The weather may end up being the real headliner when Virginia Tech heads to Boston College this weekend. With intermittent rain, windy conditions, and temperatures in the low 60s expected from 12:00 to 3:30, this one has the feel of a game where every snap gets a little harder to manage. Ball security, footing, and the passing game all figure to take a hit.
That matters because Virginia Tech has spent real time building an offense that can function in tight spaces. Coach Ty Howle has already drawn outside notice from CBS Sports, and the Hokies have leaned into a short and intermediate passing game that gives them some flexibility.
Wet-ball work was part of the preparation, and the offensive line was re-drilled on run blocking in those conditions. If Howle keeps adjusting the way he has so far, Tech should have answers even if the weather keeps forcing the playbook into a smaller window.
The Hokies also have some individual recognition building around them. Tyson Flowers has been named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy award, a nod that puts him in the mix for one of the postseason honors. Luke Reynolds also picked up Player of the Week recognition from the Mackey Award Committee, another sign that his season is getting noticed in the right circles.
On the field, Virginia Tech is expected to lean on the ground game and keep things under control. John Schneider sees the Hokies opening with a ball-control approach and using high-percentage throws, especially with the bad weather likely pushing passes to stay within eight yards of the line of scrimmage. He also thinks there’s a real chance the defense could score, which would only add to Tech’s total.
Bryan Manning is even more direct about where this matchup stands. He sees Virginia Tech as the better team across the board, though he does flag the offensive line injuries as a concern if they linger.
He believes the Hokies can handle Boston College quarterback Miles McKenzie if they keep him in the pocket, pointing to the job Tech did against Quinn Henicle in Week 2. If McKenzie gets loose for a few big plays, Boston College could hang around longer than expected.
Still, Manning expects Ethan Grunkemeyer to continue playing well, Luke Reynolds to deliver another big game, and Marcellous Hawkins and Jeff Overton to combine for 175 rushing yards in a convincing Hokies win.
Schneider’s view is a little more measured, but it lands in the same place. Boston College is 2-1, though those two wins came by very narrow margins over Rutgers and FCC Maine.
That leaves open two very different possibilities: the Eagles either rise up and make life miserable for Tech, or they remain shaky on offense and soft on defense. He notes that the Hokies are a two-touchdown favorite in a game with a 48.5 total, which suggests oddsmakers aren’t expecting a shootout.
Schneider agrees, unless Ty Howle has something unusual ready to go.
In Other News...
Virginia Techs Schedule Suddenly Looks Better Than Hokies Fans Expected
Virginia Techs win over Maryland did more than move the Hokies to 3-0. It gave the program its first such start since 2017 and snapped a 15-game skid against Power Four nonconference opponents, a stretch that had been hanging over the early part of the season for years. After a summer of uncertainty, the opening month has pushed the Hokies into a far more interesting place than many expected.
ESPNs Football Power Index only adds to that buzz, projecting Virginia Tech as the favorite in most of its remaining nine games. The toughest road remains obvious, with SMU and Miami standing out as the biggest challenges and the Miami matchup drawing the lowest win probability, but the model also leaves room for a season that keeps building. A trip to Clemson now looks like a game Virginia Tech can at least realistically circle, which is a long way from where this schedule seemed headed a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Has One Big ACC Opener Concern Despite The Edge
Virginia Tech heads into its ACC opener with plenty to like on paper, carrying a 3-0 record and clear statistical advantages over Boston College. The Eagles have been inconsistent on offense and will be missing starting center Michael Crounse, which only adds to the challenge of slowing down a Hokies team that has looked sharper through the first month.
Still, the bigger concern may come from the sky instead of the opponent. A noreaster is expected to bring rain and strong winds to the matchup, conditions that can dull the pace and turn a cleaner team into the one that survives the best. In a game like this, turnovers can swing everything, and Virginia Tech may need to prove it can handle a messy afternoon as much as it can handle Boston College. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Faces Another O-Line Test Ahead Of Boston College
Virginia Tech is heading into its matchup with Boston College with more changes up front, as injuries have opened the door for two new starters on the offensive line. Logan Howland and Brody Meadows are expected to step in for Justin Terry and Montavious Cunningham, giving the Hokies another look at a unit that has had to absorb plenty of shuffling already this season.
Howland, the Oklahoma transfer, brings prior starting experience and has already logged significant snaps for Virginia Tech this year, which should help steady the transition. Meadows, a Virginia native, has also seen game action in multiple contests and is poised to handle the right guard spot as the Hokies try to keep the line functional for a key ACC matchup. [Read more 🡒]