Tennessee 45-24 Georgia Tech (Sep 12, 2026) Final Score

Team pages: Tennessee · Georgia Tech

No. 18 Tennessee2-045

Georgia Tech0-224Final

Sat, Sep 12 · Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, Ga. · Crowd 52,113

No. 18 Tennessee beat Georgia Tech 45-24.

We had Tennessee favored. It won.

Next: Tennessee beat Kennesaw State 42-9, Sat Sep 19

Next: Georgia Tech beat Mercer 44-11, Sat Sep 19

Top comment in the game thread

They have called 2 unsportsmanlike penalties with no video or explanation.

Q4 4:43 · r/CFB game thread · Sat, Sep 12

How it swung

The turning point: Mendoza intercepted by Lane at the Georgia Tech 41 and returned for a TD (Q2, 11:24). Tennessee went from 62% to 86% to win.

Before kickoff, our ratings gave Tennessee a 67% chance, and the closing betting line (Tennessee was a 12.5-point favorite) put it at 84%.

Favored the whole way: Tennessee never fell below 62%.

Georgia Tech never had better than a 38% chance.

Blocked punt TD

Georgia Tech · Q1 5:49Pick-six

Tennessee · Q2 11:24

FinalTennessee 45-24 Georgia TechTennessee wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.

The two plays that swung it

1Q1 5:49Special teamsSessions 3-yd TD return of a blocked punt, Georgia Tech goes ahead 10-7Tennessee 84% → 69% (−15)
2Q2 11:24InterceptionMendoza intercepted by Lane at the Georgia Tech 41 and returned for a TDTennessee 62% → 86% (+24)

The two plays that swung it

1Q1 5:49Special teamsSessions 3-yd TD return of a blocked punt, Georgia Tech goes ahead 10-7Georgia Tech 16% → 31% (+15)
2Q2 11:24InterceptionMendoza intercepted by Lane at the Georgia Tech 41 and returned for a TDGeorgia Tech 38% → 14% (−24)

What fans said, play by play

The line in bold above each quote is written by our model from the thread’s comments and the play-by-play.

Q1 12:45Brandon throws touchdown pass to Davis as fans chant obscenitiesFaizon to Davis this year is gonna be sooo goodr/CFB game thread
Q4 13:30Fans rip Key's decision to go for it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goalis Key high? why would ever run thatr/CFB game thread"Let's wait until fourth down to REALLY try"r/CFB game thread
Q4 4:43Fans criticize Heupel after two unsportsmanlike penalties with no replay shownQuoted at the top of the page.Unsportsmanlike for what exactly?r/CFB game thread

Tennessee’s chance to win after every play.

How to read this chart

Starts from the pregame line (Tennessee -12.5), at 77% for Tennessee (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores. Outlined diamonds mark rare plays. Under the scores, r/CFB comments per minute from fans with a Georgia Tech or Tennessee flair (816 and 1,106); both sides share one scale, regulation only.

Watch the plays

The bar and the arrow show Tennessee’s chance to win after each play; the logo is the team the play helped.

Every drive

Tennessee scored on 7 of its 11 drives; Georgia Tech on 3 of its 11.

Tennessee’s drives are teal, Georgia Tech’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.

From Georgia Tech’s side

Georgia Tech’s best moment: Sessions 3-yd TD return of a blocked punt, Georgia Tech goes ahead 10-7 (Q1 5:49). It lifted Georgia Tech’s win chance by 15 points.

How Georgia Tech fans took it: “Last year was our only shot, what a shame” r/CFB game thread

“Well at least Georgia tech has had a touchdown scored while their offense was on the field”

A Tennessee fan

How fans reacted

Quiet

The first quarter is when fans got loud.

Jump to the loudest stretch

The jump was quiet; the crowd was steady.

Two crowds, one game

The words each side’s fans used far more than the other side, from the game thread.

Tennessee fans

heupel“I suspect the GT nerds are hacking into Faizon's helmet and using an AI Heupel voice to mess with him”

Georgia Tech fans

mendoza“Sigh. It is going to be a learning curve. Im not mad at Mendoza but man.”

least“I said it last year, live review coverage should be the standard, it should’ve been a week ago at least”

Both sets of fans kept coming back to: run, don, ball, back.

What it cost

Tennessee’s chance to make the playoff rose from 29% to 31%.

Make the playoff

Tennessee · won29% → ▲31%

Georgia Tech · lost0% → 0%

Win the conference

Tennessee · won3% → ▲4%

Georgia Tech · lost0% → 0%

Before the game (September 11, 2026) → after this result, in our model.

Box score

Tennessee 45, Georgia Tech 24

Tennessee covered −12.5 by 8.5. The total, 69, went over 55.5.

