Virginia Tech football returns to action today, Saturday, Oct. 9, with a ranked opponent as it hosts No. 14 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. on the ACC Network.
The Hokies (3-1) are set for their final non-conference game of the season before playing seven straight ACC games to close the regular season. Tech enters the game with a four-game home winning streak dating back to 2020.
Notre Dame has won 35 straight games against unranked opponents with their last loss in such a game coming vs. Virginia Tech in 2016. The Hokies are seeking to knock off a pair of AP Top 25 foes at Lane Stadium in the same season for the first time since 2009 after opening the season with a victory over No. 10 North Carolina.
QB Braxton Burmeister owns a 6-2 career record as Tech’s starting quarterback including a 5-0 mark at Lane Stadium. The Hokies’ offense has also been led by running backs Jalen Holston and Raheem Blackshear, who have rushed for 159 and 148 yards, respectively. Wide receiver Tré Turner leads the receivers through four games with 16 receptions for 250 yards and a touchdown.
Tech’s defense is allowing 15.3 points per game, which ranks seventh among Power Five squads and 11th in the FBS. The Hokies have also given up an ACC-low 71 first downs. Linebackers Alan Tisdale (33 total tackles) and Dax Hollifield (30 total tackles) lead the team in that department.
Cornerback Jermaine Waller is tied for the ACC lead with three interceptions after starting the season with picks in three straight games. Defensive linemen TyJuan Garbutt and Hollifield are tied for the team lead with three sacks each. Hollifield also has a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss. Wide receiver Tayvion Robinson leads the ACC with a 15.0-yard punt-return average, a mark that ranks fourth among Power Five players.
The Fighting Irish (4-1) come to Blacksburg for the second time in their history following their first loss of the season last weekend to No. 7 Cincinnati (4-0). Irish quarterbacks Jack Coan and Drew Pyne each threw for over 100 yards against the Bearcats, and tight end Michael Mayer led the team with eight receptions for 93 yards.
Defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey forced the lone turnover for the Irish when he recorded a 10-yard strip sack that linebacker Drew White recovered and returned for 28 yards.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Saturday, October 9 – 7:30 p.m. ET; Lane Stadium vs. No. 14 Notre Dame (4-1); ND head coach: Brian Kelly (11th season); record at ND: 96-38; Career: 267-95-2 (28th season);
Notre Dame leads series 2-1.
TV Broadcast: ACC Network, Play-by-Play: Dave O’Brien, Analyst: Tim Hasselbeck, Sideline: Kelsey Riggs.
Local Radio: Virginia Tech Sports Network, Play-by-Play: Jon Laaser, Analyst: Mike Burnop, Sideline: Wes McElroy.
GAME NOTES
No FBS team has committed fewer penalties than Tech (15), and only Louisiana-Monroe (125) has been assessed fewer penalty yards than VT (136).
ND has been flagged 35 times for 285 yards.
VT is converting at 45.3% (24-53) on third down while ND is at 35.8% (29-81).
ND is 3-0 when leading at the half in 2021 and 1-1 when trailing after two quarters.
Tech ranks second in the ACC with a 41.3-yard kickoff-return average, trailing only Syracuse (43.0). Running backs Raheem Blackshear (78 yards) and Keshawn King (56) both have a kickoff return of 50+ yards.
Cornerback Jermaine Waller is tied for fourth in the nation with three interceptions this season. in 2021. He is the only FBS player to have an interception in each of 2021’s first three games.
Wide receiver Tré Turner posted his third career 100-yard receiving game with 6 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown vs. Richmond.
Linebacker Alan Tisdale ranks seventh in the ACC, averaging 8.3 tackles per game (33 total/16 solo).
Punter Peter Moore ranks third in the ACC with seven punts of 50+ yards and owns eight inside the 20.
