Jan 3, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end Nick Kallerup (87) is tackled by Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Caleb Woodson (20) during the first quarter of the Dukes’ Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Minnesota’s defense dominates Virginia Tech in Mayo Bowl

Darius Taylor rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown and threw for another score as Minnesota pulled away for a 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday night in Charlotte.

Max Brosmer completed 18 of 29 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Minnesota (8-5). Elijah Spencer had six catches for 81 yards and two TDs for the Golden Gophers, who won their eighth consecutive bowl game.

Collin Schlee scored the lone touchdown for Virginia Tech (6-7). William Watson III completed 8 of 12 passes for 81 yards and one interception, and Schlee connected on 2 of 6 passes for 68 yards.

Minnesota outgained Virginia Tech 403-223 in total yards. The Golden Gophers had 23 first downs, compared with nine first downs for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech opened the scoring in the final minute of the first quarter. Schlee took the snap and sprinted left for a 3-yard touchdown to cap an 80-yard drive.

Minnesota scored on a trick play to pull even at 7-7 on the following possession. Brosmer turned and pitched a toss to Taylor, but the running back turned into a passer and lobbed a pass to Spencer in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard score.

Spencer caught his second touchdown pass, this time a 12-yard strike from Brosmer, to give Minnesota a 14-7 lead with 5:13 to go in the first half.

Taylor made it 21-7 with a 28-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds to go before halftime. He broke free down the left sideline for his 10th rushing score of the season.

The Hokies pulled within 21-10 as time expired at the end of the first half. John Love drilled a 60-yard field goal, which marked the second-longest kick in school history.

Dragan Kesich made a 44-yard field goal to increase Minnesota’s lead to 24-10 with 11:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Za’Quan Bryan had a fourth-quarter interception to help the Golden Gophers preserve the victory.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland (52) sacks Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Tony Muskett (7) during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech defeats rival Virginia to end skid

Making his first start at quarterback, William “Pop” Watson III threw for 254 yards and a touchdown Saturday night as Virginia Tech stopped in-state rival Virginia 37-17 in Blacksburg to clinch bowl eligibility.

Watson, who replaced the injured Kyron Drones, completed 14 of 21 passes as the Hokies (6-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a three-game losing streak. Bhayshul Tuten added 124 yards on 18 carries, sealing the outcome with a 58-yard touchdown run at the 6:12 mark of the fourth quarter.

Tony Muskett hit 19 of 36 passes for 178 yards and two interceptions while rushing for 62 yards and two scores on 18 carries. His 5-yard touchdown run with 13:12 remaining allowed the Cavaliers to pull within 30-17 after trailing 27-3 in the third quarter. But Virginia (5-7, 3-5) couldn’t complete the comeback and as a result, won’t be eligible for a bowl game.

If Watson were nervous about being Virginia Tech’s third starting quarterback in as many games, he sure didn’t show it early. He led the team on a 90-yard drive to start the game, Tuten rushing the last 6 yards for a 7-0 lead with 9:06 left.

The Hokies grinded out another long drive on their next possession, gobbling nearly seven minutes of clock before John Love booted a 44-yard field goal at the 1:16 mark. The Cavaliers got on the board with 2:46 left in the half on Will Bettridge’s 37-yard field goal but experienced a disastrous last two minutes.

On the first play after the two-minute timeout, Watson found Jaylin Lane for a 66-yard touchdown pass. Muskett fired an interception in the final minute that led to Love’ 31-yard field goal and a 20-3 advantage at the half.

Watson made it 27-3 with a 5-yard scoring jaunt with 10:05 left in the third quarter, five plays after Muskett was stopped for no gain on 4th-and-1 at the Virginia 45. Muskett scored on a 2-yard run less than five minutes later before Love hit a 28-yard field goal for a 30-11 Virginia Tech cushion.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) throws the football against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Duke shifts focus to Virginia Tech in home finale

Looking for a strong finishing stretch to the Atlantic Coast Conference campaign, Duke hosts Virginia Tech in its home finale Saturday night in Durham, N.C.

“It’s going to be a special night for everybody,” Blue Devils coach Manny Diaz said. “It’s always an emotional moment with the pregame ceremonies, but you’ve got to be able to snap back and focus on a very good Virginia Tech football team with a lot of talent. We’ve been fortunate to have extra time to prepare for this week.”

