No. 17 Hokies head to Syracuse for first time since 2002No. 17 Hokies head to Syracuse for first time since 2002
Football

No. 17 Hokies head to Syracuse for first time since 2002

Virginia Tech football enters its Week Seven opponent Syracuse as the No. 17-ranked team in the latest AP poll, marking the first time the Hokies have been ranked in back-to-back weeks in the regular season since Oct. 12-26, 2013. The game against the Orange is set for Saturday, Oct. 15 with a 3:45 p.m. kick in Carrier Dome on the Syracuse campus. The game can be seen on ESPNU.

  • Multimedia page - includes links to Tech's game notes, this week's opponent's game notes, ACC weekly notes and head coach Justin Fuente's quotes from Monday's press conference.

4-1 TECH TRAVELS TO SYRACUSE

  • The Hokies are 4-1 under Justin Fuente after a dominant 34-3 win at No. 17 UNC (10/8), marking VT’s first win over a ranked foe since taking down No. 19 Duke (11/15/14).
  • Syracuse is 2-4 after a 28-9 loss at WF (10/8).
  • Saturday’s game features a pair of first-year ACC head coaches in Fuente and Dino Babers and will mark the first ACC contest between these two former BIG East rivals.
  • The Hokies have outscored their last three opponents by a combined 132-20 margin and own an 83-3 scoring edge in two ACC games.
  • Tech won its last meeting with Syracuse by a 51-7 margin at Lane Stadium (10/11/03).
  • The Hokies lost a wild 50-42 2 OT decision in their last game at the Carrier Dome (11/9/02) and last won there when two TDs from RB Lee Suggs and a 55-yard scoring scamper by QB Mike Vick gave Tech a 22-14 win (10/21/00).

HOKIES CLIMB TO NO. 17 IN AP TOP 25

  • VT is ranked in The AP Top 25 in back-to-back regular season weeks for the first time since Oct. 12-26, 2013.
  • The Hokies are also No. 19 in the Coaches Poll.
  • Tech is 54-17 as a member of the ACC against unranked ACC foes, including a 26-9 mark on the road.
  • Syracuse has lost 12 straight games against AP Top 25 teams and is 1-14 in such contests dating back to 2012.
  • With last week’s 34-3 win at No. 17 UNC (10/8), VT is 8-1 on the road vs. AP Top 25 foes dating back to 2010, the nation’s best mark over that span.

THE #LPD VS. ORANGE OFFENSE

  • Since VT joined the ACC in 2004, Tech is 90-7 (.928) when holding foes to 17 points or fewer, including a 53-6 (.898) mark in ACC games.
  • The #LPD has held opponents scoreless in nine of the last 12 quarters this season.
  • Syracuse has lost 23 of its last 25 games when scoring 17 or fewer points, including 10 straight losses.
  • Tech ranks second in the FBS in pass defense (132.2 ypg) and third in total defense (237.6 ypg).
  • VT will face a Syracuse offense that ranks second in the ACC in passing (336.3 ypg).
  • Since the start of the 2004 season, Tech is 54-4 (.931) when forcing two or more INTs, including a 22-1 (.957) mark on the road.
  • The LPD has allowed a mere 58 completions. Only Florida (46) has permitted fewer in the Power Five.
  • Tech’s defense has forced 36 opponent drives to go three-and-out (or less) this season.
  • UNC was averaging 484.2 yards of total offense and was leading the ACC with a 179.7 pass efficiency rating before facing VT.
  • The #LPD limited UNC to 131 total net yards and held UNC to 58 net passing yards & a 42.0 pass efficiency rating.

SYRACUSE SCOUTING SNAPSHOT

  • Syracuse is 4-9 at home against ACC foes dating back to 2013.
  • Syracuse has allowed 40.4 ppg against FBS foes in 2016.
  • QB Eric Dungey ranks second in the ACC in passing (314.3 ypg) and total offense (335.8 ypg).
  • WR Amba Etta-Tawo leads the ACC in both receptions (51) and receiving yards per game (146.0).
  • The Orange is 14th in the ACC in both scoring defense (36.0 ppg) and total defense (475.2 ypg). Syracuse leads the ACC with a 21.2 punt return avg.