A pair of golden arms will be in the spotlight Friday at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where No. 4 Georgia will try to extend its winning streak against No. 23 Georgia Tech.
Georgia starting quarterback Gunner Stockton and Georgia Tech counterpart Haynes King are two of the five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given annually to the nation’s top upperclassman at the position. The quarterback showdown in the nonconference rivalry known as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” will feature dual threats who have earned respect for their toughness as much as their arms.
Georgia — which is 10-1 overall this season and wrapped up its Southeastern Conference regular-season schedule earlier this month at 7-1 — will try to protect its No. 4 spot in the most recent rankings from the College Football Playoff committee while also earning its eighth consecutive win in the rivalry. The Bulldogs outlasted the Yellow Jackets 44-42 in eight overtimes last season in Athens.
Georgia Tech (9-2) will try to recover from last week’s 42-28 home loss to Pittsburgh, when the Jackets needed only a win to clinch a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. King threw two interceptions in the crushing loss after entering the game with only two all season to that point.
Despite the disappointment of last week’s loss, ending the long losing streak to Georgia would go a long way toward making the Jackets’ season.