The 2024 college football season kicks off with a bang on Saturday, with No. 10 Florida State facing Georgia Tech in the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland. The conference showdown kicks off an unprecedented year for ACC football after the league expanded to 17 full-time member teams over the summer with the addition of UC, Stanford and SMU.
In a year of change, it is fitting that the reigning ACC champions will once again seek to win the conference crown in a most unique setting: The Irish have hosted matches at Aviva Stadium, home of the Irish national team for both rugby and soccer for the past two seasons, with future dates scheduled for 2025 and 2027. It will be a one-of-a-kind experience for players, coaches and fans, but it has come at some cost in terms of advancing fall camp schedules to accommodate the travel.
While the international college football extravaganza will be a spectacular spectacle, the matchup centers on two teams hoping to build on last season’s success. Florida State is looking to repeat as a champion after last year’s loss and clinch a College Football Playoff berth, while Georgia Tech returns many players from a team that finished tied for fourth in the ACC standings and made its first bowl game since 2018. A win on Saturday would put both of their goals within reach, adding some midseason urgency to this early-season showdown.
Watch live updates from the 2024 season opener between No. 10 Florida State and Georgia Tech in Ireland.
How to watch the Florida State vs Georgia Tech game live
Date: Saturday, August 24 | Time: 12pm ET
Location: Aviva Stadium – Dublin, Ireland
TV: ESPN | Live stream: fubo (try it free)
Florida State vs Georgia Tech: What you need to know
DJ Uiagalelei returns to ACC, makes Florida State debut: Florida State has a lot of new faces this year as coach Mike Norvell once again tapped the transfer portal to acquire players ready for the job. The new recruits include several Alabama players who were on last year’s SEC Championship team, so there are some familiar names, but none will be as noteworthy as quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei, who was the Seminoles’ biggest rival during his time at Clemson, recorded his highest passing percentages since becoming a full-time starter after playing one year at Oregon State, and has recorded his highest passing yards per game (219.8) and yards per attempt (8.4). The offense has a great foundation thanks to an experienced offensive line and a talented running back, but to be as dynamic as Florida State was last season, Uiagalelei will need to elevate the offense with his passing attack.
Georgia Tech looks to improve on defense: Brent Key’s breakout season with the Yellow Jackets was driven by an offense that led the ACC in rushing with 424.6 yards per game and 6.34 yards per play, ranking third in the conference (top 30 nationally). That group returns starting quarterback Haynes King, leading rusher Jamal Haynes, four of the five starters on the offensive line and three of the top four receivers. The Yellow Jackets’ biggest question mark heading into 2024 is on the defensive side, which underwent a leadership change after finishing last in the ACC in overall defense. Fixing that front will be the task for new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci, who arrived after a successful stint as defensive coordinator under Mike Elko at Duke. If Georgia Tech is going to pull off an upset overseas, the defense will have to make more than a couple of leaps in performance.
International trips produce closer games: Notre Dame’s 42-3 win over Naval College in last year’s Aer Lingus Classic broke the record for the most games decided by one point when college football is played in Ireland. The last three times early-season games have been held in Ireland, all ended in thrilling fashion, including Northwestern storming back from a double-digit second-half deficit to beat Nebraska 31-28 in 2022, Georgia Tech scoring two points in the fourth quarter to beat Boston College 17-14 and Penn State’s walk-off field goal victory over UCF in 2014 for its first win of the James Franklin era.
Florida State vs Georgia Tech predictions, picks
I think this is a matchup-based play where the strengths and weaknesses of both teams could ultimately create a stalemate. Georgia Tech’s new defensive coordinator, Tyler Santucci, is part of a Duke defense that did a good job limiting points the past two years, and I think he’ll have some schemes up his sleeve to make it hard for DJU. This will force Florida State to rely on their run game to respond, which I think is their strength and keeps the clock moving as opposed to a pass-heavy offense. Meanwhile, I think Georgia Tech’s offense will have their hands full with Florida State’s Pat Payton and Marvin Jones Jr., one of the best pass-rushing duos in the country. Their impact on the game will make it tough for Haynes King to get passes done in third-and-long situations. Prediction: Under 55.5
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