The last time Virginia Tech and Virginia played on Black Friday, the game was in primetime on ESPN despite the fact that both teams were simply fighting to go to a bowl game. This year, both teams are already bowl eligible, making it easier for ESPN to put this game in primetime.
https://twitter.com/HokiesFB/status/930118313941852160
ESPN and the ACC announced that the Battle for the Commonwealth Cup will kick off at 8pm with the game being broadcasted on ESPN. This will be the first time since the last Black Friday matchup that this rivalry game has a night kickoff.
This will be the sixth night game for the Hokies, which is tied for the highest number of night kickoffs since the 2006 season when six games, including VT's bowl game, kicked off at 7pm or later. This it the first time that the Hokies have played on ESPN this season with the Hokies' three biggest games all happening in primetime on ABC.
With the Hokies getting a night game in Charlottesville, Virginia Tech has the chance to make a primetime statement against a Virginia team that is having its best season since going 8-5 in 2011. That was the closest UVA came to winning the ACC Coastal with the Hokies beating them 38-0 in Scott Stadium to win the Coastal and go to the ACC Championship.
The rivalry between the Hokies and Hoos will be broadcast on its most prominent stage since that 2014 game with both teams being much stronger than they were just three years ago.
In the meantime, the Hokies can't afford to look ahead to that primetime showdown even though they're facing a Pittsburgh team that just lost to North Carolina at home.
Stay up with The Tech Lunch Pail for the latest on Virginia Tech. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Subscribe to our email updates.
You must login in order to comment on this post.
