Brent Key sent clear CFP instructions on Boston College, Pitt, Georgia after crushing 48-36 loss to NC State

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football coach Brent Key’s squad suffered its first setback of the season on Saturday, losing 48-36 to the NC State Wolfpack in Raleigh. Suddenly, there’s anxiety surrounding Georgia Tech’s chances of making the College Football Playoff.

Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon isn’t pounding the panic button just yet. But Kenyon warned that a loss to the Boston College Eagles or Pitt Panthers cannot be forgiven by a rivalry week upset of the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“From a big-picture sense, Georgia Tech is still in decent position to make CFP noise. The team is 8-1 with Pitt (7-2) and rival Georgia (7-1) left on the docket,” Kenyon wrote.

“But that familiar phrase—margin for error—makes another appearance. Georgia Tech cannot afford to drop another ACC game, and upsetting UGA wouldn't necessarily be enough to atone for a pair of ACC losses on a CFP résumé.”

Brent Key could leave Georgia Tech if Yellow Jackets keep losing

The Yellow Jackets' tailing off would probably fuel more rumors that Key could consider jumping to a more willing spender in the SEC or Big Ten.

The Birmingham area native would be an intriguing fit for the Auburn Tigers, who may be on the verge of firing Hugh Freeze after a 10-3 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats sent them spiraling to 4-5 on the year and 1-5 in SEC play.

Auburn won’t be the only opening, either. The LSU Tigers and Florida Gators have available openings as we speak, and the Virginia Tech Hokies are one in-conference that could throw big money at a candidate.

Key is at his alma mater, but he could make a bigger impact in his home state or at one of the SEC’s bigger spenders in Baton Rouge or Gainesville.