BLACKSBURG – The No. 23 Virginia Tech football team is back on the field this Saturday, Oct. 17, as they play host to the Boston College Eagles. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
The Hokies enter the week after their initial loss of the season, a 56-45 loss at then-No. 8 North Carolina. In that game, Khalil Herbert ran for over 100 yards for the third consecutive game and scored two touchdowns, and QB Hendon Hooker accounted for three scores in his first game of the season.
The Eagles enter following a 31-30 overtime victory versus Pitt.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m.; Lane Stadium vs. Boston College (3-1, 2-1).
BC Head Coach: Jeff Hafley (first season); record at school: 3-1; career: 3-1.
Series: Tech leads 18-10 Last: Aug. 31, 2019, (L, 28-35).
Broadcast: ACC Network; Play-by-Play: Dave O’Brien; Analyst: Tim Hasselbeck; Sideline: Wes McElroy
- After winning back-to-back games vs. NC State and at Duke despite missing 20+ players and multiple players, Tech wasn’t able to register a third straight win.
- The Hokies were without 15 players at No. 8 UNC and suffered a 56-45 loss. After spotting UNC a 21-0 lead, Tech fought back and eventually trimmed the Carolina lead to 42-37 in the third quarter but could never get any closer.
- Boston College is also 2-1 in ACC and is coming off a 31-20 OT win vs. Pitt
- BC’s last three games have all been decided by four points or fewer.
- Virginia Tech has won its last four ACC contests at Lane Stadium and five of its last six games vs. conference foes.
- Tech is seeking a second win against a squad it lost to in 2019. The Hokies already own a 38-31 win at Duke and are seeking to avenge a 35-28 loss at BC last season.
- VT is 1-1 against common opponents with BC in 2020. Tech won 38-31 at Duke. The Eagles registered a 26-6 win at Duke and suffered a 26-22 loss vs. UNC (10/3).
- Tech has never lost three straight to Boston College since the series originated in 1993 between the two former Big East foes.
- Tech is ranked at No. 23 in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll.
SCORING STATS TO WATCH ON TECH, BC
- Virginia Tech leads the ACC and ranks seventh in the FBS, averaging 42.7 ppg. Only Alabama (51.0) & Texas (49.5) are better among Power Five programs.
- VT is 25-6 when scoring 30+ points under Fuente and 11-1 when scoring 40+ points.
- Last Saturday’s 56-45 loss at UNC marked VT’s initial loss under Fuente when scoring 40+ points.
- Tech has already registered two games with 40+ points after hitting the 40-point mark three times in all of 2019.
- Tech has scored 30 points or more in five straight games dating back to last season.
- Boston College is averaging 25.8 ppg under head coach Jeff Halsey while allowing only 20.8 ppg. BC has permitted only 22 total points in the third and fourth quarters.
- VT owns a 21-2 mark under Fuente when leading at the half.
- Tech is 31-2 when holding opponents to 21 points or fewer dating back to the start of the 2015 season (6-1 in 2019).
- Boston College has lost 13 straight games when being held to 21 points or fewer dating back to a 34-10 loss vs. Wake.
- VT has won 25 straight games when limiting opponents to 17 points or fewer (6-0 in 2019).
SPECIAL TEAMS STILL SPECIAL AT TECH
- K Brian Johnson owns a streak of 17 consecutive made field goals dating back to 2019, the longest active streak of any Power Five kicker and the second-longest nationally behind only Hunter Duplessis (20) of UTSA.
- Johnson nailed a career-long 55-yard FG at UNC and also recovered his own onside kick. Johnson’s streak of 17 straight includes a 54-yarder vs. Kentucky in the Belk Bowl.
- Tech ranks fourth in the Power Five with a 34.6-yard kickoff return average.
