The No. 10 Florida State football team had the opportunity to make a strong statement in their 2024 season opener in front of an international audience but came up short. The Seminoles, defending champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, lost to Georgia Tech 24-21 in a Week 0 matchup during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. The game concluded on a dramatic note with Aidan Birr kicking a 44-yard field goal as time expired.
FSU fans were eager to see if their team had moved past last season’s disappointment of being the first undefeated major Power-5 conference team to miss out on the College Football Playoff since the playoff’s inception in 2014. Florida State, coming off a 13-1 season, faced a Georgia Tech team that finished 7-6. The Seminoles had won 12 consecutive conference games, the third-longest active streak in the nation. Under first-year head coach Brent Key, the Yellow Jackets had shown significant improvement by winning four of their last six games last season, culminating in their first bowl victory since 2016 with a win over UCF.
The game featured a solid performance from Georgia Tech, who demonstrated a physical style of play. The Yellow Jackets rushed for 190 yards and scored three short TD runs, outgaining FSU 336 to 291. FSU’s transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei had a decent outing, completing 19 of 27 passes for 193 yards, but the defense struggled, allowing Georgia Tech to score touchdowns on all three of their red zone visits.
As the game progressed, it reached a pivotal moment with Georgia Tech taking a lead early in the fourth quarter. Jamal Haynes scored a 2-yard touchdown, extending the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 21-14. But FSU rallied, with Uiagalelei connecting on two critical fourth-down passes that allowed Roydell Williams to tie the game at 21-21 with a 1-yard touchdown run.
With just two minutes left, Georgia Tech orchestrated a drive into FSU territory, setting up Birr’s game-winning kick, marking a stunning victory for the Yellow Jackets. The first half showcased strong offense from both teams, ending with a tied score of 14-14 at halftime thanks to impressive kicks from FSU’s Ryan Fitzgerald.
Florida State’s anticipated season opener ultimately left fans with disappointment as the team fell short in this thrilling contest in Dublin.