The outcome is going to have a huge impact on the pecking order in the middle of the ACC standings.

Duke (7-3, 3-3) has won only two of its last four games, while Virginia Tech (5-5, 3-3) has dropped two in a row and still needs another win to reach bowl eligibility. Both teams were off last weekend.

The Blue Devils are 4-1 this year in Durham. The Hokies are 2-3 in road games, with two of the setbacks in overtime (vs. Vanderbilt and Syracuse) and another in a controversial finish at Miami.

“A good opponent in Duke, at night, at their place, Senior Night,” Hokies coach Brent Pry said. “They’ve got a couple of good wins under their belt and they’ve lost a couple of closes ones. We’ll have our hands full.”

Former Duke standout defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles, who spent four seasons with the Blue Devils, is using his final season of eligibility with Virginia Tech. He has logged three sacks this year.

Duke has a bit of an unusual situation with running back Jaquez Moore, who’s ready to return to action following an injury. But he’ll play in only one of the final two regular-season games so he can qualify for a redshirt season. The Blue Devils finish at Wake Forest on Nov. 30.

Moore has played in three games, most recently in late September against North Carolina.

“We think he’s one of the best players on our roster and we’re excited at the idea that we’ll have a chance to welcome him back next year,” Diaz said.

Duke is 15th in the ACC in rushing offense at 99.6 yards per game. Virginia Tech is next-to-last in the ACC in rushing defense, allowing 158.5 yards per game on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Jaden Keller (24) makes a tackle on Syracuse Orange wide receiver Trebor Pena (2) in the second quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Syracuse rallies from big deficit, tops Virginia Tech in OT

LeQuint Allen ran for three touchdowns — including the late tying score and the decisive score in overtime — as host Syracuse rallied from an 18-point deficit to stun Virginia Tech 38-31 on Saturday.

Allen rushed 21 times for 121 yards, while Justus Ross-Simmons, who came in without a catch on the season, nabbed two TD receptions for the Orange (6-2, 3-2 ACC). Kyle McCord went 24-of-35 passing for 280 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to help Syracuse become bowl-eligible for the third straight season.

Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2) watched its three-game winning streak come to an end despite a productive day from Collin Schlee (16-of-24 passing, 206 yards, TD) and three rushing scores, including one by Schlee. The Hokies led by a touchdown late in regulation before allowing Allen’s 1-yard TD run with 29 seconds left.

That set up an overtime session in which Syracuse opened with Allen’s 9-yard scoring run, as he caromed off defenders into the end zone. On the ensuing possession, Marlowe Wax forced a fumble by Schlee, and Fadil Diggs recovered to send the Syracuse sideline into a frenzy.

Virginia Tech jumped out 14-0 behind a pair of first-quarter rushing touchdowns, and the Hokies were still in control midway through the third when Schlee found Ali Jennings for a 12-yard TD pass to make it 21-3.

However, the Orange continued to fight, as McCord hooked up with Ross-Simmons for a 55-yard scoring strike less than two minutes later. After a Hokies punt, McCord found Trebor Pena for 41 yards to set up Allen’s 1-yard TD run.

The next Virginia Tech possession ended when Jeremiah Coney fumbled and Wax recovered at the Hokies 39. Syracuse didn’t need long to cash in, as McCord connected with Ross-Simmons for a 28-yard score to put the hosts in front.

However, Jackson Kennedy’s extra point was blocked, leaving Syracuse ahead 24-21 with 14:22 remaining.

Eight plays later, the visitors regained the lead as Malachi Thomas (14 carries, 73 yards) ran in for a 15-yard score.

The Orange punted on their next trip, setting up another Hokies score, a 27-yard field goal by John Love to make it 31-24 with 5:16 to play.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) runs the ball against Boston College Eagles cornerback Bryquice Brown (19) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech aim to run past Georgia Tech

Two teams vying for a key Atlantic Coast Conference victory will meet Saturday afternoon when Virginia Tech hosts Georgia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies (4-3, 2-1) are seeking their first three-game winning streak since 2019.

Bhayshul Tuten set a school record with 266 rushing yards to go with three rushing touchdowns and a receiving score in Virginia Tech’s 42-21 victory over Boston College last week.

