means for You
If you're a fan or an alum, the next six months are going to be a rollercoaster. Here is what you actually need to do to stay on top of it all:
- Watch the Spring Game: This will be the first time we see who is actually leading the post-Haynes King offense. If the QB play is shaky, expect another dip into the portal.
- Buy Baseball Tickets Early: With a top-5 ranking, Russ Chandler is going to be packed. Don't wait until the ACC schedule starts.
- Monitor the DC Transition: Keep an eye on how Jason Semore handles the linebackers. With guys like Noah Carter coming in, the talent is there, but the scheme has been the problem for three years running.
The reality is that Georgia Tech is no longer the "smart kid school" that people ignore on the schedule. They’ve got the NIL money, they’ve got a coach who actually wants to be there, and they’ve finally started winning the recruiting battles in their own backyard. Whether that translates to an ACC title in 2026 depends entirely on how they fill the holes left by King and Faulkner.
Stay tuned to the local beats. The next few weeks of the transfer portal closing out will tell us everything we need to know about the depth of this roster.