The Miami Hurricanes’ dream of an unbeaten season came to a dramatic halt on Saturday as Georgia Tech stunned the No. 4 Hurricanes with a 28-23 win. It was the Yellow Jackets’ first win over a top-five opponent in 15 years, electrifying the crowd at Bobby Dodd Stadium and prompting a rush of fans to the field to topple the goalposts in celebration. Georgia Tech’s quarterback Haynes King led the charge, helping the Yellow Jackets snap a two-game losing streak and secure bowl eligibility.
In his first game back after missing two games with a shoulder injury, King completed all six of his passes, albeit for only 32 yards. But it was on the ground where he left his mark, rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown while showcasing his versatility. Georgia Tech’s run game was relentless, piling up 271 rushing yards compared to Miami’s 88, a surprising statistic against a team with one of the top defenses in the conference.
Complementing King’s efforts, wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. added 34 rushing yards on six carries, and backup quarterback Aaron Philo also contributed with a touchdown pass. This ground-heavy approach allowed Georgia Tech to control the clock, holding the ball nearly 10 minutes longer than Miami and limiting the Hurricanes’ explosive offense to a season-low 23 points — far below their impressive 47.4 points-per-game average.
Miami’s unbeaten season had seen three thrilling second-half comebacks, but the Hurricanes found themselves trailing almost the entire game. Quarterback Cam Ward, a Heisman contender, put up 347 passing yards and three touchdown passes. His 38-yard strike to Xavier Restrepo late in the fourth quarter cut Georgia Tech’s lead to 28-23, giving Miami hope of yet another comeback. However, the Hurricanes’ final drive ended in disaster. Starting at their 19-yard line with 1:52 remaining, Ward was sacked by Romello Height, forcing a fumble that Georgia Tech’s Jordan Van Den Berg recovered, sealing the upset victory.
Despite his strong yardage and touchdown passes, Ward and the Hurricanes faced frustrating fourth-down failures throughout the game. Three times, they went for it on fourth down and came up empty, including a crucial sack on fourth-and-16 at Georgia Tech’s 22-yard line in the fourth quarter. A penalty had nullified a potential touchdown pass to Isaiah Horton just before that play, leaving Miami just short in critical moments.
This win marks Georgia Tech’s first victory over a top-five team since their 28-23 win over No. 4 Virginia Tech in 2009. Coach Brent Key and his Yellow Jackets demonstrated strategic brilliance, leveraging King’s dual-threat ability and mixing in offensive creativity with playmakers like Singleton Jr. to disrupt Miami’s typically stout defense.
Georgia Tech now stands at 6-4 (4-3 ACC) and is bowl-eligible, a huge achievement for a team that has seen ups and downs this season. This victory not only boosted the Yellow Jackets’ spirits but also positioned them as a potential spoiler in the ACC.
For Miami, this loss is a significant setback. The Hurricanes (9-1, 5-1 ACC) will likely slide in the AP Top 25 and College Football Playoff rankings, and they fall out of a first-place tie in the ACC standings with SMU. With an off week ahead, Miami has a chance to regroup before hosting Wake Forest on Nov. 23. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, will look to build on this momentum as they also enjoy a bye week before a home game against NC State on Nov. 21.
This game demonstrated Georgia Tech’s resilience and Miami’s vulnerability, as the Hurricanes’ streak of second-half magic ran out against a determined Yellow Jackets squad. The road to a perfect season may be over, but the Hurricanes still have plenty to fight for as they look to bounce back from this tough ACC loss.
