GT football 2026-2027 fan forum expectations.

[Root4GT]

We are rebuilding on both sides of the ball, two new coordinators, major changes to the offensive staff and a new QB. I have no clue

How anyone can make an informed guess when we only 3 coaches on offense as well as 3 coaches on defense returning. As for players, we only have 2 starters from 2025 returning on offense and 3 starters from 2025 returning on defense.

Making a guess with 6 of 22 starting players returning and 6 of of 17 offensive and defensive coaches combined returning seems a bit absurd.

Fun, sure, but putting any stock in how GT football will be in wins and losses is at best a Wild *** Guess.

We could be very good, we could be very bad or we could be just average.

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

How anyone can make an informed guess when we only 3 coaches on offense as well as 3 coaches on defense returning. As for players, we only have 2 starters from 2025 returning on offense and 3 starters from 2025 returning on defense.

Making a guess with 6 of 22 starting players returning and 6 of of 17 offensive and defensive coaches combined returning seems a bit absurd.

Fun, sure, but putting any stock in how GT football will be in wins and losses is at best a Wild *** Guess.

We could be very good, we could be very bad or we could be just average.

Bingo. Nothing wrong with some fun, but kinda meaningless. And, I'll go farther than that. Whatever the poll says AFTER spring practice and especially an exhibition called spring game will follow your commentary. Meaning, it doesn't mean diddly. Brent Key will obviously know waaaaaaay more about what he's got and the potential of this team than any of us supporters, but even that even he won't know until sometime in August. As usual, like most fan bases as Tech isn't alone on this, some folks will follow the spring game and reports and all that stuff and totally overreact one way or another. Since fans - especially Tech fans - focus so so much on offense, if the offense has a bad "game" in the meaningless spring exhibition, they will cash the upcoming season in. Which, is kinda dumb on many fronts. The game doesn't mean crap and nobody really cares what happens - or shouldn't. And, even if they were playing to their full potential, which won't happen, and it actually meant something, if the offense stinks it up then why aren't fans fired up about the potential of the defense? Heck, I'd love to be jacked up about the defense for a change. Haven't experienced that in over 15 years.

Our clean old fashioned hate "friends" to the east are or have been contemplating dissolving the spring game. Check it out. They probably will go through with it because it gives their fans a reason to show up in RV's and BBQ while on campus. Makes sense I guess. But, I don't blame their program at all if they ditch the idea. It's run its course. And, at this point, is just kinda dumb. You can get together and tailgate/BBQ on campus in the spring for a Tech Baseball or Softball game if you need a reason to gather.

Just sayin'. Tech will find out what we are or what we are not after the first 2 games in early September.

 

[Thwg777]

I’m too old for irrational exuberance.

I went with 6-6 and could realistically see a WLWL… etc. pattern.

Hope I’m wrong and we do better.

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

I’m too old for irrational exuberance.

I went with 6-6 and could realistically see a WLWL… etc. pattern.

Hope I’m wrong and we do better.

I get it. I don't know about age or irrational exuberance, but I think we will both agree if we go 6-6, then the season has been a humongous failure.

At home, we have Mercer, Duke (without Mensah), BC and Wake (who is better than people think I admit). That should be 4 wins right there. To go 6-6 means we went 2-6 in the other 8 games including 2 at BDS where the last 2 years especially has been a huge home field advantage for the program.

Losing at home to Colorado, Tennessee and Louisville is possible. Unlikely, but possible. Just like going 0-5 on the road is unlikely, but possible. Having said all that, I'm going 16-0. Irrational exuberance in action, BABYYYYY.

 

[Thwg777]

I get it. I don't know about age or irrational exuberance, but I think we will both agree if we go 6-6, then the season has been a humongous failure.

At home, we have Mercer, Duke (without Mensah), BC and Wake (who is better than people think I admit). That should be 4 wins right there. To go 6-6 means we went 2-6 in the other 8 games including 2 at BDS where the last 2 years especially has been a huge home field advantage for the program.

