Jackets still seeking foe for 12th game

Tech officials are still trying to schedule a 12th football game, but options are limited, according to Mark Rountree, deputy athletic director and football administrator for the Yellow Jackets.

The team was left with 11 games after the Sept. 16 matchup at Central Florida was canceled because of the effects of Hurricane Irma.

The 12th game could be scheduled for Dec. 2, which is when many conferences, including the ACC, will host their championship games.

Tech coach Paul Johnson said Wednesday he is in favor of trying to schedule the 12th game.

Rountree said Tech wants to schedule the game because it wants to give the players and coaches the maximum reward for their work in the spring and summer.

Rountree said Tech is considering only FBS opponents and the game could be at home or away. He said there is no deadline as to when an agreement would need to be reached, but if the game is at Bobby Dodd Stadium the school would like to give the operations staff at least two weeks notice to prepare. Rountree declined to say if any schools had reciprocated Tech’s interest.

A few FBS teams had games canceled because of hurricanes Irma or Harvey and have open dates Dec. 2, including Houston, Texas-San Antonio and Florida.

The Jackets have four wins, with three games remaining: Saturday’s home game against Virginia Tech, at Duke on Nov. 18 and vs. Georgia on Nov. 25.

The NCAA requires teams win six games to be eligible for bowl games. Waivers are granted for teams that have five wins.