Team: Georgia Tech

Nickname: Yellow Jackets

Conference: Atlantic Coast (Coastal)

Location: Atlanta

Coach: Paul Johnson (2nd season, 9-4 at GT; career: 54-33)

Last bowl: 2008 Chick-fil-A

Last season: 9-4, 5-3

The question entering last season was if the triple option can work at a BCS conference school. Johnson's Ramblin' Wreck answered that with an emphatic "yes," running for 3,552 yards. The offense is loaded with its top five rushers back, while eight of the top nine tacklers return.

The season is a success if ... Georgia Tech can beat Virginia Tech at home Oct. 17. Not only would it be a win over a likely top 10 team, it would vault the Yellow Jackets into division title contention. Georgia Tech has been to 12 straight bowls, but have not been in a BCS game.

The season is a failure if ... The rebuilt defensive line doesn't jell quickly. Three all-ACC players depart, leaving junior Derrick Morgan (seven sacks) as the only returning starter.

Impact Player: Junior Jonathan Dwyer, running back. The highly-touted "B-back" broke out in Johnson's offense, running for 1,395 yards and 12 TDs, averaging 7 yards per carry. He also was second on the team with eight catches for 209 yards.

Fun Fact: The flags on the front of the 1930 Model A that drives on the field before home games read "Give 'Em Hell Tech" and "To Hell With Georgia."