Losing at home to Colorado, Tennessee and Louisville is possible. Unlikely, but possible. Just like going 0-5 on the road is unlikely, but possible. Having said all that, I'm going 16-0. Irrational exuberance in action, BABYYYYY.

I hear you. It’s hard to handicap games right now when team compositions aren’t even obvious yet, but I agree that those four “wins” you listed are games we’ll be favored in. I’d add Colorado and Stanford as games we’re favored in - but view those two as tougher - and could easily see us an underdog in the other six.

 

[Root4GT]

I hear you. It’s hard to handicap games right now when team compositions aren’t even obvious yet, but I agree that those four “wins” you listed are games we’ll be favored in. I’d add Colorado and Stanford as games we’re favored in - but view those two as tougher - and could easily see us an underdog in the other six.

We could be favored vs Wake and Stanford. Do you actually know how many and of what importance players Wake has returning or what they got/lost in the Portal? Same for Stanford.

This board gripes endlessly about preseason polls. Saying we should beat Wake is simply based on Wake’s name. If you are tuned into what is/has been happening at Stanford you are one hell of a college football fan.

We ***** when GT doesn’t get preseason recognization. It is the same rational that we dismiss Duke, Wake, Stanford and BC.

I hope like heck all the coaching and player changes at GT will get up to the ACC CG.

I hope Wake and Duke suck in football again.

I have no idea on any of it. .

 

[Thwg777]

We could be favored vs Wake and Stanford. Do you actually know how many and of what importance players Wake has returning or what they got/lost in the Portal? Same for Stanford.

This board gripes endlessly about preseason polls. Saying we should beat Wake is simply based on Wake’s name. If you are tuned into what is/has been happening at Stanford you are one hell of a college football fan.

We ***** when GT doesn’t get preseason recognization. It is the same rational that we dismiss Duke, Wake, Stanford and BC.

I hope like heck all the coaching and player changes at GT will get up to the ACC CG.

I hope Wake and Duke suck in football again.

I have no idea on any of it. .

I predicted we’d win 6 games so I’m hardly dismissing the likes of wake or a tree out west. Folks tend to assume we win all games we’re supposed to win plus some upsets and end up with rosy predictions.

 

[MountainBuzzMan]

How anyone can make an informed guess when we only 3 coaches on offense as well as 3 coaches on defense returning. As for players, we only have 2 starters from 2025 returning on offense and 3 starters from 2025 returning on defense.

Making a guess with 6 of 22 starting players returning and 6 of of 17 offensive and defensive coaches combined returning seems a bit absurd.

Fun, sure, but putting any stock in how GT football will be in wins and losses is at best a Wild *** Guess.

We could be very good, we could be very bad or we could be just average.

We cant. I picked 9 because I "WANT" us to be no more than a flat year over last year. So many new pieces. I have no idea how they will or won't come together. But I am general very positive until after game 3 and then you have a good clue

 

[alagold]

If we have a winning seasonwith all our changes, it will be a success.

 

[Mandingo Finkelstein]

If we have a winning seasonwith all our changes, it will be a success.

I get what you are saying. Truly, I do.

With what we are paying Brent Key now and the significant amount of money that has been and continues to be invested in our program, just a winning season might be a "success" versus past standards but I don't think it should be anymore.

Just one idiot's opinion of course. Brent Key needs to fulfill the ROI that has been placed in him...and, I think he will. Not saying playoffs or the like, but gotta do way better than a winning season being the standard. Just sayin'.

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

I want to prove Dave Braine wrong every year.

 

[GT33]

9-3, we split the tough games but win the one that matters the most.

