Oct 173 min read

Hokies Hope to Continue Upward Trend Against Reeling Eagles

The Boston College Eagles (4-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) travel to face the Virginia Tech Hokies (3-3, 1-1) in a prime-time matchup at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 17 in Blacksburg, Va. The Hokies have dominated the all-time, head-to-head series 20-11 and won the most recent meeting 48-22 last year. Both teams are coming off a bye week with something to prove.

What's at Stake?

After a disappointing start to the year that included losses to Vanderbilt and Rutgers, the Hokies seem to be finding their footing. After going on the road and giving the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0) a scare, Virginia Tech impressed with a blowout win over the Stanford Cardinal (2-4, 1-2). As a result of several close losses, though, the Hokies do not have much room for error if they hope to earn bowl eligibility. They will hope to prove that they can sustain their newfound success following their week off.

In contrast to Virginia Tech, Boston College got off to a hot start in 2024. The Eagles turned heads with a dominating victory over the Florida State Seminoles (1-5, 1-4), a hard-fought loss to the No. 19 Missouri Tigers (5-1, 1-1) and a tightly-contested victory over the Michigan State Spartans (3-3, 1-2). Since then, the results have been disappointing. After narrowly escaping the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4-2, 2-0), Boston College dropped their first conference game to the Virginia Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1) in shocking fashion.

Coming off a bye, head coach Bill O'Brien and the Eagles will hope to show that they still have what it takes to compete in the ACC. With just one loss in conference play, the Eagles are not completely out of the title conversation. They will need to be at their best going forward, however, to continue their title hopes.

Key Players: Virginia Tech Hokies

Bhayshul Tuten, Running Back

The senior running back has been a key part of the Hokies' recent success. Tuten leads the ACC with 9 rushing touchdowns and is second in the conference with 605 rushing yards. Against Miami, he dominated on the ground, running for 141 yards and a touchdown on just 19 carries. Tuten and the rest of the Virginia Tech rushing attack will be faced with their toughest test yet. The Boston College rush defense is fourth in the ACC with just 104.7 rushing yards allowed per game.

Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Defensive End

The star senior lineman leads a dominating defensive line that tops the ACC with 21 sacks on the season. Powell-Ryland has contributed with 7 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in just 6 games, disrupting opposing offenses with his tenacity and strength. He will be tasked with containing dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos and a Boston College backfield full of explosive playmakers.

Key Players: Boston College Eagles

Thomas Castellanos, Quarterback

After a hot start to the season that included 10 passing TDs in just four games, Castellanos was forced to sit out against Western Kentucky with an undisclosed injury. In his return against the Cavaliers, he was much less efficient, turning the ball over 3 times and struggling to keep the Boston College offense on the field. Boston College will need him to return to his early-season form in order to have success against a ferocious defensive front.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, Defensive End

The senior defensive lineman was one of the lone bright spots in the disappointing loss to Virginia.He finished with 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack. Ezeiruaku currently ranks second in the FBS with 9 sacks and leads the ACC with 11.5 tackles for loss. The Boston College defense will depend on him to get pressure into a tough Virginia Tech backfield.

Trends to Watch

Virginia Tech is 1-10 in one-score games under head coach Brent Pry, including an 0-3 record in such games in 2024. In a game that could be close throughout, the Hokies will hope to prove that they have what it takes to win when the pressure is on.