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ATLANTA — A lot of progress as been made since Butch Davis took over for John Bunting as North Carolina coach, but one thing hasn't changed.

The Tar Heels still can't win an ACC opener.

UNC lost its first conference game in each of Bunting's six seasons and the Tar Heels are now 0-3 under Davis after being dominated in a 24-7 loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

The last time UNC won its ACC opener? That was a 35-14 victory over Wake Forest in 2000 when Carl Torbush was coach.

Davis' first two losses in ACC openers were close, with UNC losing 20-17 to Virginia Tech last year after a 22-20 defeat to Virginia in 2007. But this one wasn't really ever in doubt, with Georgia Tech outplaying the No. 22-ranked Tar Heels more than the score indicated.

The Yellow Jackets had a 24-8 edge in first downs, running 80 plays to UNC's 44 while controlling the ball for 42 of the 60 minutes. The Tar Heels, held to 17 net yards rushing, didn't get a first down until midway in the second quarter and Georgia Tech was 17-0 in the fourth quarter before UNC got its fifth.

"The coaches stressed how important it was to get off to a good start in the ACC," defensive Marvin Austin said. "We didn't get the job done. We just couldn't stop them and get them off the field."

"I won't be here next season, but hopefully we'll learn from this," senior offensive tackle Kyle Jolly said. "When you lose that first game, it puts you in a hole you have to try to get out of all year."

A 33-17 loss at Miami knocked Georgia Tech (3-1) out of the Top 25. This defeat will likely do the same for UNC, which should be able to bounce back with winless Virginia coming to Chapel Hill next Saturday.

UNC gave up 326 yards on the ground to Yellow Jackets at home last year, but was able to win 28-7 thanks to three turnovers and two big fourth-down stops.

This time Georgia Tech didn't turn the ball over once and was 11-for-20 converting on third or fourth down while totally 400 net yards. UNC, meanwhile, was 2-for-13 in those situations, and had three turnovers.

"It was a sound defeat. &ellipses; Time of possession was totally lopsided," Davis said. "The most tell thing when you play (Georgia Tech's) type of offense, you can't turn the ball over more. &ellipses; (And) third-down efficiency was totally disastrous."

Only the first of two missed short field goals by Scott Blair and running out of time at the end of the second quarter kept the Yellow Jackets from leading by much more than 10-0 at halftime. UNC was still in the game despite just three first downs and 52 total yards.

But Georgia Tech had the ball for 26 of the next 31 plays, putting the game away on the first of Josh Nesbitt's two fourth-quarter TD runs.

UNC had just 17 net yards on 18 rushes and T.J. Yates also faltered throwing the ball, completing 11 of 26 for 137 yards and tossing two interceptions.

Georgia Tech simplified its defense after giving up 454 yards in the loss to Miami, switching from a conventional 4-3-4 alignment from a 4-2-5. It worked.

"Our goal was to come out strong and put some points on the board to let our defense play with the lead," said Yates, who had a 40-yard TD pass to Erik Highsmith in the fourth quarter. "Instead, we did the opposite of that."

Davis called UNC's ground game "terrible" and he wasn't much kinder to Yates. "He never did (get in rhythm)," Davis said of his quarterback. "Early on balls were behind guys, they were short of guys. Then you start to press a little."

Georgia Tech, meanwhile, marched 88 yards the first time it had the ball, all on the ground. That was more yardage than any of UNC's first three opponents had gained.

The Citadel, Connecticut and East Carolina don't have a back like Jonathan Dwyer or a unique offense like Georgia Tech. Dwyer, who missed the second half against Miami with a stinger, finished with 158 yards on 19 carries, breaking off runs of 35 and 39 yards.

"Everyone stressed how ACC games are worth double, a win for us and a loss from them," UNC defensive end Robert Quinn said. "We needed to win this game, but we didn't do it. The offense has to help us some. But we can't put the blame on them. We have to do our job, too."

"Georgia Tech is a good team and Dwyer is a good back," Austin said. "They got the best of us."

North Carolina 0 0 0 7 — 7
Georgia Tech 7 3 0 14 — 24

GaT—Jones 13 run (Blair kick)
GaT—FG Blair 34
GaT—Nesbitt 1 run (Blair kick)
UNC—Highsmith 40 pass from Yates (Barth kick)
GaT—Nesbitt 10 run (Tanner kick)
A—50,114.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs — UNC 8, GaT 24
Rushes-yards — UNC 18-17, GaT 69-317
Passing — UNC 137, GaT 89
Comp-Att-Int — UNC 11-26-2, GaT 7-11-0
Return Yards — UNC 23, GaT 55
Punts-Avg. — UNC 5-47.2, GaT 3-46.7
Fumbles-Lost — UNC 1-1, GaT 2-0
Penalties-Yards — UNC 2-9, GaT 7-65
Time of Possession — UNC 17:54, GaT 42:06

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING
North Carolina — Draughn 7-26, Houston 6-24, Blue 1-(minus 1), Yates 2-(minus 5), Little 1-(minus 7), Team 1-(minus 20).
Georgia Tech — Dwyer 19-158, Nesbitt 32-97, Allen 5-27, Jones 4-20, Lyons 3-14, Wright 1-3, Cox 1-2, O.Smith 1-1, Team 3-(minus 5).

PASSING
North Carolina — Yates 11-26-2-137.
Georgia Tech — Nesbitt 7-11-0-89.

RECEIVING
North Carolina — Highsmith 6-107, Little 2-24, Boyd 2-5, Draughn 1-1.
Georgia Tech — D.Thomas 3-35, S.Hill 2-38, Allen 1-11, O.Smith 1-5.