With kickoff just hours away, let’s get you ready for this showdown between Virginia Tech and No. 13 Miami.
Keys to the Game: You can check out Chris Payne’s keys to the game here. Miami’s offense has gone as Carson Beck has gone at times this season, which has led to some inconsistent results and is part of what Miami is on the outside looking in of the Playoff. If Tech wants to pull off the upset, they have to find a way to get Beck uncomfortable and put him under regular pressure. If not, Tech’s depleted secondary may have a long day especially trying to contain Malachi Toney.
Hokies to Watch: You can check out Josh Poslusny’s Hokies to Watch feature here. If Tech wants to pull off the upset, they are going to need another big performance from Kyron Drones. The redshirt senior QB has had his moments this year with some impressive showings against NC State and California, but he also has had his fair share of struggles. The question is can Drones deliver a big game like he did in Tech’s wins or will he struggle especially through the air as he’s done otherwise. Given how good Miami’s run defense is, the Hokies will almost certainly have to deliver a balanced attack today.
Virginia Tech X-Factor: Ayden Greene has had some big plays this season as Tech’s leading receiver, averaging over 16 yards per reception on the year. If there’s a receiver who can provide that consistent big play threat, it’s Greene. Tech is going to need to find some chunk plays in the passing game to and the junior from Tennessee will be relied on heavily to do that especially with Donavon Greene no longer on the team.
Matchups to Watch: Johnny Garrett and Aidan Lynch have a tough matchup ahead of them facing a loaded Miami defensive line headlined by Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor who both know how to get after the quarterback. Miami has also been effective using blitzes to deliver sacks with a pair of DBs each having three sacks in Keionte Scott and Jakobe Thomas. Garrett and Lynch have had up and down seasons but will need to be on their A game if they want to have a chance at giving Drones the time he needs to succeed.
Availability Watch: Virginia Tech’s secondary remains a group full of injuries with Isaiah Cash being questionable this week after suffering an injury last week at Florida State. If he is out, expect Joseph Reddish to take over the lion’s share of the work at nickelback. Jaden Muskrat is also notably questionable though given his lack of usage this season, that probably isn’t a major issue.
Visit List: Virginia Tech is set for a loaded recruiting weekend headlined by some big time talents including four-star QB Troy Huhn, four-star TE Pierce Petersohn, and four-star OT Thomas Wilder. Check out the full running visit list with some analysis here.
Predictions
Tim Thomas
Miami is a much better team than Virginia Tech and their strong defense will stifle the Hokies for much of this game. One thing that may help Tech some is the fact that they faced Miami DC Corey Hetherman's defense last season in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, so there should be some learned tendencies from that.
However, Miami is a much better football team with a defense that will force VT to pass the ball way more than they would like while Carson Beck and company keep things on track especially against a vulnerable VT secondary. Overall, Miami cruises to victory to keep their playoff hopes alive, showing why they were a top 5 team early on this season.
Prediction: No. 13 Miami 34, Virginia Tech 13
Chris Payne
As I have said in the past few months, this game is almost a backdrop to everything happening off-field. There will be a lot of energy around James Franklin being in town and hosting lots three and four star recruits as he attempts to pull together a strong 2026 high school class with national signing day quickly approaching.
If you will, allow me to quickly give my thoughts on the hire: I think it was the biggest moment for Virginia Tech Football since winning the 2010 ACC Championship on my ninth birthday. It was a great moment for a fanbase who has spent the better part of two decades watching the sport surpass them and leave them behind. Not anymore. Franklin will pull this program back into the future and, even if he fails to bring a national championship to Blacksburg, will leave the program in a better spot than when he found it.
However, before we get to that point, there is a game to be played this weekend and I’ll be honest, I don’t think it will be pretty. Miami is uber-talented, has an elite defense, a rock-solid offense, and a solid head coach. They are a playoff-hopeful team that might fall victim to certain biases against the ACC if they are unable to make and win the conference championship game. I think they will be laser-focused and will handle business this weekend. They are the better team and I expect them to look like it.
