For the first time since 2018, Vanderbilt Football is back in the postseason, set to clash with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Birmingham Bowl. While this may not be the high-profile destination many Commodore fans dreamed of after a 5-2 start to the season, the matchup has the potential to deliver excitement.

Quarterback Diego Pavia, who estimated he is operating at nearly full health during a midweek press conference, will take the field under center after securing an extra year of eligibility. Vanderbilt will be without starting tackle Gunnar Hansen, who recently committed to Florida State, and will also miss several other backups and special teams contributors who have entered the transfer portal.

Both teams share similarities in offensive style, with run-heavy schemes anchored by dual-threat quarterbacks: Pavia for Vanderbilt and Haynes King for Georgia Tech. Controlling the trenches on both sides of the ball will be crucial for the Commodores in this game. 

To provide deeper insight into the Birmingham Bowl’s matchup, The Hustler went Behind Enemy Bylines with Rohan Raman, the Sports Editor of The Technique. 

Vanderbilt Hustler: Georgia Tech finished its regular season with a loss against its rival Georgia. How do you expect the team to rebound?

Rohan Raman: I think that they’re going to be ready for this game. I know that sounds like a pretty blanket statement, but I think they’re going to be ready because head coach [Brent] Key has really emphasized toughness and discipline throughout this entire season. I think it’s a reason why, when they lost to Syracuse, they went from that loss and carried that over to a pretty strong showing against the rest of their schedule. I’d be pretty surprised if the team came out unprepared, and I think they’re going to be looking to show that this is the team that went to eight overtimes in Georgia and was a few, shall we say, generous calls on the other side away from winning that game.

VH: Georgia Tech has had some success against top teams this year, beating Miami and taking Georgia to eight overtimes. What is it about the team’s identity that enables them to play these top teams tight?

RR: I think [what] allows them to play up to top teams is that this team is built through the trenches. They’ve done a really good job of filling in the gaps that existed in previous rosters, making the offensive and defensive line a lot better. With the arrival of a new defensive coordinator — and players that understand their roles a lot better and fit the scheme [better] — the run defense has risen up to a very high ranking nationally. That’s really helped the defense keep its foot down on the necks of opposing offenses, which has, of course, translated into the offense having more chances to get out there and do what it does. The rushing offense [has been] a little up and down, but when they can get going on the ground, they’re a hard team to beat. The fact they are that strong in the trenches helps them take some of these games where the roster talent doesn’t look as flashy and win [by] just playing fundamental football.

VH: How would you describe Haynes King and the season he’s had?

RR: King is incredibly tough, and I know that’s an adjective that gets thrown out a lot, but this dude is different. He came back in the Georgia game with, [an injured] throwing shoulder [that] he’s had problems with ever since the UNC game [in Week Seven]. He’s an incredibly tough runner with the football, [and] I think his dual-threat abilities set him apart. I know Pavia is good at that himself, but I think [Georgia Tech’s] got a good one, too. He [also] has a good arm and can get the ball where it needs to go. He reads defenses well, [and] he’s done a much better job [this season] of taking care of the football. 

Is he a perfect quarterback? No, I wouldn’t say that. But his abilities as a dual threat, and the fact that you have to genuinely respect both sides of his game, make him a pretty hard quarterback to game plan for. I’m really excited to see how the matchup between King and Pavia plays out. I don’t think any team is at a quarterback disadvantage necessarily. This is strength versus strength.

VH: What or who would you say is Georgia Tech’s X-factor in the Birmingham Bowl?

RR: My [offensive] X factor —and I’m not 100% sure if he’s available to play — is tight end Jackson Hawes. He’s just one of those players that understands football very well and always finds a way to get open. He runs good routes, and he also knows how to adjust those routes to find space within the zone and just sit down and make himself a target. [Also] watch out for wide receiver Malik Rutherford, who’s just fast. If you don’t have a cornerback who can keep up with him, it’s gonna be a long day.

VH: What would you say is Georgia Tech’s biggest weakness?

RR: I’ll give you a few concerns. On offense, I’m not a fan of the red zone play calling. I think you saw in the Georgia game, [the team’s] solution to get into the end zone was to run it up the middle and outmuscle Georgia’s defensive line. That didn’t work. The playcalling tends to go a little stagnant, and they’ve had to settle for field goals. I think [Vanderbilt] is a team they’re gonna have to respect on that end of the ball, and because of that, when they get in the red zone, they better have some good plans. On defense, I don’t think they’re going to get gashed in the run game, but I will say that there are occasions when the quarterback run can kind of deplete us. I’ll use the Notre Dame game as an example. They lost that game because they couldn’t stop Riley Leonard at the start of the first half, and that just put them in a hole. So that’s something concerning considering that Pavia isn’t a pocket passer. The other thing I’d be concerned about is the defense just not getting takeaways. I don’t think they have very many on the season, so you can’t rely on the defense to produce game-changing plays in that sense.

VH: What’s the mood on campus like both after the loss to Georgia and with the bowl game coming up?

RR: I’m not gonna lie to you, I’ve been at the school for four years and this is the best football team I’ve ever seen on campus. This is the most engagement I’ve ever seen from the students, student section and the fan base for Georgia Tech Football. We’ve been through a couple of tough years under our old head coach, but ever since Key came in things have been different. I know Georgia Tech’s sold three times over its allotment for the Birmingham Bowl. So, they’re really showing that they care about this team. I think this is just a different era of football [for Georgia Tech], and every student I know is super excited about it. So we are not done with this season, by any stretch of the imagination.

VH: What’s your final score prediction for the bowl game?

 RR: 27-24 Georgia Tech. This is going to be a close game, and it’s going to come down to who can make the most clutch plays at the end.

Vanderbilt will face off against Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl on Friday, Dec. 27 at 2:30 p.m. CST.