Virginia Tech Football: Hokies control their path to ACC title game

Four weeks into the 2023 season, things didn’t look good for the Virginia Tech football team. Sitting at 1-3 after three straight losses to Purdue, Rutgers, and Marshall following a win over Old Dominion, there were questions about where the season was going.

Then, all of a sudden, once ACC play started, things started to turn around. In fact, things have taken such a big turn that the Hokies find themselves in a position that nobody really saw coming just four weeks ago.

Virginia Tech controls its own path to the ACC championship game

Three conference wins, all at home, against Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, and Syracuse along with a loss at Florida State, all of a sudden the Hokies are in third place, a half-game behind Louisville at 3-1, while the Cardinals are 4-1. The only team ahead of both of them is Florida State, who is all but assured a spot in Charlotte on Dec. 2. Their opponent? Well, that’s likely going to be decided on Saturday.

Second-year coach Brent Pry will take his team to Louisville for a 3:30 kickoff on the ACC Network. The winner of that game will be in the driver’s seat for the spot in Charlotte against the Seminoles. The winner will hold a one-game lead in the loss column and the head-to-head if they end up tied when all is said in done Thanksgiving Weekend.

Virginia Tech’s offense has taken off since coordinator Tyler Bowen committed to the run and unleashed Bhayshul Tuten and quarterback Kyron Drones. Malachi Thomas has got more involved, the offensive line has done a tremendous job not only opening holes for the backs but also protecting Drones in the pocket.

Drones has become more comfortable throwing the ball and has hit some big plays in the last month down the field. Jaylin Lane and Stephen Gosnell have been making plays for their QB.

Defensively, the Hokies defense has been suffocating their opponents. Just how good have they been? They forced Pittsburgh quarterback Phil Jurkovec, a sixth-year transfer from Boston College, to be benched and taking some reps in practice at tight end.

Antwaun Powell-Ryland has been relentless on the pass rush, the linebackers have been doing a good job of stopping the run and the defensive backs have shut down the opponent’s wide receivers and created turnovers with interceptions.

It’s hard to believe, but the Hokies are four wins away from a rematch with Florida State in the ACC Championship game. Getting there won’t be easy beginning this weekend at Louisville. Virginia Tech plays three of its final four games on the road with road games at Boston College (Nov. 11) and Virginia (Nov. 25) and a home date with North Carolina State (Nov. 18) following this weekend.

It won’t be easy, but it’s doable and that’s all that Pry and his team can ask for on the first Saturday in November.