BLACKSBURG – Riding on the momentum of their first three-game winning streak since 2019, the Hokies will open November with a trip to New York. This weekend’s matchup will be the 21st meeting between Virginia Tech and Syracuse, and the Hokies will be ready. The penultimate road game of the regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, November 2nd at noon ET and will be broadcast live on The CW. This week’s Know the Foe, brought to you by AAA, breaks down what to expect from the Orange and how the Hokies will stack up in this ACC matchup.
Syracuse reached its second straight bowl game last season, finishing 6-7. However, it was the Orange’s fourth losing season in five years, and head coach Dino Babers was fired after eight seasons. One of those was a 38-10 blowout loss at Blacksburg, in which Hokies running back Beishul Tuten gained 118 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and quarterback Kyron -Drones connected with Daquan Felton three times for 80 yards and two scores.
Now under the leadership of first-year head coach Fran Brown, Syracuse is showing signs of improvement, starting the season 5-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Brown, who comes from Georgia as the defensive backs coach, introduced the program’s first top-40 recruiting class since 2001, strengthened the roster with key transfer portal additions, including former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, and more. , is already having an impact.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, previously the running backs coach for the New York Giants, introduced a balanced attack with an emphasis on both the pass and run. A traditional pocket passer, McCord has thrown for 2,481 yards this season, excelling in clean pocket and deep passing situations. He has developed chemistry with top targets Jackson Meeks, who has 512 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and Trevor Pena, who has 509 yards and five scores.
On the ground, the Orange add another dimension to their balanced offense with running back LeQuint Allen, who has 481 rushing yards and four touchdowns. But this unit will be tested by the Hokies’ defense, which has found its rhythm, especially in the secondary. Virginia Tech’s defense has recorded seven interceptions this season, including two in a win over Georgia Tech. Linebackers Jaden Keller and Caleb Woodson also emerged as key players, each recording 47 combined tackles, and defensive lineman Antwon Powell-Ryland also showed destructive power with 11 sacks.
A big concern for Syracuse is quarterback Kyle McCord’s limited mobility, which becomes a liability under pressure. His 33.5 passing grade under duress last season ranked among the worst in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), and contributed to Ohio State’s loss to Michigan. Against No. 18 Pittsburgh, which boasts a defense that ranked No. 11 in the nation in sacks this year, McCord only allowed a passing grade of 44.2 points. Additionally, his lack of rushing ability further reduces his effectiveness on the ground. The combination of tight coverage and relentless pressure puts the Hokies defense in a good position to disrupt Syracuse’s offensive rhythm.
Defensively, Syracuse employs a 4-2-5 scheme that increases pass rush potential against opponents. Last season, the Orange ranked 31st among FBS teams in team coverage grade (87.4) according to PFF and returned several key contributors from the division. Safeties Justin Barron and Aliyah Clark are back, and both ranked among the top three highest-graded players in the ACC at their positions last year. Barron has been a standout player, leading the team in tackles this season with 46 and also recording one interception.
On the defensive line is Fadil Diggs, a transfer from Texas A&M, who ranks fifth on the team in tackles and has four sacks. Meanwhile, the Orange’s top linebacker, Derek McDonald, contributed 44 tackles and is a solid presence in the middle of the field.
Virginia Tech had success last time out against Syracuse and is riding high on momentum in this game, creating an exciting opportunity for the Hokies. A win would not only mark a four-game winning streak, but also secure a second straight bowl game under head coach Brent Pry. With the Orange suffering a decisive loss to No. 18 Pittsburgh, the Hokies have a chance to stay on track for a postseason berth.
The Hokies return to Blacksburg on Saturday, Nov. 9, to take on No. 11 Clemson in a matchup with Stripe Effect. The game is sold out, but fans looking to secure a spot for this matchup can explore single-game ticket options on SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace for the Virginia Tech Athletics.
