The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have gotten off to a strong 3-0 start to the 2025 college football season. The team upset Clemson on Saturday and earned their first AP Poll ranking of the season at No. 18 following the victory.
Buzz is growing around the Yellow Jackets, and while head coach Brent Key is pushing for quarterback Haynes King to be in Heisman conversations, he’s not entirely buying into the hype. Key acknowledged a Nick Saban truth as attention around the program continues to build.
Brent Key Balances Haynes King Heisman Push with Realistic Outlook
Along with the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes and the No. 7 Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech is another ACC program establishing itself as a serious College Football Playoff contender three weeks into the 2025 season.
The Yellow Jackets opened the year with a win over Deion Sanders’ Colorado team, dominated Gardner-Webb in Week 2, and hit a walk-off field goal to upset Clemson on Saturday.
Georgia Tech was expected to be solid this season, but they’ve elevated well beyond that and now look like one of the best programs in the country. Much of that success has come from King, who has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Yellow Jackets so far.
In the win over Clemson, King completed 20 of 28 passes for 211 yards while adding 103 yards and a touchdown on the ground. After his performance against the Tigers, his name is starting to come up in Heisman conversations.
Haynes King powers his way in and Georgia Tech retakes the lead pic.twitter.com/6L4lJ9wTG7
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) September 13, 2025
Key certainly believes his quarterback deserves some Heisman hype. He recently explained that no player in the country elevates their team more than King does for Georgia Tech.
“This is kid that truly epitomizes what the Heisman Trophy is,” Key said. “Who in college football elevates their team the way Haynes King does Georgia Tech?”
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key on @SXMCollege this morning asked if Haynes King should be in the Heisman Trophy conversation: ““I do. This is kid that truly epitomizes what the Heisman Trophy is. Who is college football elevates their team the way Haynes King does Georgia Tech?”
— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) September 15, 2025
Key isn’t wrong about his quarterback, as King has carried Georgia Tech in the most crucial moments of every game. He’s been fantastic for the Yellow Jackets so far this year and is unquestionably the main factor in the team’s success.
While Key is buying into the hype around his quarterback, he’s putting the brakes on the hype around the program. Having worked under the legendary Saban at Alabama, Key recently used a Sabanism when discussing the growing spotlight on Georgia Tech after being ranked in the AP Poll.
Read More: Clemson Collapses to Georgia Tech as College Football Playoff Chances Plummet
“Coach (Nick) Saban used to tell us all the time, ‘More people die on the way down from Mt. Everest than on the way up.’ It’s true. You can’t relax,” Key said.
It’s the right attitude to have, as while Georgia Tech has gotten off to a fantastic start, there’s still a long season ahead. Key doesn’t want his players to get complacent after the win over Clemson and instead wants them to keep their foot on the gas as the season continues.
Fans will see if Key’s message about managing the growing hype pays off, and whether King can continue his Heisman push this weekend when the Yellow Jackets host Temple on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
