We’ve finally reached the finale of this series previewing the 2023 Virginia football schedule, the annual post-Thanksgiving rivalry matchup with Virginia Tech. To this point, we have covered all 11 other opponents beginning with Tennessee on Sept. 2 and making our way through JMU, Maryland, NC State, Boston College, William & Mary, North Carolina, Miami, Louisville, and Duke.
Virginia Tech Hokies
In an otherwise disappointing season, a win in this game can make the offseason just that much more bearable. Yet for all but one of the last 18 matchups, the Cavaliers’havenot been able to secure a win against theHokies.
The Hoos last won in 2019, ending a 15-game losing streak to the Hokies, and haven’t won the rivalry game in back-to-back years since the 1997 and 1998 seasons. That feat isn’t in reach this year with the Cavaliers having now lost the last two games against Virginia Tech in 2020 and 2021 and last year’s matchup being cancelled in the aftermath of the Nov. 13 shooting on UVA’s Grounds.
Both programs are coming off thoroughly disappointing seasons under new head coaches. The Cavaliers went 3-7 in Tony Elliott’s first year while the Hokies went 3-8 in Brent Pry’s debut season.
Pry’s first season got off to an especially rocky start with a road loss to Old Dominion in week one. The Hokies also suffered 23-point, 31-point, and 16-point losses to West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh all within the first six weeks. Following those three blowout losses, the Hokies suffered three-straight one-possession losses to Miami, NC State, and Georgia Tech before getting blown out by Duke 24-7.
In what turned out to be their final game of the year, the Hokies managed a third win on the year, narrowly defeating Liberty 23-22. So, in short, Pry’s team struggled last season, not unlike the Cavaliers.
In fact, not a single Hokie was selected to an All-ACC team at the end of the year, although six earned honorable mentions. The Virginia Tech offense averaged just 314.1 yards per game, the second fewest in the ACC, and the unit’s pass efficiency rating of 116.3 was - only better than Georgia Tech and UVA.
The offensive struggles are further highlighted by just two of the team’s six All-ACC Honorable Mentions coming from that side of the ball, wide receiver Kaleb Smith and offensive tackle Silas Dzansi.
Smith had a good year in 2022, recording 674 yards and three touchdowns on 37 receptions, all of which were career-highs. This offseason he transferred to Notre Dame before announcing his medical retirement from football. Meanwhile, Dzansi signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted.
Thus, the offense needs some reinforcements for those two as well as a general boost in talent and production. ODU wide receiver Ali Jennings joins the Hokies after torching them for 122 yards in that week one matchup.
At quarterback, the Hokies brought in Baylor transfer Kyron Drones, a former four-star recruit with limited game experience, to compete with last year’s starter, Grant Wells. A two-year starter at Marshall prior to joining Virginia Tech last season, Wells struggled in his first year at the power conference level.
He completed just 59% of his passes last season for 2,171 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. Wells’ 197.4 passing yards per game were fourth fewest among qualified ACC quarterbacks and his efficiency of 117.5 only surpassed that of Brennan Armstrong.
Wells does provide some threat running the ball himself, albeit mostly in short yardage situations or near the endzone. He had 212 yards last year on 111 attempts but did put up six rushing touchdowns.
As the returning starter, he should like his chances to start week one but given his weak performance in 2022, his leash won’t be very long. The Hokies need more from their offense and his play last season was not particularly inspiring.
Further, Wells is actually the most productive rusher returning from last season despite recording just 212 yards. Leading rusher Keshawn King transferred to Western Michigan after a 443-yard, three-touchdown season. The Hokies’ second leading rusher, Jalen Holston, is also gone after a 321-yard, five-touchdown season.
Things don’t look all that much better on the defensive side of the ball with two of three All-ACC Honorable Mentions not returning. Perhaps most importantly, linebacker Dax Hollifield, the team’s leading tackler each of the past two seasons is gone. Defensive end TyJuan Garbutt also doesn’t return either after putting up team-highs in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (12).
The Hokies do get All-ACC Honorable Mention cornerback Mansoor Delane back in 2023 after he recorded a team-high eight pass breakups and two forced fumbles, but they lose fellow cornerback and the team’s second leading tackler Chamarri Conner after he was the program’s sole NFL Draft pick this spring.
From a recruiting standpoint, the Hokies have not had a particularly successful last few years on paper. After three-straight top-30 classes from 2017 to 2019, the Hokies have not ranked inside the top-40 in 247 Sports’ overall class ranking. They are off to a good start in the 2024 class with three four-stars already having committed, but that only helps them after this season.
Barring surprising improvements from either of these two programs this season, it’s likely this matchup will feature two of the worst teams in the ACC. The Hoos and the Hokies combined for just two ACC wins last year to go with 12 conference losses.
The Cavaliers get their rivals at home in Charlottesville for this must-win game. It’s a critical game for pride, recruiting, and offseason optimism, regardless of how the rest of the season goes. ESPN’s Football Power Index has this game as a toss-up with UVA given a 49.9% chance to win.
The Hokies will make the trip to Scott Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 25. A kickoff time has not been set.
Want the latest news on Virginia delivered right to your email? Subscribe to the Wahoos247 newsletter here. It is free and a great way to get daily updates on Virginia football, basketball, baseball, recruiting, and more delivered straight to your inbox.
