A shot at the College Football Playoff is on the line for both No. 15 Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh ahead of a prime-time matchup Saturday night.

The Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1) will clinch a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game on Dec. 6 if they beat Pitt (7-3, 5-1), while a Panthers’ victory would keep them alive for the same goal heading into their regular-season finale against No. 14 Miami.

“This is a championship game in its own right,” Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said Tuesday. “That’s the way we’re viewing it, that’s the way we’re approaching it. It’s on everybody to get the job done.”

Regardless of the outcome, the ACC standings remain in flux. No. 19 Virginia, SMU, Miami and Duke are all in the mix for the title game, but Georgia Tech is the only team completely in control of its destiny.

Key said simply put, games this time of year are “different,” and he doesn’t “shy away from that.”

Georgia Tech trailed Boston College (1-10, 0-7) 28-17 late in its game last week, but rallied to escape with a 36-34 victory. Still, the scare against the conference cellar dweller coupled with a Nov. 1 loss at N.C. State has created an uneasy feeling around the Yellow Jackets, particularly with their struggling defense.

Georgia Tech leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense, but resides near the bottom of 136 teams in total defense.

“I got after them pretty good,” Key said of his defense. “But it’s telling them, ‘You’re good. Let’s fix it and go play that way.’”

Pitt is coming off a disappointing game in its own right, albeit one with no bearing on ACC positioning. The Panthers stepped out of conference play and fell flat in a 37-15 defeat against No. 9 Notre Dame, but still would reach the conference title game with wins in their final two games plus one loss by either Virginia or SMU.

“We just take it one game at a time,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “We treat everything the same. The word pressure is bad. Our guys know what they’ve got to do. They’ve got to go out and win one football game.”

Pitt is seeking its third trip to the ACC title game under Narduzzi and first since 2021, while Georgia Tech is aiming for its first appearance since 2014.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A competition at the Augusta fairgrounds offered more than trophies or scholarships Thursday afternoon.

The event could kick start careers for student competitors.

Thirteen schools from across the region competed in team and individual challenges that test every skill of a tradesman. Projects included welding, framing, electrical work and plumbing.

Judges evaluated competitors not just for the competition, but also looked at possible future employees.

Scott Clark, CEO of RWI Construction and parent of a competitor, said the event serves multiple purposes.

“It’s a great thing and it’s even better when we can hire them, and so that’s the ultimate goal is to get these kids educated in our industry and get them hired locally,” Clark said. “It gives them an opportunity for great employment great salary and compensation and it’s just a joy to see them when they come on board.”

Kenneth Price, a Lincoln County parent, said he enjoys watching his child’s progress in the trades.

“I’m enjoying watching everything he does and he comes home from school and tells us about his welding and everything and I just enjoy hearing it,” Price said.

Winners of the competition will advance to compete at the state level in Atlanta.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The state of Georgia is home to three geographic areas with black bear populations: the North Georgia Mountains, the Ocmulgee River drainage and the Okefenokee Swamp.

Adult black bears are typically around six feet long, about three feet tall at the shoulder and can weigh anywhere from 300 to 500 pounds. Despite their size, they are generally shy, solitary animals that avoid human interaction.

Sometimes nicknamed “garbage bears” because of their proclivity to rummage through trash, black bears in Georgia are considered relatively harmless. No fatal bear attacks have ever been reported in the Peach State’s history, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Encounters also rarely escalate as long as people give bears space, secure their food and garbage, and keep dogs leashed, officials said.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials reported that bears were once common all over Georgia, but there was a serious population decline in the 18th century due to habitat loss, unrestricted hunting and deterioration of their environment.

Since then, with the help of wildlife management, black bears have recovered to a population of about 5,100, according to DNR research from 2021.

Sightings remain uncommon for most Georgians, but they have begun increasing as populations slowly grow and habitats continue to overlap with expanding neighborhoods.

While unlikely, if you do spot one, give the bear space, appreciate their rich color and move away slowly.

“Seeing a black bear in its natural habitat is a thrill and a privilege, and not something to be feared,” said Adam Hammond, state bear biologist with the Georgia DNR, in a statement on the agency’s website.