 

[UgaBlows]

Things I believe will be true-

our team will play HARD

we will be IN every game

we will give uga all they want, maybe more

we will win at least 6 games

we will run the bygawd bawl with renewed determination and success

our defense will be more aggressive

 

[RamblinRed]

My current thoughts

CO - GT win
TN - this one is interesting. If Aquilar doesn't play I like GT, if he does then I give TN a small fav. For now I go GT.
Mercer - GT Win
@Stanford - I think this has all the looks of a trap game, cross country games have not been kind to the road team. Thinking loss here.
Duke - Key is 3-0 against Duke, that continues - GT win.
@VT - just the second road game of the season. I like the bad Tech in this one, GT loss.
BC - GT win
@Pitt - Basically they have a more proven QB then we do, I think GT underdog here, GT loss
L'ville - Brohm is one of the best coaches in college football. Hasn't won fewer than 9 games at L'ville. GT underdog, GT loss.
@Clemson - Not scared at all of this team, like GT in this one, GT win.
Wake - Dickert is a very good coach, but I like Key to go 3-0 against Wake in another really close game. GT Win
@UGA - the last 2 years were the time to beat UGA, don't like GT chances this year. GT loss.

Sort of sitting on 7-5 right now. I think GT splits TN/Stanford.
Also, with a less experienced QB and OL GT is likely to lose at least one game no one is expecting to lose.

I also believe GT will play hard every game. I also think with so much turnover in both players and coaches there are likely to be some cohesiveness issues at times and inconsistent play.

 

[BainbridgeJacket]

CO - W
TN - L
Mercer - W
@Stanford - W
Duke - L
@VT - L
BC - W
@Pitt - L
L'ville - L
@Clemson - L
Wake - W
@UGA - L

Of course, any team could fold like a lawn chair next season (looking at you for last year, Clemson, but Duke for next year) but the above is my way too early guesses subject to change. When I probability weight every game, I come out to 6-6 so a little less doom and gloom.

 

[4shotB]

I’m too old for irrational exuberance.

OTOH, I am too old for cautious realism myself. I am going to enter the rest of the seasons I have left with over the top wild unadulterated exuberance.*

* That's not entirely true tbh as I only picked us to be 9 - 3. Where is the so-called "over the top exuberance" in my own play-it-safe prediction??? Frankly, all of the outcomes that have received votes have an almost equal likely outcome imo. And I agree that any attempt at prediction in today's market is purely for entertainment purposes only.

 

[cpf2001]

“Very bad” just seems unlikely to me given that even the 2022 team under Key went 4-4 despite taking over mid-year and losing two QBs to season ending injuries, with a bargain-basement remaining coaching staff.

My assumption until proven otherwise is that the floor was raised.

 

[Heisman's Ghost]

Just wondering before spring, what are the expectations?

I was being a wise guy voting 12-0. I have no idea and neither does anyone else. I will say I am tempering my expectations after our team lost its best interior offensive lineman, its two best defensive linemen, its best quarterback since JT5, and a whole passel of other players of varying abilities. On the other hand, no one knows what our opponents will be like but not playing Notre Dame or Miami has to count for something. I am intrigued by the possibility that Red has suggested of Tech winning all three of those opening games. I know don't count chickens until they hatch but if we beat Colorado, Tennessee, and Mercer it will be a real shot in the arm for a team with a lot of changes to deal with. If that were to happen, I can see a good season in store.

 

[Heisman's Ghost]

I want to prove Dave Braine wrong every year.

That fellow was born wrong so much that he slapped the doctor.

 

[GT#1]

CO - GT win
TN - this one is interesting. Still GT win
Mercer - GT Win
@Stanford - GT win
Duke - Key is 3-0 against Duke, that continues - GT win.
@VT - Could go either way, I'll go GT until we see what VT looks like
BC - GT win
@Pitt - If you are judging on QB's, I would go, Pitt, but I think their defense will take a hit, GT win
L'ville - Loss
@Clemson - Not scared at all of this team, like GT in this one, GT win.
Wake - Dickert is a very good coach, but I like Key to go 3-0 against Wake in another really close game. GT Win
@UGA - They dont take it as seriously. This is our best chance, I'm going GT win.