Virginia Tech Football: 2 reasons Hokies make a Bowl & 1 why they won’t

1 reason Virginia Tech doesn’t become Bowl-eligible: Allow too many big plays

If there has been a throne on the side of the Hokies this season, it’s been the inability to not allow big plays to happen. It was a big issue in the first four games, but it has continued in the three ACC games despite them winning two of the three games. Against Rutgers and Marshall, they allowed big plays to those teams ’ offenses that led to long touchdown runs. That trend continued in the win against Pittsburgh, the loss at Florida State, and the victory over Wake Forest.

It’s not only giving up the big plays, it’s also about the timing of giving them up that has been frustrating for Virginia Tech. Against Rutgers and Marshall, they gave up big plays when they desperately needed a stop in the second half of a close game. In their win over Pittsburgh, they gave up a 75-yard touchdown after grabbing some early momentum, then another one right after they took a three-score lead and it gave the visitors some hope in the third quarter. Against Wake Forest, after grabbing a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, they allowed a 99-yard kickoff return by the Demon Deacons.

Big plays are going to happen, but it seems that Virginia Tech has allowed more than they should have so far through seven games and to compound matters, they seem to strike at a time when they are trying to make a comeback or right after they score and grab momentum. As I said above, there is little to no room for error over the final weeks for the Hokies, and cutting down on allowing the big plays is a must. It could end up being the difference between playing in a Bowl game and getting extra practices to build momentum to 2024 or ending Thanksgiving Weekend.