For the season, Tuten’s 871 rushing yards rank sixth in the nation, and second in the ACC only to North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (901).

Virginia Tech hopes to see its offensive momentum continue Saturday as it prepares for Georgia Tech (5-3, 3-2), which has won four in a row in Blacksburg.

“We appreciate our fans’ support; we’ll need it again this weekend,” Hokies coach Brent Pry said. “Quality opponent, in conference, an awesome opportunity for our football program against a very good football team. (Georgia Tech) has been competitive each game, and I know we’ll have a good football team coming in here.”

The last time the Yellow Jackets and Hokies met was on Nov. 5, 2022, a 28-27 win by Georgia Tech. In that game, Georgia Tech quarterback Zach Pyron led an 11-point, fourth-quarter rally.

Nearly two years later, it might be Pyron who is preparing to face the Hokies again in Lane Stadium.

After backing up starter Haynes King since the beginning of 2023, Pyron was thrown back into the starting role last Saturday in a 31-13 loss against then-No. 12 Notre Dame. King sustained a shoulder injury in an Oct. 12 win at North Carolina.

However, coach Brent Key is making it clear that the Yellow Jackets haven’t come to a QB decision yet.

“Haynes is still day-to-day,” Key said. “There was some report that someone had come out with that said he’s not playing. There’s only one person in the entire stratosphere universe that makes that call, and that’s myself. There’s been zero call made on that. Are we preparing the other guy to play? Yes. Are we ruling him out? No.”

For the season, King has thrown for 1,568 yards and eight touchdowns, with one interception. He’s added 353 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.

Pyron is 25-for-43 for 333 yards, with two touchdown passes and two interceptions. He’s added 105 rushing yards and four scores.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) takes a handoff from quarterback Kyron Drones (1) against the Miami Hurricanes during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech seeks bounce-back effort in clash vs. Stanford

Virginia Tech will make its first-ever trip to California for an Atlantic Coast Conference football game when the Hokies visit Stanford on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams will seek to rebound from a loss to an ACC powerhouse. The emotional bounce-back figures to be tougher for one team than the other.

Virginia Tech (2-3, 0-1) appeared to have upset then-No. 7 Miami on the road last week before a last-second touchdown pass was overturned. It allowed the Hurricanes to hold on for a 38-34 win and prompted Hokies coach Brent Pry to call ACC headquarters.

While dissatisfied with what he heard, Pry insisted Tuesday that this week is all about Stanford.

“We aggressively turned the page Sunday evening,” Pry said. “We addressed the matter with our players, with our staff, with our media, with our player parents, with our own wives … everybody. To play with the intensity we played with Friday night (Sept. 27), we have to pour everything into Stanford.”

The Cardinal (2-2, 1-1) will make their ACC home debut, having recorded a 26-24 win over Syracuse on Sept. 20 and a 40-14 loss to then-No. 17 Clemson last Saturday in consecutive conference road outings.

Stanford saw its starting quarterback, Ashton Daniels, leave the Clemson game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. Cardinal coach Troy Taylor announced Tuesday that Daniels was no sure thing to face the Hokies. Taylor also said that Daniels, if healthy, will have to take better care of the football.

Daniels threw three interceptions as part of an uneven performance against the Tigers. He did well on the ground, rushing 11 times for 87 yards.

“The thing about playing quarterback is you can play great 95 percent of the time,” Taylor said, “but because you handle the ball every play, if 5 percent of those reps are not good, then you probably walk away feeling you didn’t play very well.”

Per Taylor, Justin Lamson would step in for Daniels if the starter is unable to play against Virginia Tech.

The game will feature two of the top backs statistically in the ACC.

Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 141 yards in last week’s conference opener against Miami, while Stanford’s Micah Ford has the ACC’s highest total among players who have competed in two conference games with 169 yards.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2023; Bronx, NY, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) runs with the ball against the Miami Hurricanes during the fourth quarter at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images

Rutgers puts running game up against Virginia Tech

There is not much mystery about Virginia Tech’s mission when it plays host to Rutgers on Saturday in Blacksburg, Va.

The Hokies (2-1) will be focused on stopping Kyle Monangai of the Scarlet Knights (2-0), who ranks No. 2 in FBS rushing this season while averaging 186.5 yards per game.

