College football coach argues sport has never been better despite criticism
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In less than four seasons, Brent Key has turned the Georgia Tech football program around. He led the Yellow Jackets to a 9-3 record in 2025 and was recently rewarded with a contract extension from his alma mater that ties him through 2029.
As Key and Georgia Tech put the finishing touches on their preparations to face BYU in Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl, Key took some time to share his thoughts on the often-maligned state of college football.
“I think the state of college football… college football is the best it’s ever been,” Key told the media on Friday.
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Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key celebrates following the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic game between Florida State and Georgia Tech at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Key talked about the fan experience and the strong audiences the sport often attracts.
“The fan experience, the viewership…college football is at an all-time high.” The key attracted attention. “The number of people watching the games, watching the Playoff games, watching (ESPN’s) College Game Day, I think college football in general is a way of life, and I think interest in college football is at an all-time high.”
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While the current version of the college football schedule and 12-team playoff format has been widely debated and criticized, Key highlighted what he believes are the sport’s strong points.
Detailed view of the University of Virginia helmet tag on the helmet of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The emergence of name, image and likeness (NIL) rules and increased player mobility through the transfer portal have had major impacts on college football. While Key was aware of the jarring changes in the landscape of the sport, he also acknowledged the ups and downs that college football goes through roughly every few decades.
Key ultimately credited the positive progress he’s seen over the years.
A view of the college football playoff national championship trophy on the sideline of the fourth quarter game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Pittsburgh Panthers at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field on November 22, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
“There was a time when there was a vote on who the national champion was. I mean, times change. You look at college football, every 15 to 20 years there’s a major overhaul in college football. We’re going through one of those times right now,” Key said. “Big changes don’t happen overnight. At the end of the day, our job is to get players out of college, get their degrees and change their lives. We do that through football.”
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The Pop-Tarts Bowl kicks off on Saturday at 3:30 PM ET at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
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