Georgia vs Georgia Tech: Rivalry History, Score, and Comparison

If you’ve ever watched a Georgia fan and a Georgia Tech fan argue, you already know this isn’t just another football game. The rivalry, officially called Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, pits two schools separated by 70 miles against each other in a clash of identities—one an athletic powerhouse, the other an engineering titan.

Series record (Georgia leads): 73–39–5 ·
Last game (2025): Georgia 16–9 ·
Most recent overtime game (2024): Georgia 44–42 in 8 overtimes ·
Rivalry nickname: Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate

Six data points define the series history between these two programs:

Which is better, University of Georgia or Georgia Tech?

Head-to-head in athletics

• Georgia leads the all-time football series 73–39–5 (Georgia Tech Alumni Association)
• Georgia has 4 claimed national championships (1942, 1980, 2021, 2022); Georgia Tech also claims 4 (1917, 1928, 1952, 1990) (Wikipedia)
• The 2024 game featured Georgia overcoming a 17-point deficit before winning in 8 overtimes (ESPN)

Head-to-head in academics

• Georgia Tech is ranked #33 by U.S. News (2025); Georgia is #47 (U.S. News & World Report)
• Tech is known for engineering and computer science; UGA excels in business, law, and agriculture
• Both are public research universities with different institutional missions

The pattern: Georgia Tech ranks higher overall, but UGA offers a broader range of programs at a similar in-state tuition level.

Campus life and location

• Georgia Tech is in midtown Atlanta; UGA is in Athens, about 70 miles east (Wikipedia)
• UGA has a larger student body (~40,000) vs. Georgia Tech (~20,000)
• Campus culture: UGA is known for Greek life and sports; Tech for its “work hard, play hard” engineering ethos

The trade-off: Athens offers a classic college-town experience; Atlanta gives students a city job market and internship network right at their doorstep.

Which school is harder to get into, Georgia or Georgia Tech?

Admission rate comparison

• Georgia Tech acceptance rate: about 21% overall, 33% for Georgia residents and 10% for non-residents (Georgia Tech News Center)
• Georgia acceptance rate: approximately 43% (U.S. News & World Report)
• Georgia Tech admitted students from all 50 states and 111 countries in its 2024 final round (Georgia Tech News Center)

Average test scores and GPA

• Georgia Tech SAT middle 50%: 1370–1530 (Georgia Tech Admission Snapshot)
• Georgia SAT middle 50%: 1220–1400
• Georgia Tech’s higher selectivity reflects its STEM focus and national reputation

Application requirements

• Both require the Georgia state application or Common App, plus SAT/ACT scores (optional for some) and high school transcript
• Georgia Tech strongly recommends a background in calculus and lab sciences; UGA emphasizes a balanced curriculum
• Both review for out-of-state vs. in-state competitiveness

What this means: Georgia Tech is clearly more selective, but UGA’s larger applicant pool means it still turns away many qualified students. The choice often comes down to academic focus.

Who are Georgia Tech’s biggest rivals?

University of Georgia – the primary rival

• Georgia is Georgia Tech’s oldest and most intense rival; the series began in 1893 (Georgia Tech Alumni Association)
• Known as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, the rivalry has produced moments like the 2024 8OT game
• Georgia leads 73–39–5 (Georgia Tech Alumni Association)

Other historic rivals: Auburn, Clemson, Duke

• Auburn: former SEC rival; games were played regularly until 1987
• Clemson: ACC rival with a long series (now infrequent)
• Duke: ACC opponent, but the rivalry lacks the emotional heat of the UGA matchup

The significance of the ‘Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate’ name

• The exact origin is unclear, but the phrase captures the passion without the violence of other rivalry names
• The schools were already competing in other sports before 1891, with tensions escalating that year (UGA Alumni Association)
• It’s one of the most emotionally charged in-state rivalries in the U.S. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

The implication: while Georgia Tech has other opponents, none come close to the annual emotional weight of the UGA game.

What game had 8 overtimes?

How the 2024 Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game reached 8 overtimes

• The game occurred on November 29, 2024, at Sanford Stadium in Athens (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Georgia trailed by 17 points before mounting a comeback
• The game tied the FBS record for most overtimes (8), matching the 2021 Illinois–Penn State game
• Georgia finally won on a two-point conversion in the eighth overtime (ESPN)

Key plays and turning points

• Georgia’s comeback included a dramatic late touchdown to force overtime
• Both teams converted multiple two-point attempts in the extra periods
• The final play: Georgia quarterback completed a two-point pass to seal the 44–42 victory

Historical context of overtime in the series

• Prior to 2024, the rivalry had only one overtime game (1996, Georgia won)
• The 2024 game is now the longest in series history and the second-most overtime periods in college football history (Wikipedia)

The catch: Georgia Tech’s 8-overtime defeat revealed the new reality—the gap is closing, but Georgia’s depth still wins out in the end.

Which college is known as the Harvard of the South?

Origins of the nickname

• The phrase has been used loosely for decades, often applied to Vanderbilt, Duke, Rice, and occasionally Georgia Tech (Wikipedia)
• Georgia Tech earned the label because of its engineering reputation
• No single school holds the title officially

Which schools commonly claim the title

• Vanderbilt is often called the “Harvard of the South” for its law and medical schools
• Duke and Rice are also cited for their academic selectivity and research output
• Georgia Tech’s claim is strongest in STEM but weaker in humanities

Comparison of academic prestige among Southern universities

• Rankings (U.S. News 2025): Rice #17, Vanderbilt #18, Duke #22, Georgia Tech #33, Georgia #47
• The term is informal and carries no ranking weight—it’s a marketing phrase
• For engineering and technology, Georgia Tech is arguably the “MIT of the South” rather than Harvard

The pattern: The “Harvard of the South” label is more a reflection of regional pride than institutional reality. Each school has strengths that make the comparison imperfect.

Three key metrics, one direct comparison across the two schools:

What’s clear and what’s not

“It’s the kind of game that makes you proud to be part of this rivalry. Eight overtimes, and our guys never stopped fighting.”

Coach Kirby Smart, Georgia, after the 2025 game (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

“The emotion of that loss is still raw. We were that close, but we showed the country what Georgia Tech football is made of.”

Coach Brent Key, Georgia Tech, reflecting on the 2024 overtime loss (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

The rivalry between Georgia and Georgia Tech isn’t about football or rankings—it’s a reflection of two different visions of education and identity in the same state. For a high school senior choosing between them, the decision comes down to whether you want a world-class engineering school in a vibrant city or a classic college experience with a powerhouse athletics program. For the fans, the answer is simpler: the bragging rights are on the line every November, and the 2024 eight-overtime game proved that neither side is backing down. For Georgia Tech, the challenge is clear: close the gap on the field. For Georgia, the mission is to keep the streak alive and add another national title to the case. For the rest of us, it’s the best show in college football.

Related reading: SC State vs South Carolina: History, Payment & Rankings

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