Virginia Tech knows Monangai all too well. In a matchup last season at Rutgers, he dashed for 143 yards and three touchdowns as the Scarlet Knights ended a 12-game losing streak against their former Big East Conference rival with a 35-16 victory.

“He’s a physical runner,” Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry said. “He does a great job keeping his feet and legs going. I think that first would-be tackler feels it.”

Facing an outside Heisman Trophy candidate in Monangai is a frightening prospect for a Virginia Tech defense that surrendered 243 yards on the ground in a 37-17 win Saturday night at winless Old Dominion.

“We’ve gotta beat them off the ball. We gotta play lower,” Pry said. “We gotta get on their side more often.”

Rutgers also has the advantage of coming off a bye week, following a 49-17 win over Akron on Sept. 7 when Monangai rushed for three touchdowns and a career-high 208 yards.

The Scarlet Knights aren’t a one-trick pony. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis added 230 yards through the air and three touchdown passes against Akron.

The transfer, who started 17 games for the previous two years at Minnesota, beat out Rutgers’ two-year starter Gavin Wimsatt in the spring. Wimsatt is now at Kentucky. Kaliakmanis has upgraded a passing attack that completed a Big Ten-low 48.3 percent of its attempts last year.

Virginia Tech counters with dual-threat quarterback Kyron Drones, who passed for 176 yards and ran for 117 yards in the win over Old Dominion.

When the Scarlet Knights and Hokies met last year, Virginia Tech’s quarterback situation was in flux.

“He’s really big, athletic, strong arm,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said of Drones. “… their ascension as a program and as a team coincided with his development.”

The Hokies also received 115 yards rushing and two fourth-quarter touchdowns from Bhayshul Tuten at Old Dominion. Jaylin Lane contributed seven receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.

“Wherever you look in the skill game, they are loaded,” Schiano said. “They probably have eight to 10 draft picks and another five to seven free agents. So they have a lot of NFL players on this team.”

– Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) run for a touchdown during the third quarter against Marshall Thundering Herd cornerback Jacobie Henderson (10) at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech vies for elusive road win at Old Dominion

Why do power conference teams rarely play on the road at Group of Five schools? Just ask Virginia Tech.

Over the last six years, the Hokies have twice traveled across Virginia to play Old Dominion and each time they have lost.

When the Hokies (1-1) make another trip to Norfolk to face the Monarchs (0-2) on Saturday, they’ll try to overcome their unfortunate history in the series.

In three meetings at Virginia Tech, the Hokies have handled the Monarchs, including a 36-17 victory in last year’s season opener. But it’s been a different story in Norfolk.

“I’m not naive,” Old Dominion coach Ricky Rahne said. “I recognize that Virginia Tech is an important game. It’s important to me. It’s important to our school. It’s important to our fan base.”

Virginia Tech isn’t as enthusiastic about the matchup. Hokies coach Brent Pry twice dodged questions about his opinion of the series, which includes three more games in Norfolk over the next seven years.

“These contracts are in place well ahead of time. I don’t worry about things I can’t control,” said Pry, who dropped a 20-17 decision at Old Dominion in his head coaching debut two years ago.

“We’ve gotta be the type of team that can go to Old Dominion and win the football game.”

The Hokies are coming off a 31-14 win over Marshall in which Bhayshul Tuten rushed 22 times for 120 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s a guy who’s gonna play in the NFL for quite a long time,” Rahne said. “He really does fit what the NFL is looking for right now.”

Old Dominion also will look to contain quarterback Kyron Drones, who has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 452 yards and three touchdowns. Drones also poses a threat on the ground, rushing for 818 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Old Dominion has had a frustrating start to the season, committing six turnovers. The Monarchs squandered a fourth-quarter lead in a 23-19 loss at South Carolina on Aug. 31 before dropping a 20-14 decision against East Carolina last Saturday.

Quarterback Grant Wilson, who has thrown for 2,538 yards and 19 touchdowns over the last two years, was hurt on the final play last week against East Carolina.

Rahne was mum on the status of Wilson and All-American linebacker Jason Henderson, who led the nation in tackles (14.2 per game) last year. Henderson, who had offseason knee surgery, did not play last week.

If Wilson can’t play, Old Dominion will turn to Boston College transfer Emmett Morehead or redshirt freshman Colton Joseph.

