Virginia Tech looks to snap lengthy losing streak to ranked teams in openers

The Hokies begin their 2021 campaign tonight by hosting No. 10 North Carolina, and Virginia Tech is no stranger to starting its season against high-profile teams. 

The Hokies have played some top-notch openers in recent years, including starting their season against three teams fresh off a national championship from 2004-2015: USC in 2004, Alabama in 2013 and Ohio State in 2015. In that same stretch, they played two other top-five opponents to start the season: No. 5 Alabama in 2009 and No. 3 Boise State in 2010.

Virginia Tech lost all five of those games. 

As David Teel of the Richmond Times-Dispatch points out, the Hokies have never opened their year against a top-10 conference opponent and annual rival. That changes on Friday evening, and Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente needs a big win to quell deafening hot seat talk in Blacksburg.

The game will be just the second home opener for the Hokies against a Power Five team since 1998; the 2015 contest against Ohio State was at Lane Stadium.

Both teams need replacements for departed stars

UNC’s Sam Howell comes to Blacksburg after completing 68.1% of his passes for 3,586 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year. UNC was third in the Power Five last season in total yards per game with 537.3. North Carolina needs replacements at wide receiver and running back after losing their top-two players at both positions to the NFL.

Cornerback Tony Grimes started four games as a true freshman last season and is a member of the 2021 All-ACC Preseason Team. He will step into an expanded role this season and make things difficult for any opposing offensive coordinator.

Virginia Tech’s receiving corps is a bright spot, but they will need to replace Khalil Herbert, who is now with the Chicago Bears, at running back. All-ACC tight end James Mitchell had 26 receptions for 435 yards and a team-high four touchdowns last season. He is returning to improve his NFL Draft stock.

Hokies quarterback Braxton Burmeister went 3-1 as a starter last season, but he was inconsistent at times. His overall completion percentage was 56.5%, although he played well against Clemson and UVA in Virginia Tech’s final two games. 

Virginia Tech is 4-1 in their last five matchups against UNC. The Tar Heels are 5.5-point favorites tonight.

Is it still difficult to play at Lane Stadium? 

Since Michael Vick donned the maroon and orange and Virginia Tech became a formidable national power in the late 1990s there has been a narrative that Lane Stadium is one of the toughest places for opponents to play a college football game. 

From 1999-2011, the Hokies had just two seasons where they did not achieve double-digit wins, and in those two years they still won eight games. In eight seasons from 2004-2011, Virginia Tech had just nine total home losses. 

In recent years, that narrative is changing. Over the last three seasons, Virginia Tech is 12-8 at home. Three of the losses have been to unranked teams, with one particularly glaring 45-10 loss to Duke on a Friday night in September 2019.

The Hokies will try to avoid another Friday night loss at 6:00 p.m. ET.