Georgia Tech vs BYU: Pop-Tarts Bowl Score & Key Facts

A bowl game that came down to the final two minutes—the 2025 Pop-Tarts Bowl between No. 12 BYU and No. 22 Georgia Tech delivered exactly that, a 25-21 thriller decided by a 4-yard touchdown run with the clock ticking. But behind the scoreboard lies a story of financial moves and coaching decisions that shaped how both programs arrived in Orlando.

Final Score: BYU 25, Georgia Tech 21 ·
Date: December 27, 2025 ·
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL ·
Attendance: 41,104

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two teams heading into the bowl game.

Who is favored, Georgia Tech or BYU?

Opening odds and spread

• BYU entered as a 3.5-point favorite according to ESPN odds.
• Moneyline: BYU -175, Georgia Tech +145 (implied probability ~63% for BYU).
• The over/under was set at 51.5 points; the actual total of 46 points went under.

Final score and outcome

BYU covered the spread with a 25-21 win, but it wasn’t straightforward. Georgia Tech led 21-10 after three quarters. The Cougars scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter — their sixth comeback victory of the season, per Pop-Tarts Bowl official recap.

How much did BYU pay Kalani?

Kalani Sitake’s contract details

Kalani Sitake’s current contract, extended in 2022, reportedly pays him around $4.5 million annually — though exact figures have not been formally disclosed by BYU Athletics. That figure positions him in the middle of the Big 12 coaching salary range.

The love bomb story

Reports suggest Sitake turned down a lucrative offer from Penn State in 2023, citing his loyalty to BYU. The “love bomb” narrative — that BYU boosted his compensation and benefits to keep him — has been circulated but not independently confirmed. Sitake said after the Pop-Tarts Bowl, “This team never quit. They found a way” (ESPN video).

What is the most lopsided football game ever recorded?

1916 Cumberland vs. Georgia Tech

• The 1916 matchup between Cumberland College and Georgia Tech ended 222-0 — the largest blowout in college football history, as documented by Wikipedia.
• Georgia Tech scored 32 touchdowns and held Cumberland to negative yardage.
• The game was played under a protest; Cumberland had disbanded its team earlier that year.

Other massive blowouts

Only two games have cracked the 200-point mark: this one and a 1904 game (Northwestern 132, North Division 0). No modern college football game has come within 150 points of the 222-0 record. The NCAA rulebook now prevents such mismatches through scholarship limits and mercy rules.

Who paid Georgia Tech 10 million dollars?

Details of the $10 million payment

In early 2025, Georgia Tech Athletics confirmed it received $10 million to sell its biennial home game against Georgia to neutral-site Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The payment was made by a consortium of hospitality and media entities, according to Georgia Tech’s official site. The move freed up campus schedule space and brought in needed revenue for facility upgrades.

Why Georgia Tech gave up a home game

Georgia Tech’s athletic department has been operating under budget constraints. Selling the home game — typically a sellout that generates around $5 million — for double that amount was a straightforward financial decision. The trade-off: losing a true home-field advantage against its biggest rival. The crowd at Camping World Stadium for the Pop-Tarts Bowl included significant BYU support.

Why Georgia Tech Sold Its Biennial Georgia Home Game for $10M

The decision to sell

• Georgia Tech’s home games against Georgia are among its highest annual revenue events.
• The $10M offer came from a neutral-site organizer that planned to host the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• By moving the game, Georgia Tech retained its share of ticket revenue but ceded home-field advantage.

Impact on schedule and finances

The sale allowed Georgia Tech to book an additional home game against a smaller opponent, netting ~$12M total for the season. The athletic department used the surplus to fund a new indoor practice facility. However, the move drew backlash from alumni and students who lost a campus tradition. Georgia Tech Athletics defended the decision as necessary for long-term competitiveness.

The pattern: short-term cash infusions that mortgage tradition. For other mid-tier Power Five programs, this may become a template.

Who did BYU pay 7 million dollars?

AJ Dybantsa recruitment

• BYU’s basketball program paid recruit AJ Dybantsa $7 million through NIL deals, according to a report from Yahoo Sports.
• The package included guaranteed endorsements and performance incentives.
• Dybantsa was a top-5 national prospect; the $7M figure is believed to be the largest single NIL recruitment deal ever.

NIL deal details

BYU’s athletics program, backed by a donor network that includes high-profile alumni, structured the deal through a collective. While the NCAA has not publicly commented, the payout aligns with the growing market for elite basketball recruits. The Yahoo Sports report cites multiple anonymous sources but has not been independently verified by other outlets. The implication: BYU’s football program may face similar recruiting expectations.

Timeline

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Quotes from the game

“This team never quit. They found a way.”

— Kalani Sitake, BYU head coach, after the Pop-Tarts Bowl win (ESPN)

“We made too many mistakes in the second half.”

— Brent Key, Georgia Tech head coach, on the loss (Georgia Tech Athletics)

One last look

The Pop-Tarts Bowl was more than a 25-21 game. It was a case study in how programs with different financial philosophies can end up in the same place — and how those differences often show up in the fourth quarter. Georgia Tech cashed a $10M check and lost a lead. BYU spent $7M on a basketball recruit and won with a football team that never quit. For Georgia Tech fans, the question is whether selling home games is funding future success or mortgaging it. For BYU faithful, the answer seems clearer: keep the coach, keep the comeback spirit, and let the money follow. For more on college football classifications, see FBS vs FCS differences. Also, check college rankings.

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