Virginia Tech heads to Dallas on a short week with a lot still hanging in the balance, and Friday night’s matchup with SMU carries more weight than just another ACC road trip. The Hokies are coming off a week break, they’re already bowl eligible, and a win here would strengthen their place in the league picture while also improving the kind of bowl they could land over the holidays.
There’s also plenty happening around the program beyond football. The first week of November through the first week of December has turned into a juggling act, with soccer wrapping up, women’s basketball opening 2-0 at home, and the men’s team also picking up a win at Cassell. That has made coverage a little chaotic, but the Hokies’ football season is still very much alive with four games left.
One of the more lighthearted notes this week came from the ACC Network desk, where Eric McClain and Eddie Royal had a bet tied to mascot costumes. Eddie did not end up dressed as a Tiger with the googly eyes for the TV segment, and Virginia Tech Cheer Squad equipment folks along with Travis Wells helped make sure Eric got most of an actual Hokie Bird big enough for him.
There was also major news for Virginia Tech wrestling. Freshman Bo Bassett traveled to Kazakhstan and delivered the program its first world championship.
He also became the first American in 20 years to win in his weight class, taking the 65KG title, listed here as 143 pounds. That kind of result has only raised the expectations around what Coach Robie’s team could be this season.
On the football side, the Hokies are expected to go with an all-white look for the game. More importantly, the offensive line got a boost with Montavious Cunningham and Brody Meadows back up to speed and expected to play Friday night. That matters because Virginia Tech has been leaning on depth-chart options further down the line in recent games, and getting those two back could help a run game that has been searching for traction.
SMU brings a different kind of challenge. The Mustangs have looked like a team built for the upper end of the ACC race, with Dallas money, premium coaching, and NIL support helping fuel the roster.
Up until last weekend, they had just one loss and were right in the mix for the conference’s top spots before Syracuse knocked them down. That result also shifted Virginia Tech into position for the No. 3 spot on the ACC leaderboard.
The betting line reflects how tight this one is expected to be, with SMU favored by slightly less than a touchdown at home and the latest projected over/under sitting at 56.5. That suggests a game the market expects to stay close, and maybe one decided by a single possession.
Bryan Manning sees a serious test for the Hokies, pointing to Virginia Tech’s win at Clemson two weeks ago as proof the team can handle a tough road environment. He notes that SMU is better than Clemson, though not unbeatable, and says the biggest difference in the matchup is at quarterback, where Kevin Jennings stands out. Manning also highlighted SMU’s running back and receiving corps as major problems for Virginia Tech’s defense, while saying the Hokies should be able to move the ball if the offensive line holds up.
John Schneider framed it around how each team responds after SMU’s loss at Syracuse. He pointed out that the Orange showed a blueprint for slowing the Mustangs, and said Virginia Tech has to be able to adjust to that on both sides of the ball.
He also stressed that the Hokies can’t get stuck trying to force the run if the passing game is there. In his view, quick-developing intermediate throws to Tech’s best receivers could open things up, while a run-first approach could lead to stalled drives and too many three-and-outs.
Schneider also emphasized that Virginia Tech’s defense has to pressure the quarterback on every snap if it wants a shot at controlling SMU’s offense. He believes the Hokies can score enough to keep pace, but the margin for error is slim. His bottom line is simple: the first team to 30 points probably wins.
That’s the kind of game this looks like - a tight one, with plenty of pressure on both offenses and enough uncertainty on both sidelines to keep it interesting right to the end.
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For the Hokies, the biggest concern starts up front, where protecting the quarterback has to be sharper against a defense led by White and a home crowd that has seen SMU control games. Tanner Jennings has been steady in that setting, Raphael has already found the end zone multiple times against Virginia Tech, and the combination leaves the Hokies with little margin for error as they try to carry their Clemson win into another road test. [Read more 🡒]