Georgia Tech Will Face Mississippi State in Orange Bowl

Dec. 7, 2014

GT Orange Bowl Central

THE FLATS – The 12th-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will face the 7th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs in the 2014 Capital One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The game is scheduled for Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Georgia Tech, ranked No. 9 in the Amway Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the AP Top 25, is playing in its 18th consecutive bowl game, which is tied for the second-longest active streak in FBS. It will be Tech’s seventh Orange Bowl appearance and first since 2010; the Jackets are 3-3 in their previous six trips Orange Bowl trips.

“Our football program is honored and excited to represent the ACC in the Capital One Orange Bowl,” Georgia Tech AD Mike Bobinski said. “To play in one of the `New Year’s Six’ bowl games that are part of the first College Football Playoff is a great accomplishment for our program.  I’m proud of our players, Coach Paul Johnson and our entire coaching and support staff for the effort they’ve each put forth to make this happen.”

The Capital One Orange Bowl will be the fifth series meeting between the schools and the first bowl game. Georgia Tech is 4-0 all-time vs. Mississippi State, including a 2-0 mark under head coach Paul Johnson.

“We are extremely excited for the chance to play in the Orange Bowl,” Johnson said. “Mississippi State is a great football team and we look forward to a great game.”

Georgia Tech (10-3) has posted just its ninth 10-win season in program history and the fourth in the ACC era, while making its fourth ACC Championship Game appearance.

Through 13 games, Tech is averaging 37.0 points and 468.8 yards of total offense, which both stand as the second-most in school history (40.7, 509.0 in 1999). Georgia Tech’s 333.6 rushing yards per game currently stand as the single-season school record.

Ticket prices for the 2014 Capital One Orange Bowl range from $99-$235. Fans can request tickets through the Georgia Tech Ticket Office online, in-person at the ticket office (M-F 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) or by phone at 1-888-TECH-TIX.

For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GeorgiaTechFB), Facebook (facebook.com/GTAthletics), and Instagram (@GTAthletics) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.

GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL NOTES

• Georgia Tech is 4-0 all-time vs. Mississippi State, including a 2-0 mark under head coach Paul Johnson. Tech won in Atlanta in 1908 (23-0), 1929 (27-13), and 2008 (38-7), while winning the 2009 meeting in Starkville (42-31).
• Georgia Tech is making its 18th consecutive bowl appearance – tied for the second-longest active streak in FBS (22 – Virginia Tech, 18 – Georgia).
• Georgia Tech will make its 43rd bowl appearance, tied for the 10th-most in FBS history – Alabama (61), Texas (53), Nebraska (51), Georgia (50), Tennessee (50), USC (49), Oklahoma (48), LSU (46), Ohio State (44), Michigan (43).
• Georgia Tech is 23-19 all-time in bowl games – tied for the ninth-most wins in FBS history.
• Georgia Tech will make its seventh Orange Bowl appearance. The Jackets are 3-3 in their previous six trips.
• Georgia Tech played in the ACC Championship Game for the fourth time and the third time in the last six years.
• Georgia Tech ranks in the top 10 nationally of 11 major statistical categories – 3rd down conversion percentage (1st – 57.0), blocked kicks (1st – 6), rushing offense (2nd – 333.6), passing yards per completion (2nd – 17.75), sacks allowed (2nd – 10), defensive TDs (2nd – 6), blocked punts (3rd – 2), time of possession (3rd – 34:06), interceptions thrown (7th – 5), first downs offense (7th – 324), and 4th down conversion percentage (9th – 70.6).
• Georgia Tech is 21-21-2 all-time in the state of Florida and 3-4 at Sun Life Stadium.
• Georgia Tech is 9-7 in bowl games played in the state of Florida – Orange (3-3), Gator (3-4), Carquest / Champs Sports (2-0), Florida Citrus (1-0).
• Georgia Tech is 2-4 all-time on New Year’s Eve.
• Paul Johnson was named ACC Coach of the Year for the third time (2008, 2009, 2014) in seven seasons on the Flats. He is the only coach in GT history to win the honor multiple times. He is the fifth coach in ACC history be named ACC Coach of the Year three or more times: Bill Murray, Duke (1954, 1960, 1962); Earle Edwards, NC State (1957, 1963, 1965, 1967); Jerry Claiborne, Maryland (1973, 1975, 1976); George Welsh, Virginia (1983, 1984, 1991, 1995).