Brent Key Uses Nick Saban’s Survival Message to Lift Locker Room as Georgia Tech Earns National Honor

Bobby Dodd Stadium shook like never before. Why? Because Georgia Tech fans stormed the field after a 24-21 thriller over Clemson. Place kicker Aidan Birr drilled a 55-yard kick, the kind that makes coaches sweat. But Brent Key never flinched. His five words said it all: “I believe in my players.” Now, three Top 25 upsets in the ACC belong to Key and his Jackets. Following that, a 3-0 start. A brand-new No. 18 spot in the AP Top 25. And now, with the buzz growing louder, Key leaned on a classic Nick Saban truth.

Look, Georgia Tech is no stranger to shaking giants. Yes, they opened 2025 by taking down Deion Sanders’ Buffs, rolled through Gardner-Webb, and then stunned Clemson with a walk-off kick. So, safe to say, another signature win for Brent Key. Given that, “This ain’t our first time doing this,” reminded Key. And he’s right. Last season, the Jackets rattled the polls twice: first by shocking FSU to start the year with a 24-21 win. And then by snapping Miami’s unbeaten run in November. Now, with Temple up next, Nick Saban’s playbook might be the key for Key.

The Georgia Tech head coach knows the spotlight is only getting brighter. So now, shaped by his time under Saban at Alabama, Key drew on one of the legend’s toughest lessons.”Coach Saban used to tell us all the time,” said Key. “‘More people die on the way down from Mt. Everest than on the way up.‘” Then he added, “It’s true. You can’t relax.” Honestly, it’s the perfect mindset. Surely, Georgia Tech is flying high, but the climb isn’t over. That’s why Brent Key isn’t letting his team get lost in the moment.

“You have to be prepared every single week,” he said. “There is no crescendo. There is no top.” Then he reminded everyone that the mission goes far beyond one Saturday. “Our goals weren’t to win game three,” mentioned Key. “They weren’t to win game four. Or even game eight or twelve.” The Jackets are chasing something bigger. “Our expectations internally are a lot bigger than that,” added Key. “As long as we keep our heads in the right place and stay focused, everything else will take care of itself.” But Georgia Tech wasn’t just supposed to be good; they were supposed to be steady.

Instead, they’ve blown past expectations and now look like one of the hottest programs in the nation. A huge reason? Haynes King. The senior QB has been sensational. Yeah, against Clemson, he went 20-of-28 for 211 yards through the air. On top of that, he piled on 103 yards and a score with his legs. Now, honestly, that kind of two-way dominance has pushed his name into early Heisman talks. And, interestingly, Brent Key is already leading the campaign.

“This is a kid that truly epitomizes what the Heisman Trophy is,” remarked Key. Then he doubled down, stating, “Who in college football elevates their team the way Haynes King does Georgia Tech?” Hard to argue. Because in every big moment, King has delivered. To top it off, he’s not just running the offense; he’s carrying the Jackets and driving their rise into the national spotlight. With that, the program is now racking up national honors.

Brent Key’s squad keeps piling up honors

Haynes King’s magic against Clemson didn’t just deliver a win; it delivered a wave of awards. The redshirt senior was voted Manning Award QB of the Week, edging out seven other stars. And why not? On Saturday in the 4th quarter, he was clutch. A 1-yard TD run gave Tech the lead. Then, with the game tied late, King carried the Jackets into field-goal range, accounting for 36 of 38 yards on the final drive. And top it off, two gritty third-down runs kept the possession alive, setting up Birr’s unforgettable 55-yard winner. But it wasn’t just King.

The defense had its own hero in Omar Daniels. Yes, the redshirt senior forced a first-quarter fumble that set up Tech’s opening field goal, then picked off a pass in the red zone to kill a Clemson scoring chance. Interestingly, it was the first time since 2017 that a Jacket forced a fumble and snagged an interception in the same game. Add in Birr, named ACC Specialist of the Week, and right guard Keylan Rutledge, the ACC OL of the Week, you’ve got a program collecting hardware on every side of the ball. But that’s not all.

King’s haul grew even bigger: Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week and double Manning Award honors. Moreover, Georgia Tech itself earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week nod. Now at 3-0 for the first time since 2016 and ranked No. 18, their highest AP mark since 2015, the Jackets ride into First Responders Day against Temple. Let’s see if Brent Key’s program can keep the winning streak alive.