Year four of the Coach Prime era begins in a city that still reveres him.

When Colorado heads to Atlanta for the Sept. 3 opener at Georgia Tech, it will be the program’s first game in the city known affectionately as “A-Town” — but that doesn’t mean it won’t be full of people cheering on the Buffaloes.

The number of Atlanta Falcons No. 21 Deion Sanders jerseys inside Bobby Dodd Stadium will be a time travel back to 1993. That’s how much “Prime Time” is still loved there.

Sanders’ Buffaloes team will be searching for revenge, too, after the Yellow Jackets won a 27-20 game at Folsom Field to kick off the 2025 season, even though the key figures from both squads are gone.

Here’s everything you need to know about a new-look Georgia Tech team: 

Offseason storylines

After getting off to an 8-0 start and reaching as high as No. 7 in the AP Top 25, the vibes were as high as they’d been in decades for the Yellow Jackets.

Bruising, do-it-all quarterback Haynes King led the way as dreams of making the College Football Playoff felt very real — until a 48-36 loss at N.C. State kicked off a 1-4 finish that closed with a loss to BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Change ensued, some of it out of the control of coach Brent Key. After reportedly turning down other jobs, most notably at Penn State, to remain at his alma mater, Key brought in two new coordinators and plenty of transfers to supplement a lineup that lost plenty of starters on both sides of the ball.

The heir apparent at quarterback, Aaron Philo, as well as other key players, followed coordinator Buster Faulkner to Florida after he was hired by new coach Jon Sumrall to lead the Gators’ offense.

Now Key must rely on a transfer portal class that ranked in the bottom half of the ACC to build off the program’s best season in a decade.

On offense

To replace Faulkner, who orchestrated the No. 2 offense in the ACC last season, Key turned to a familiar face, his former teammate at Georgia Tech, George Godsey. 

The former All-American quarterback spent the last 15 years coaching in the NFL, most recently as the tight ends coach for the Baltimore Ravens. He got his first coordinator job since 2021, when he was with the Miami Dolphins.

The Yellow Jackets brought in a top transfer to help Godsey build around in former Michigan running back Justice Haynes, who was on pace for a big season in 2025 with 857 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games before suffering a season-ending injury. 

The former five-star recruit should allow Georgia Tech to maintain its identity of running the football, as it ranked in the top 25 nationally in that category. Haynes should also ease the pressure on the likely starter at quarterback, Alberto Mendoza. The Indiana transfer and younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, appears ready for his shot as a starter after spending two seasons watching from the sidelines with the Hoosiers.

Alabama transfer wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe projects as the top target in the passing game, and the team returns a pair of starters on the offensive line in tackles Ethan Mackenny and Malachi Carney.

On defense

After allowing 29 points or fewer in each game during the team’s 8-0 start, the Georgia Tech defense struggled late in the season, allowing 124 points over the next three games before finishing strong with just 41 points allowed in the final two contests.

Defensive coordinator Blake Gideon returned to Texas after one season with the Yellow Jackets and was replaced by Jason Semore, who most recently held the same role at Southern Miss and Marshall.

He’ll have two veteran linebackers to build around in Kyle Efford (All-ACC honorable mention) and E.J. Lightsey. Those two will likely be at the forefront in any improvement stopping the run after Georgia Tech ranked third-worst in the conference last fall after allowing 164 rushing yards per game.

A pair of former Buffs (defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas and defensive end Taje McCoy) could play big roles. 

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets file

2025 record: 9-4 (6-2 ACC)

Head coach: Brent Key (4th season, 27-20 record)

Offensive coordinator: George Godsey (1st season)

Defensive coordinator: Jason Semore (1st season)

Key returners: RB Malachi Hosley, WR Jordan Allen, OL Ethan Mackenny, OL Malachi Carney, LB Kyle Efford, LB E.J. Lightsey

Key newcomers: QB Alberto Mendoza, RB Justice Haynes, WR Jaylen Mbakwe, TE Chris Corbo, DE Noah Carter, DE Taje McCoy, DL Tawfiq Thomas, CB Jonas Duclona