Georgia Tech falls into Ryan McGee’s Bottom 10; Arkansas nearing list

ATLANTA — Georgia Tech’s unbeaten season came to an abrupt halt after a humbling loss that landed the Yellow Jackets squarely in ESPN’s weekly “Bottom 10” list, written by Ryan McGee.

Arkansas, mired in a 2-7 season with three games left, isn’t on the list but they are getting close to landing there.

Once a quiet success story in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Georgia Tech now finds itself grouped with college football’s most struggling teams.

McGee’s Bottom 10 column, a lighthearted but telling tradition, highlights programs that underachieved or stumbled badly during the week. For Week 10, Georgia Tech joined the ranks after being soundly beaten by NC State.

The loss erased an 8-0 start that had given fans hope of an ACC title chase and potential playoff talk.

According to McGee, Tech’s tumble came as a surprise — the Yellow Jackets were one of the few Power Five programs still unbeaten.

Yet their performance on Saturday fit perfectly with the column’s spirit of “Perfect season, perfectly wrecked.”

Georgia Tech’s defensive issues were glaring. The team allowed explosive plays and couldn’t get off the field on key downs.

Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key didn’t sugarcoat the outcome afterward.

“It is what it is. That’s on me. I take responsibility for it,” he said following the defeat.

The offense showed flashes, with quarterback Haynes King posting 408 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 103 rushing yards with two more scores.

But even those numbers couldn’t cover up the defensive collapse that allowed NC State to rack up 583 yards.

Arkansas inching toward the Bottom 10

While Georgia Tech’s fall was dramatic, the Arkansas Razorbacks are inching dangerously close to joining the group themselves. McGee’s column didn’t include them among the official ten this week, but the Razorbacks were listed as “receiving consideration.”

That designation reflects how far the program’s season has spiraled.

Arkansas’ recent 38-35 loss to Mississippi State — a game that featured 18 penalties for 193 yards — summed up their troubles.

Mistakes, lack of discipline, and inconsistency have put the Razorbacks in a hole despite flashes of competitiveness against SEC rivals.

McGee joked that Arkansas fans might want to look away before the Razorbacks make their Bottom 10 debut.

The humor masks a real concern for the team’s trajectory under interim leadership after the firing of Sam Pittman.

The Razorbacks were once considered one of the more promising turnaround stories in the SEC West.

Now, with each close loss, they move closer to being part of McGee’s infamous list.

Georgia Tech searching for answers

For Georgia Tech, the Week 10 loss was a wake-up call. The defense struggled mightily, the secondary allowed deep completions, and the line gave up multiple long scoring drives.

The defeat wasn’t just about the scoreboard — it exposed deeper issues that could haunt them down the stretch.

McGee’s write-up described the loss as the “ultimate banana peel moment,” marking a sudden stumble for a team that had avoided mistakes for eight weeks.

The narrative of being a surprise ACC contender has now shifted to one of recovery and resilience.

The Yellow Jackets still hold an 8-1 record, but their postseason goals have narrowed.

They must rebound quickly to maintain momentum and avoid being a permanent fixture in McGee’s Bottom 10 conversation.

Arkansas trying to avoid the slide

Meanwhile, Arkansas faces its own questions. The program is in transition and struggling to find footing.

Turnovers and penalties continue to define games, and the Razorbacks’ defense hasn’t consistently contained opposing quarterbacks.

McGee often uses humor to highlight real pain points.

When he wrote that Arkansas was “hovering near Bottom 10 airspace,” it reflected both the frustration of fans and the harsh reality of results.

The Razorbacks have winnable games left, but unless they clean up mistakes, McGee’s Week 11 edition could see their name officially make the list.

For now, Arkansas is on the edge — a few plays away from infamy.

McGee’s Bottom 10 remains a cultural marker

Ryan McGee’s Bottom 10 has long been one of ESPN’s most read weekly features. While written with humor, it often mirrors the sport’s volatility.

Georgia Tech’s sudden appearance reinforces how fragile success can be, and Arkansas’ proximity to the list shows how quickly perception can change in the SEC.

McGee uses nicknames, pop culture references, and tongue-in-cheek “rankings” to make light of college football’s chaos.

But behind the jokes are programs battling injuries, coaching turnover, and uneven play.

This week, both Georgia Tech and Arkansas represent different sides of that same struggle — one fallen from grace, the other teetering on the edge.

Key takeaways:

• Georgia Tech entered Ryan McGee’s ESPN Bottom 10 after its first loss of the season.

• Arkansas Razorbacks were listed as “receiving consideration,” nearing the Bottom 10 cutoff.

• Both programs must regroup to avoid deeper slides as the season winds down.