Well, After All, Georgia Tech Is Unbeaten : Citrus Bowl: No. 2 Yellow Jackets are the only team with that distinction. They wonder why they aren’t No. 1.

Georgia Tech has greeted its rise to national prominence with both daze and bewilderment.

That state comes from turning around a program with records of 2-9, 3-8, 7-4 and 10-0-1, all since Bobby Ross became coach.

The Yellow Jackets are ranked second nationally and would probably finish first if (a) they beat Nebraska today in the Citrus Bowl and (b) Notre Dame defeats Colorado tonight in the Orange Bowl.

The bewilderment comes from what the team says is a baffling oversight. Shouldn’t Georgia Tech, the only unbeaten team in the country, be ranked No. 1?

Maybe. But an even more curious twist is that Georgia Tech is a two-point underdog to No. 19 Nebraska.

“I don’t know how we’re the favorite; I’m rather dumbfounded,” Cornhusker Coach Tom Osborne said. “I think it is unrealistic, especially when we’ve lost our No. 1 quarterback.”

Ross has tried to play down the national championship implications and has enjoyed the underdog role.

“I’ll let you know if we should be No. 1 after the game,” Ross said. “ . . . I’m constantly reminded that should we win, we’d at least be in the hunt for the national championship. I certainly don’t need anyone to remind me of that.”

As an added reminder, Georgia Tech has changed its postgame travel plans. Originally, the team was to fly back to Atlanta tonight, but it has since decided to stay in Orlando another night. Must be an interesting television show the players want to watch.

“All I know,” Ross said, “is we’re ranked second, which means we’re ahead of 103 other Division I schools. . . . I’m not dissatisfied with where we are right now.”

Conversely, Nebraska players seem dissatisfied with their position. It’s a point that irritates Osborne, who said: “Here was a 9-2 season, and there’s not much excitement for what we’ve accomplished.”

But it still doesn’t change the general malaise.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the mood of the team and the fans as low as it was after the season,” Cornhusker linebacker Pat Tyrance said. “We set a lot of goals for our team and had a lot of high expectations, and then the last game was such a big disappointment (losing to Oklahoma, 45-10).”

Reggie Cooper, an all-Big Eight safety, expressed tempered optimism, saying: “I still feel we have the best defense in the nation. I can’t really put my finger on what happened the last couple of games, but I think we can get back to that level.”

Normally, a 9-2 season is not cause for distress, but when all 18 of Osborne’s teams have won at least nine games, perhaps the Cornhuskers look at things differently. This is Nebraska’s 22nd consecutive bowl game, making the postseason no big deal.

The Cornhuskers’ game plan is hardly a secret. They rank second in the nation to Northern Illinois in rushing. Nebraska, which led the previous two years, is averaging 340 yards.

With Nebraska being an option team, the loss of starting quarterback Mickey Joseph isn’t as critical as it could be. Joseph, who was averaging fewer than eight passes a game, suffered a bad cut on his leg when he slid into a metal bench during the Oklahoma game.

Mike Grant, who opened the season as the starter before being injured, will be the Nebraska quarterback.

Georgia Tech counters with a more wide-open offense. Quarterback Shawn Jones set a school single-season record with 2,285 yards of total offense. The Yellow Jackets hope to score quickly because Nebraska’s more deliberate offense struggles when it has to play catch-up.

“It means everything in the world,” said Joe Siffri, an all-Atlantic Coast Conference guard. “I can’t think of anything I wouldn’t do to win this game. If we win, it’s going to be hard for anyone to deny us the national championship.”

Georgia Tech tackle Darryl Jenkins agrees: “We’ve been fighting for respect all year. This is a game where we can get some respect. . . . Well, I’d rather be the underdog, so we can shock the world if we win.”

The world may not be that interested. However, Colorado, Texas, Miami and the people who decide the national championship are.