30 September, 2017
The game against Louisville saw Clemson dominate 47-21, but just because the Tigers were successful two weeks ago does not mean they will find themselves on that side of the scoreboard this week. Led by a potent rushing attack and efficient quarterback play, Virginia Tech welcomes in the defending national champions, though the Hokies are now a 7.5-point dog. His first ever college football game was in 1973, when Virginia Tech - known as VPI then - lost to Alabama 77-6.
The Tigers beat the Hokies in the ACC title game in 2011 and '16. "Every week for us is the biggest game of the year".
BALL SECURITY: Virginia Tech is an ACC-best plus five in turnovers with seven takeaways and only two giveaways. I just think if you're a good team, you're a good team wherever. My message was that was last year's team, last year's Virginia Tech team vs. last year's Clemson team. They politely declined to discuss the Tigers for the first four weeks of the season in order to devote full attention to the nonconference schedule, from which 12th-ranked Virginia Tech emerged unbeaten. The GameDay contingent returned in November that season and watched the Hokies roll past Miami 43-10.
And Saturday's matchup with the defending national champs has created substantial buzz.
And people nationwide will be watching for the 8 p.m. kickoff. They're two of the top ACC teams and have a ranking in the AP Poll.
Davis' great uncle once worked at Virginia Tech and ran a small Christmas tree farm on Blacksburg's outskirts. Eastern time to see if the Tigers will go down in Blacksburg.
"Well, you're not going to get away with much of anything", Fuente said.
I really don't even know where to begin with this game, but I'll try. You can take one step in the wrong direction or hesitate for half a step when you're playing the type of talent that we're going to go up against.
"It's like defusing a bomb. That's how talented and good they are". Tech now ranks 13th in the country in long scrimmage plays, while Clemson's defense ranks 14th in the country in long scrimmage plays allowed. Tech's "running back by committee" scheme has worked well so far, but it will be put to the test in this game.
"It's not always going to be ideal".
The victory at Louisville, coach Dabo Swinney said, was a good primer for playing at Lane Stadium. Starting quarterback, Kelly Bryant is an able passer, but, his legs are his best attribute.
The Tigers average 272 rushing yards a game, thanks to a bevy of contributing ball-carriers. Freshman running back Travis Etienne leads the team with 292 rushing yards, but he is one of three Clemson players with at least 249 yards on the ground.
Clemson holds a four-game winning streak in this series, including its 42-35 victory over the Hokies in the ACC championship game last season.
Jackson rushed for 101 yards and a score in a season-opening win over West Virginia.
"It's been a while since we've had a game on this platform, on this stage", said Bud Foster, the Hokies' longtime defensive coordinator and the most prominent holdover from the Beamer era. Jackson has completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 1,127 yards, 11 touchdowns and only one interception. His 177.4 efficiency rating ranks eighth nationally. He can prove he's the genuine artifact - and make his case as a Heisman candidate - by keeping his impressive case on Saturday night.
But nearly immediately following last weekend's 38-0 win against Old Dominion, players began addressing tonight's game in Blacksburg, Virginia. "Because everything will be hard".
"This offense is more hard to stop than Louisville's", Pollack said. It's just all amplified.
Pollack noted that as good as the competition is that Clemson has played in the early going, Virginia Tech's offense presents a unique and more hard challenge.
