By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Five factors that have keyed Georgia Tech’s impressive return to the postseason.

Georgia Tech’s turnaround from three wins in 2015 to eight wins, with a chance at nine, in 2016 is one of the most underappreciated stories of the year. For a team so often identified with its offensive scheme, and a commitment to the running the football, the Yellow Jackets’ rushing yards per game are only up just one yard from last season to this fall. Below are five factors that have keyed Georgia Tech’s impressive return to the postseason;

1. Close Game Success — Georgia Tech is 3-1 this year in games decided by three points or less. A season ago, the Yellow Jackets were 1-6 in one-score contests. The difference between winning and losing can be very slim and Georgia Tech has oftentimes found a way to win late in games this fall, see the Boston College and Georgia games, especially. Experience, with many underclassmen forced into the lineup last year, has now become a big difference-maker.

2. A Positive Turnover Margin — The Yellow Jackets have improved from 12th in the ACC to 5th in football’s most important category, jumping from minus-three in turnover margin to plus-seven in a span of one season. Dramatic improvement has been made in terms of ball security, as Georgia Tech has gone from losing possession 24 times to just 15 total turnovers entering game 13. Led by twins Lance and Lawrence Austin, the defense has already improved its interception total by two with one game to go.

3. More Home Runs — The triple-option offense can oftentimes produce waves of big plays, boosts which have, once again, become a consistent part of the Yellow Jacket attack. Georgia Tech leads the conference with the most plays of 40 yards or more, interestingly enough, recording as many passing plays of that measure as Clemson and Florida State combined. B-Back Clinton Lynch is averaging a staggering 11.2 yards per rush and 30.6 yards per reception.

4. Better Pass Efficiency — Georgia Tech completed just 42.2% of all pass attempts in 2015, a number which increased to 52.7% in 2016; that is the highest rate of the Paul Johnson era in Atlanta. A higher completion percentage has resulted in less empty plays and thus fewer long down-and-distance situations. Also for the first time under Johnson, the Yellow Jackets rank in the national top ten in team passer rating.

5. Special Teams Play — There has been better play here all of the way around. The Yellow Jackets have jumped up from 11th in the league in field goal percentage to first, from last in punting to third, did not allow a return for a touchdown and scored in the kicking game themselves. Kicker Harrison Butker, punter Ryan Rodwell and return man J.J. Green have proven to be a terrific special teams core.

Georgia Tech will play Kentucky in the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville on New Year’s Eve, with a remarkable chance to triple its win total from the year prior.