AL.com's Joseph Goodman was indulging a bit too much in the Georgia Tech hoopla following the Yellow Jackets' 24-21 upset victory over FSU from Dublin, Ireland, claiming that GA Tech is a better option for the Big Ten than the Noles or Clemson.
"Georgia Tech is a more attractive choice for the Big Ten than Florida State or even Clemson," Goodman prefaced before saying, "Tech is an elite academic institution with a long and proud history of college football success. In addition to those Big Ten qualifiers, Tech is right in the middle of the Deep South’s largest city.
"Georgia Tech has no love for the SEC. The league plays its championship game in Atlanta and there was a time when Tech’s games against Alabama and Auburn were every bit as fierce as Tech’s rivalry with Georgia. The superconference expansion game isn’t over. The Big Ten already gobbled up the best teams in the Pac-12. If the ACC dissolves, the Big Ten and Fox would love to expand into the South. Tech won’t be down forever."
FSU and Clemson still hold more value to Big Ten than Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech won't be down forever. Goodman is correct about that. But when the Yellow Jackets are "back up," they still won't come close to matching the cultural relevance of a Dabo Swinney-coached Clemson team or FSU.
Look at the quantity and pedigree of NFL players Tech is responsible for. Now compare it to the Noles and Tigers.
There's no comparison.
Sure, the right coach can change that trajectory, but Georgia Tech will always be behind Georgia in their own state and has to compete with the Atlanta Falcons in their own city. There will likely never be a Tech takeover, and the school's academic standards will always limit their talent pool.
The Yellow Jackets are a great story right now, but by season's end FSU and Clemson will hold much higher value to the Big Ten and any other Power 4 Conference that'd be looking to poach schools from the ACC if/when that conference falls apart.