ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Pop-Tarts Bowl could easily be about who’s not there or where these teams are…
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Pop-Tarts Bowl could easily be about who isn’t there or where these teams aren’t playing.
Both No. 24 Georgia Tech and No. 12 BYU dreamed of reaching the College Football Playoff. After falling short, they could easily have been disappointed with the invitation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl, a game known as much for its off-field marketing as it is for its on-field play.
Instead, the two teams appear eager to cap off solid seasons with a win in one of three non-playoff bowl matchups between teams that were in the CFP’s final standings when Georgia Tech (9-3, No. 22 CFP) takes on BYU (11-2, No. 12 CFP) on Saturday.
These are two teams with plenty to play for despite missing the playoffs.
“We’ve put time, effort, blood, sweat and tears into this season, and it’s not over yet,” Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King said. “I’m not one to jump ship and quit. I want to get on with it and finish it with my brothers.”
The Cougars were the second team left out of the playoff field afterward lost in the Big 12 Conference championship game 34-7 to No. 4 Texas Tech. The Yellow Jackets were further down the list and failed to make the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game due to various tiebreaks.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake said he expects his team to be motivated and ready to play.
“The truth is we have a chance to play again,” Sitake said. “Disappointment disappears very quickly if you appreciate what you have to do.”
Sitake said his team appreciates the opportunity to stay together for one more game and use bowl practice to prepare for next season. He credited last year’s Alamo Bowl victory with preparation for this season.
Young versus old
The matchup between BYU and Georgia Tech pits a sixth-year against a true freshman quarterback.
King started the last three years at Georgia Tech after three years at Texas A&M. He was the ACC Player of the Year, finishing fourth in the league with 922 rushing yards and leading it with 15 rushing touchdowns. He threw for 2,697 yards and 12 TDS.
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year. He rushed for 527 yards and 11 touchdowns to go with 2,708 passing yards and 14 TD passes.
Attack versus defense
This matchup could live up to expectations, pitting one of the nation’s best offenses against one of the nation’s best defenses.
Georgia Tech finished the year 13th in total offense at 466.2 yards per game and 23rd at 33.0 points per game.
The Yellow Jackets face a stout Cougars defense that ranked 28th in total defense, giving up 328.4 yards per game, and 32nd in rush defense, giving up 122.1 yards per game.
History at stake
A win for Georgia Tech would give the team its 10th 10-win season in school history and first since 2014.
For the Cougars, a win would mark their fourth season with 12 or more wins, their first since 2001. BYU has won at least 11 games in a row for the first time since 2020-21.
No opt-outs have been reported
Neither team has reportedly opted out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, a rarity during bowl season.
BYU will be without the Big 12’s leading rusher, LJ Martin, after undergoing shoulder surgery this week.
Quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke will then take over as Georgia Tech’s play-caller and offensive coordinator for the bowl game Buster Faulkner left to join the Florida staff.
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