Team totals	Tennessee	Georgia Tech
Total yards	447	356
Passing	10 of 21, 148 yds	26 of 40, 221 yds
Rushing	45 for 299 yds	31 for 135 yds
First downs	24	25
Third down	8 of 14	7 of 13
Fourth down	1 of 1	0 of 2
Turnovers	0	2
Penalties	14 for 142 yds	5 for 46 yds
Time of possession	28:48	31:12

Tennessee leaders

Passing Faizon Brandon 10 of 21, 148 yds, 2 TD
Rushing DeSean Bishop 20 for 147 yds, 2 TD; Daune Morris 10 for 98 yds, 1 TD
Receiving Radarious Jackson 3 for 64 yds; Ethan Davis 2 for 26 yds, 1 TD

Georgia Tech leaders

Passing Alberto Mendoza 26 of 40, 221 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Justice Haynes 14 for 81 yds, 1 TD; Malachi Hosley 6 for 40 yds
Receiving Kevin Roche Jr. 6 for 66 yds; Dalen Penson 6 for 58 yds

No rain and calm

84° at kickoff · no rain recorded · wind 3 mph from the south, gusts to 9

September game-day temperatures at Bobby Dodd Stadium

Drag along the chart, or step through the game.

Second quarter, 11:24 left8:11 p.m.

Tennessee 17, Georgia Tech 10 · Georgia Tech 14% to win

no rain · wind 3 mph from the south-southeast · 80°

Mendoza intercepted by Lane at the Georgia Tech 41 and returned for a TD

Measured at Atlanta/fulton Co. airport, 7.3 miles away, and Atlanta/dekalb airport, 8.8 miles away. Rain is NOAA's radar-and-gauge estimate at the stadium and wind is an airport reading; neither is measured on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet; rain radar from NOAA MRMS, through Iowa State University. Field direction from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Before kickoff

Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.

Recent games

Last three games · 2025 season

Tennessee · 8-5

Rated 30th in our preseason ratings, 32nd now.

1-2 in its last three, one over ranked or top-40 competition.

L 28-30 @ IllinoisTop 25 #44 of 667

lost by 2 as a 3-point favorite

L 24-45 vs VanderbiltTop 25 #10 of 667

lost by 21 as a 2.5-point favorite

W 31-11 @ FloridaTop 25 #45 of 667

won by 20 as a 3.5-point favorite

W 42-9 vs New Mexico State #190 of 667

won by 33 as a 41.5-point favorite

L 27-33 vs OklahomaTop 25 #16 of 667

lost by 6 as a 2.5-point favorite

W 56-34 @ Kentucky #55 of 667

won by 22 as a 7.5-point favorite

L 20-37 @ AlabamaTop 25 #4 of 667

lost by 17 as an 8.5-point underdog

W 34-31 vs Arkansas #25 of 667

won by 3 as a 10.5-point favorite

W 41-34 @ Mississippi State #35 of 667

won by 7 as a 7.5-point favorite

W 56-24 vs UAB #126 of 667

won by 32 as a 38.5-point favorite

L 41-44 vs GeorgiaTop 25 #5 of 667

lost by 3 as a 3.5-point underdog

W 72-17 vs East Tennessee State #142 of 667

won by 55 as a 40.5-point favorite

W 45-26 vs Syracuse #52 of 667

won by 19 as a 13.5-point favorite

Last three games · 2025 season

Georgia Tech · 9-4

Rated 74th in our preseason ratings, 78th now.

Three straight losses.

L 21-25 @ BYUTop 25 #27 of 667

lost by 4 as a 3.5-point underdog

L 9-16 vs GeorgiaTop 25 #9 of 667

lost by 7 as a 15.5-point underdog

L 28-42 vs PittsburghTop 25 #36 of 667

lost by 14 as a 2.5-point favorite

W 36-34 @ Boston College #121 of 667

won by 2 as a 16.5-point favorite

L 36-48 @ NC State #45 of 667

lost by 12 as a 4.5-point favorite

W 41-16 vs Syracuse #79 of 667

won by 25 as a 17.5-point favorite

W 27-18 @ Duke #52 of 667

won by 9 as a 3.5-point underdog

W 35-20 vs Virginia Tech #81 of 667

won by 15 as a 14.5-point favorite

W 30-29 @ Wake Forest #81 of 667

won by 1 as an 11.5-point favorite

W 45-24 vs Temple #119 of 667

won by 21 as a 24.5-point favorite

W 24-21 vs ClemsonTop 25 #19 of 667

won by 3 as a 2.5-point underdog

W 59-12 vs Gardner-Webb #165 of 667

won by 47 as a 37.5-point favorite

W 27-20 @ Colorado #35 of 667

won by 7 as a 3.5-point favorite

Week by week

Georgia Tech

Wk 1Lvs Colorado13-14

Tennessee

Wk 1Wvs Furman56-9

Matchups

Biggest mismatch: Tennessee’s rushing EPA against Georgia Tech, 66 points

Each row ranks the two sides among all teams. The longer the line, the bigger the mismatch.

