ATLANTA (AP) — A bye week gave No. 13 Georgia Tech time to place perspective on its first 5-0 start since 2014 as the Yellow Jackets prepare to play Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Coach Brent Key says the message to his players is to protect their status as one of only two unbeaten teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. No. 2 Miami also is 5-0.
“It’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s an exciting time and I want the guys to be excited but also to understand that this part of the season is to protect what we’ve already done,” Key said Tuesday. “We put a lot into that and you have to protect that. It’s not easy and it doesn’t just come with having talent and it doesn’t just come with believing you’re going to win.”
Georgia Tech (5-0, 2-0 ACC) rallied for a 30-29 overtime win at Wake Forest on Sept. 27. The Yellow Jackets rallied after trailing by 17 in the third quarter.
Virginia Tech (2-4, 1-1) has won two of three games under interim coach Philip Montgomery after an 0-3 start led to the firing of fourth-year coach Brent Pry.
In a similar situation in 2022, Key was named Georgia Tech's interim coach after a 1-3 start cost Geoff Collins his job. Key led the Yellow Jackets to a 4-4 finish and was named the permanent coach.
“What happened three years ago has no bearing on this game, but I understand it happened here three years ago and we were able to rally the team together and they played with a chip on their shoulder,” Key said. “That’s what we expect this Saturday.”
Virginia Tech will be making its second visit to Atlanta this season after opening with a 24-11 loss to then-No. 13 South Carolina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 31.
Georgia Tech has been powered by the dual-threat talents of quarterback Haynes King, who has rushed for seven touchdowns and passed for three scores. King accounted for three touchdowns, two rushing and one passing, against Wake Forest. It was his school-record 13th game of running and passing for scores.
Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said King has taken advantage of opportunities as defenses continue to focus on running back Jamal Haynes, forcing the quarterback to run. Haynes had 10 carries for only 21 yards against Wake Forest.
Faulkner said he expects Haynes to be recharged following the bye week.
“Jamal is a guy that we have to get going for us to be explosive and we know that,” Faulkner said, adding the bye week "comes at a great time. I think he was a little ... banged up last week going into the game. Just not banged up, tired. He’s had a lot of carries ... and we know that he’s better when he’s fresh.”
Haynes has 311 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Georgia Tech does not play a game against a team currently ranked in the AP Top 25 before facing Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Nov. 28. The Yellow Jackets have an open path to a spot in the College Football Playoff, but Key cautioned his players they must take advantage of their opportunity.
“I talked to the team after practice and told them probably the most common thing in all of college and professional sports are super talented teams that don’t have any trophies and great players that don’t have any rings,” Key said.
“It takes a lot more than talent and expectation to really go out and gather rings and trophies.”
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Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 7, 2025--
Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., the leading global Japanese hotel operator, is pleased to announce that The Okura Resort Hakone Gora, the first Okura Resort property in Japan, will open in 2029. The result of a collaboration with Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd., the new property will be located in the renowned hot spring destination of Hakone. An operational management agreement was signed on July 11, 2025, under the terms of which Nishimatsu Construction will develop and own the property, with Hotel Okura managing the hotel under The Okura Resort brand.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251202470677/en/
With its rich natural environment and beautiful seasonal landscapes, Hakone, one of Japan's leading hot spring regions, attracts almost 20 million visitors from within Japan and from overseas every year. A significant number of them stay overnight to enjoy the area’s hot springs, museums and natural surroundings.
The new hotel will be situated in the resort of Gora, an area blessed with abundant hot springs. It will offer stunning views of the Hakone mountains, including the iconic Myojogatake. Guests can experience unique local attractions, including the area's famous summer festival, while enjoying the majestic natural surroundings throughout the seasons.
Commented Toshihiro Ogita, President, Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., "We are delighted to be bringing our new brand, The Okura Resort, to Hakone, one of Japan's leading hot spring destinations. Known for its rich history, natural beauty, and cultural charm, Hakone has long been a favorite of both Japanese tourists and visitors from overseas. We look forward to offering a unique experience rooted in our philosophy of ' omotenashi ' (hospitality) in this special location."
The Okura Resort: Expanding Tradition into a Serene Landscape
The new Okura Resort brand embodies Hotel Okura's long-standing dedication to Japanese aesthetics and traditional hospitality rooted in the spirit of wa (harmony). It offers supreme relaxation in refined spaces, customized high-quality services, and exquisite cuisine featuring regional ingredients, all while co-existing in harmony with the local area and nature.
Design Embraced by Nature
The entire hotel design is being crafted by award-winning designer Gwenael Nicolas of Curiosity, a design studio based in Tokyo. Under the concept of a 'Forest Hideaway,' the property will blend into the lush natural environment of Gora, offering sophisticated spaces featuring warm green and beige colors. Expansive windows throughout the property will bring Hakone's mountains into view, providing a tranquil, immersive stay.
Luxurious Accommodations and Facilities
Comprising a West and East Wing, the hotel will feature 58 rooms, each equipped with a private open-air bath drawing on the renowned Owakudani Hot Spring waters. With a generous average room size of 63 square meters, including balconies, guests will enjoy spacious comfort. The spacious bathing area will offer an indoor hot spring bath along with dry and mist saunas. Dining options will include a fine dining restaurant with a teppanyaki counter, and a bar lounge in the lobby, all designed to offer a high-quality retreat in harmony with Gora's natural beauty.
Overview of The Okura Resort Hakone Gora
About Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.
Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., founded in 1958, opened its flagship Hotel Okura Tokyo in 1962 as a first-class hotel that quickly became renowned worldwide for its blending of traditional Japanese beauty with the very best in accommodation, cuisine and service. It closed its doors in August 2015, and after four years of rebuilding work reopened as The Okura Tokyo in September 2019. Hotel Okura has extensive expertise in the hospitality world, including asset ownership and hotel development, as well as hotel management, the restaurant business and chain operations through its subsidiaries and other group companies. The brand unites member hotels under its “Best Accommodation, Cuisine and Service” philosophy to ensure that all guests enjoy Okura’s signature hospitality, which combines Japanese attention to detail and Western functionality. Please visit www.okura.com.
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura, operates 79 properties (53 in Japan and 26 overseas) encompassing some 23,605 guest rooms (as of December 1, 2025) under three hotel groups: Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City. Please visit www.okura-nikko.com.
Rendition of The Okura Resort Hakone Gora Lobby
