Five keys to a Virginia win over Virginia Tech

On By Littum

Virginia is set to travel to Blacksburg to face the Virginia Tech Hokies this Saturday at 20 at Lane Stadium for the 105th game between the two Virginia-based football teams. Last time out against the Hokies, the Cavaliers were crushed 55-17 on their home court in Charlottesville. UVA will look to get some redemption on Saturday in addition to snapping a three-game losing streak and earning its first win in Blacksburg since 1998.

The Cavaliers have dropped their last two games to ranked opponents and head to Blacksburg one win from being bowl eligible for the first time since 2021. Virginia Tech is also one win from bowl eligible as the Hoos are 0-3 in Commonwealth Clash games where the Cavaliers seek bowl eligibility.

Let’s break down five keys to Virginia’s victory in the Commonwealth Clash.

Virginia Tech’s offense starts on the ground, with the Hokies tied for third in the ACC in rushing yards this season with 2,043 yards. Bhayshul Tuten leads the offense with 1,035 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, paired with Kyron Drones, who has rushed for 336 yards and six touchdowns, though he is questionable to play in the game. If the Cavaliers want to limit the Hokies’ offense, it starts with stopping the run and forcing their wide receivers to win matchups downfield against the Virginia secondary.

It’s no secret that the Virginia offense has struggled in recent weeks, as the Cavaliers have scored 23 points in the first half of their last five games combined, burying the Hoos in insurmountable holes. Anthony Colandrea hasn’t thrown for more than 160 yards in his last five games; last year as a starter, the fewest yards he threw for in a game was 200. That said, offensive coordinator Des Kitchings needs to figure out this Virginia offense and either make scheme or personnel changes, which could mean replacing Colandrea with Tony Muskett. Look for Trell Harris to make a difference in UVA’s downfield passing game after missing the last eight games with a knee injury.

If Virginia wants to win Saturday night in a hostile environment like Lane Stadium, the Hoos need to win the turnover game to quiet the crowd while not giving the Hokies easy scoring chances. This also means Virginia cleans up on special teams, meaning no blocked, short punts or dropped kickoffs. If Virginia can keep it clean, the Cavaliers could have a chance to leave Blacksburg with their first win since 1998.

The Cavaliers have struggled to execute in the red zone all season, as they rank 109th in red zone scoring percentage in the FBS. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, leads the ACC in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score points on just 69% of red zone trips. If Virginia wants to win, especially given the offensive struggles the Hoos have endured the last few weeks, the Cavaliers need to score touchdowns in the red zone.

Virginia hasn’t beaten Virginia Tech in Blacksburg since 1998. Some years the Hokies were the better team, but in others the Cavaliers were the better team but failed to play their best against their in-state rival. One of the factors that Virginia Tech brings to this game every year, which was on display last year in its 55-17 win over Virginia, is intimidation. If the Hoos truly believe they will win this game, they have a significantly better chance of winning than in years past.

Kickoff between Virginia (5-6, 3-4 ACC) and Virginia Tech (5-6, 3-4 ACC) at Lane Stadium is set for 5 p.m. 8 p.m. on Saturday, and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.

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