Three keys to victory for the Hokies on Saturday vs. Virginia

The rivalry game between Virginia Tech and Virginia is almost 48 hours away, and it’s a big game for both teams. The Hokies and Cavaliers are both 5-6 and need a win to make a bowl game. The loser gets a head start in 2025 instead of playing in the postseason.

At the beginning of the year, Virginia Tech was talked about as one of the biggest surprise teams, not just in the ACC, but in the country. This team’s biggest target is gone, but they still have an opportunity to reach a bowl game for the second straight season. It should still be a big deal for the program, but on the other hand, the Cavaliers are trying to make a bowl game for the first time under Tony Elliott. They will be excited to play in this game and have a chance to make a bowl game, so Virginia Tech can’t take that for granted regardless of their past success vs Virginia.

So what are the keys to a victory for Virginia Tech on Saturday?

Before you could even blink Saturday night, Virginia Tech was trailing Duke 14-0 thanks to two long touchdown plays, and the Blue Devils haven’t been a very explosive offense this season. Virginia has found a way to put points on teams like Clemson and Louisville this season and has improved since last year. The Hokies’ pass rush was non-existent on Saturday vs Duke, finishing with no sacks and unable to disrupt Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy. They must be able to play better on Saturday if they want to avoid the upset.

It’s still up in the air who will play quarterback for the Hokies Saturday night, but whoever it is would benefit from a big game from one of the nation’s top running backs. Tuten had 84 yards on 19 carries last week, but Virginia Tech could need more than that on Saturday when they face the Cavaliers.

Our own RJ Schafer wrote this about the quarterback situation heading into Saturday’s game:

“Brent Pry listed both Kyron Drones and Collin Schlee as questionable ahead of the historic matchup. He added that both will practice, though very limited, and could “just watch” from the sidelines.

Coach Pry also added that Virginia Tech is preparing four quarterbacks to be ready to play this weekend, including Davi Belfort, a freshman quarterback from Brazil, a country that could start to become the future of American college football.

Whoever plays this weekend will have to control the game and not turn the ball over. I think the offense is going to rely heavily on the run game this weekend because of that.

Additional links:

Virginia Tech Football Releases Depth Chart Ahead of Matchup Against Virginia

Virginia Tech Football: PFF grades and snap counts for each player in Saturday’s loss to Duke

Virginia Tech Football: Updated Bowl Projections For Hokies Heading Into Final Game