In less than four full seasons, Brent Key has turned the Georgia Tech football program around. He guided the Yellow Jackets to a 9-3 record in 2025 and was recently rewarded with a contract extension that ties him to his alma mater through 2029.

As Key and Georgia Tech put the finishing touches on preparations for Saturday’s matchup with BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Key took a moment to share his thoughts on the often-maligned state of college football.

"I think the state of college football … college football is at the greatest place it’s ever been," Key told reporters Friday.

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Key cited the fan experience and the strong viewership the sport frequently draws.

"The fan experience, the viewership … college football is at an all-time high," Key noted. "The amount of people watching games, watching playoff games, watching (ESPN’s) ‘College GameDay,’ it’s just overall college football is a way of life, and I think college football, the interest in it is at an all-time high."

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While the current version of the college football calendar and the 12-team playoff format have been widely debated and critiqued, Key highlighted what he believes are the sport’s strong points.

The advent of name, image and likeness (NIL) rules and the increase in player mobility via the transfer portal have had massive effects on college football. While Key is well aware of the seismic shifts in the sport’s landscape, he also acknowledged the ebbs and flows college football has gone through roughly every couple of decades.

Key gave credence to the positive progress he has seen over the years.

"There was a time when it was voted on who the national champion was. So, times change. You look at college football. Every 15 to 20 years, there is a major overhaul in college football. We’re going through one of those times right now," Key said. 

"Massive changes don’t just happen overnight. At the end of the day, our job is to graduate players from college, get their degree and change their lives. We do that through the avenue of football."

The Pop-Tarts Bowl kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

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The Detroit Lions fan who was involved in the altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, Ryan Kennedy, held a press conference on Friday and said he did not use any racial slurs toward Metcalf. 

Kennedy said he did not use any racial slurs or hate speech on Sunday, and that he has never done so in his 15 years as a season ticket holder. 

"It is really hard to get me upset, but there’s two things — animal abuse, racism – like I get hot, right away. Like I can feel my face gets all warm, so I guess I want to be crystal clear about one thing: I didn’t use any racial slurs, no hate speech, none of that stuff at the game. Actually, never, a 15-year season-ticket holder for the Lions, I’ve never done that, at all." Kennedy said at his press conference. 

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Kennedy said that his family had received threats and asked for Metcalf to state that he did not use any racial slurs toward the Steelers star. Kennedy referred to Metcalf as DeKaylin, his real name, instead of his widely used nickname, DK, at the press conference. 

"DeKaylin, if you’re watching this man, just, if you could just say that, please. My family is getting threats and stuff, it’s not cool. So whether you said that or not, I’m sure you didn’t want that to happen to the family, even if you did, like I forgive you man. That’s all I got, go Lions," Kennedy said. 

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Metcalf has not publicly spoken about the altercation. He was suspended for two games by the NFL for throwing a punch at Kennedy. Multiple reports indicated that racial slurs were hurled at him, which sparked the indication.

Metcalf was shown by the CBS broadcast grabbing a fan by the shirt and taking a swing at him. 

Kennedy told the Detroit Free Press that he was heckling Metcalf by calling him by his full name.

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