Tennessee’s rushing EPA against Georgia Tech’s defense
Tennessee offense, 95th percentile · Georgia Tech defense, 29th
Tennessee’s EPA/play against Georgia Tech’s defense
Tennessee offense, 63rd percentile · Georgia Tech defense, 16th
Georgia Tech’s explosive plays against Tennessee’s defense
Georgia Tech offense, 63rd percentile · Tennessee defense, 95th

Season profile, all the rows

Season profile

TennesseeGeorgia Tech

EPA/play, offense

EPA/play, defense

Success rate, offense

Success rate, defense

Explosive-play rate, offense

Explosive-play rate, defense

Rush EPA, offense

Rush EPA, defense

Pass EPA, offense

Pass EPA, defense

The series

Tennessee leads the series 25-17-2

44 meetings since 1902 · Tennessee has won the last 2

2017 · neutral siteTennessee 42-41
1987Tennessee 29-15
1986Georgia Tech 14-13
1985Tie 6-6
1984Tennessee 24-21

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

Tennessee fans are feeling it about like the typical fanbase this week (42nd among FBS fanbases), and the other side is no happier.

Tennessee favored by 12.5 · Total 55.5

How games like this usually go

Tennessee by 12.5, and it went to form

Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game

The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 385 games since 2025 with a favorite of 7.5 to 14.5 points.

The market

The spread moved 4 points toward Tennessee.

The total rose 0.5 points.

The books’ cut: 4.2%, the margin built into the odds

Weather at kickoff

Warm and dry. Feels like 84° at kickoff.

Tennessee at Georgia Tech · Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 · Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta

84°feels like at kickoff
Dryno rain at kickoff
89weather score, Mixed
2ndbest of the day's 7 kickoff times

At kickoff, Sept. 12, 2026.

Weather score: 0 to 100, higher is better, for the first 3 hours and 20 minutes of the game. Ideal is 100, Comfortable 90 to 99, Mixed 75 to 89, Rough 50 to 74, Harsh under 50.

Kickoff times that Saturday

Games in this time zone used 7 kickoff times that day, local time (kickoffs within 30 minutes of each other count as one). This game, ringed, was the second best of the day's seven kickoff times. At Bobby Dodd Stadium that day, a 7:30 pm kickoff would have scored 95, against 89 at 7 pm.

noon: 85, Mixed
1 pm: 76, Mixed
2 pm: 68, Rough
3:30 pm: 62, Rough
6 pm: 79, Mixed
7 pm: 89, Mixed (this game)
7:30 pm: 95, Comfortable

Weather score at each kickoff time.

Tap a dot to read that kickoff time.

At kickoff, Sept. 12, 2026. Wind is not drawn here; gusts are in each score.

Home field

Georgia Tech has had no measurable home edge since 2018 — −0.1 points (±4.1), home against road — 3rd percentile of FBS.

45% at home, 40% on the road against FBS opponents (20-24 home, 17-26 away).

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads -7.7 at home vs. away over 94 games — outside the ±6.1 noise, one of the few buildings where results say more.

Night kickoff — historically worth about half a point more to the home side against the number, and not much more than that. The visitors travel about 153 miles to get here.

How it swung

Watch the plays

Every drive

From Georgia Tech’s side

How fans reacted

Two crowds, one game

What it cost

Box score

Tennessee leaders

Georgia Tech leaders

No rain and calm

Jump to

Before kickoff

Recent games

Week by week

Georgia Tech

Tennessee

Matchups

Biggest mismatch: Tennessee’s rushing EPA against Georgia Tech, 66 points

Season profile

The series

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

Tennessee by 12.5, and it went to form

The market

Weather at kickoff

Kickoff times that Saturday

The story going in

Last meeting in our History pages

Where next

No. 18 Tennessee beats Georgia Tech 45-24

How it swung

Watch the plays

Every drive

From Georgia Tech’s side

How fans reacted

Two crowds, one game

What it cost

Box score

Tennessee leaders

Georgia Tech leaders

No rain and calm

Jump to

Before kickoff

Recent games

Week by week

Georgia Tech

Tennessee

Matchups

Biggest mismatch: Tennessee’s rushing EPA against Georgia Tech, 66 points

Season profile

The series

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

Tennessee by 12.5, and it went to form

The market

Weather at kickoff

Kickoff times that Saturday

The story going in

Last meeting in our History pages

Where next