–Field Level Media

Vanderbilt’s Sedrick Alexander runs the ball during Saturday’s game between Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville , Tenn., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.

Diego Pavia sparks Vanderbilt OT upset of Virginia Tech

Vanderbilt, behind quarterback Diego Pavia’s 294 yards of total offense, pulled a huge overtime upset of visiting Virginia Tech by a 34-27 score at Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday.

The Commodores, 13 1/2-point underdogs, blew a 17-point lead and trailed 27-20 but Pavia connected with Sedrick Alexander with a touchdown pass with 1:51 left that helped Vandy tie it at 27.

Pavia then scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 4-yard run on the first drive of overtime.

The Commodores got a Zaylin Wood sack on Tech’s ensuing possession, forcing a fourth-and-11 from the 12. Quarterback Colin Schlee had time but couldn’t find a man and threw the ball through the back of the end zone to end the game.

Schlee was on for Kyron Drones (322 yards passing), who was hurt in the final minutes of regulation.

The Hokies trailed 17-3 at the break but came alive in the second half. They used three big plays on their first drive, the last, a Bhayshul Tuten 24-yard touchdown run over the left side with 12:42 left in the second half, to cut into Vanderbilt’s lead.

Drones threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes to Tuten and Ali Jennings, the last, a 62-yarder with 4:21 left that put the Hokies up for the first time all day.

That looked like the knockout punch for a Vanderbilt team that lost all nine games against Power 5 teams last season, but Pavia had other ideas.

The Commodores used the game’s first 6:33 on an 11-play drive that ended in Taylor’s 43-yard field goal.

On Tech’s first drive, Vandy linebacker Bryan Longwell came free on a blitz, knocked Drones’ pass in the air and defensive lineman Glenn Seabrooks III picked it and ran it back 15 yards to the Tech 28.

On a third-and-9 from the Tech 14, Pavia hit Quincy Skinner with a great throw to the right side of the end zone and Vanderbilt led 10-0.

After a Tech punt, the Commodores marched 80 yards in 11 plays and Alexander pushed through a hole in the middle for a 7-yard score.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) throws a pass against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Experience on Virginia Tech’s side in opener at Vanderbilt

Virginia Tech hopes to build on a strong finish to last season when it meets Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon in Nashville, Tenn.

The Hokies won five of their last seven games in 2023 to finish 7-6, with each of those victories coming by at least 17 points.

Virginia Tech is led by head coach Brent Pry, who was on the Vanderbilt staff from 2011-13. The Hokies return 22 starters (11 offense, nine defense and two specialists), the most in the country, per 247 Sports.

That includes the Hokies’ top passer (Kyron Drones), their top three rushers (led by Bhayshul Tuten’s 863 yards, followed by Drones’ 818) and five of their top six receivers (led by Da’Quan Felton’s 667 yards).

Also back are leading tackler Keli Lawson (80 tackles), interception leader Dorian Strong (three picks) as well as Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who led the Hokies in sacks (9.5), forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (two).

Strong and transfer defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles (5.0 sacks at Duke last year) both made the preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team.

With all that experience, the bar is high for the Hokies this year. “Yeah, I would probably be disappointed (if we didn’t make the ACC championship game),” Pry told ESPN.

The Commodores (2-10 in 2023) lost all nine games against Power 5 teams last year, all by at least 16 points.

And so Vanderbilt re-shuffled the deck.

Head coach Clark Lea is now also the defensive coordinator, while Lea imported former New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill and offensive coordinator Tim Beck to run the other side of the ball.

Vanderbilt also brought in New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia (2,973 passing yards, 928 rushing) and will look to run the ball out of multiple formations, with sophomore Sedrick Alexander likely to lead the team in carries.

“You’re gonna see kind of like an NFL offense,” Pavia said. “Take what they give us, and when they give us an opportunity to take a shot, take a shot. If it’s not there, check it down. Establish the run game, just do the little things right.”

Big tight end Cole Spence (who missed all of 2023 with injury) is poised to be a weapon, as is sophomore wide receiver Junior Sherrill.

Vanderbilt’s defense will pin its hopes on a pair of All-Southeastern Conference candidates in linebacker Langston Patterson and safety CJ Taylor, and several impact transfers including hybrid safety/linebacker Randon Fontenette (TCU).

–Field Level Media