Oct 243 min read

Hokies Welcome Yellow Jackets in a Crucial ACC Matchup

Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones — © Peter Casey-Imagn Images

The Virginia Tech Hokies (4-3, 2-1 ACC) and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-3, 3-2 ACC) will meet in an Atlantic Coast Conference game with their title hopes on the line at noon EST on Oct. 26. The Hokies are coming off a huge win last week over Boston College while the Yellow Jackets recover from a loss to No.12 Notre Dame. The Yellow Jackets are also waiting to hear if quarterback Haynes King will get a clean bill of health for this game. A loss for either team will surely eliminate them from ACC title contention.

Hokies Two-Headed Monster

Virginia Tech’s offensive backfield is one of the best in the ACC. Their scoring ability has given the Hokies a chance to win every game this season. Despite a 4-3 record, QB Kyron Drones and running back Bhaushul Tuten have been top performers in their positions this season. Drones has picked up where he left off last season. He is making good decisions with the ball in his hands and completing 62 percent of his passes, up 4 percent from last season. Drones has thrown for 1319 yards and 9 touchdowns while adding 5 touchdowns on the ground.

Tuten is a bruising back and the key component to the Hokies' backfield. His 871 yards and 12 touchdowns rank him as the No. 6 back in the NCAA. As Boston College learned last week, Tuten is a back that defenses must scheme around. Tuten had his most prolific game as a Hokie, rushing for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also added a receiving touchdown, making his end zone visits alone enough to beat Boston College.

Virginia Tech Key Players

Kyron Drones—Drones will need to continue to keep defenses on their heels with his dual-threat athleticism. He will also need to capitalize on his accuracy and take advantage of openings in the Yellow Jackets' secondary.

Bhayshul Tuten—Tuten is the answer to all of the Hokies’ questions. His 266 yards last week set a new school record. Tuten will continue to dominate college football and the Yellow Jackets are just next in line.

Georgia Tech on the Mend

The Yellow Jackets are on the mend after two weeks of tough football. Though they would pull off the win at North Carolina, it came at the cost of King, who suffered a shoulder injury. They then hosted No. 12 Notre Dame with backup Zach Pyron and suffered their worst loss of the year despite decent numbers from Pyron. The Yellow Jackets are hopeful that King will return this week and continue his stellar play. Even having missed one game, King is still a top-50 passer with 1,568 yards and 8 interceptions. He is also a dual threat, adding 353 yards and 6 touchdowns with his feet.

Georgia Tech QB Haynes King — © Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Georgia Tech Key Players

Offensive Line—The offensive line will have to be stellar this week regardless of who is behind the center. Protecting the quarterback and establishing the run is vital to the Yellow Jackets’ success versus the Hokies.

Defense—The defense must stop the run this week. The Hokies have a dynamic backfield and will aim to get Tuten started early. Keeping Tuten in check must be their top priority.

A Tale of Two Backfields

This game’s outcome will be determined by who can establish the run better and which quarterback will be the most accurate on passing downs. Each team’s strength is the running game. Georgia Tech ranks first in the ACC with 1,495 yards and the Hokies are nipping on their heels with 1,465 yards. The defense that steps up and dominates the running game will give their team the best chance to win this important ACC matchup. Expect the Hokies in an exciting game at Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech 38, Georgia Tech 27.