BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech football team begins its seven-game 2019 home schedule at Lane Stadium this Saturday with in-state opponent Old Dominion. Kickoff is set for 12 PM.
To purchase tickets, click here. For all information on what to expect at Lane Stadium in 2019, click here. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Saturday, September 7 - 12 PM
Lane Stadium; Blacksburg, Virginia
vs. Old Dominion Monarchs (1-0, 0-0 C-USA)
Head Coach: Bobby Wilder (11th Season, 11th Season overall)
Record at school: 77-45; career: 77-45
Series: Tied, 1-1; Last: Sept. 22, 2018 (L, 49-35)
Live Stats: CLICK HERE
Broadcast: ESPNU
Play-by-Play: Mike Couzens
Analyst: Kirk Morrison
Radio: Virginia Tech Sports Properties
Play-by-Play: Jon Laaser
Analyst: Mike Burnop
Sideline: Wes McElroy
TECH OPENS HOME SLATE VS. ODU
• Virginia Tech begins a seven-game home schedule at Lane Stadium with in-state opponent Old Dominion (9/7).
• The Hokies are coming off a 35-28 loss at Boston College (8/31), while ODU registered a 24-21 win vs. Norfolk State (8/31).
• Tech posted a 38-0 win vs. Old Dominion (9/23/17) in the initial meeting between the two squads. ODU won last season's contest in Norfolk by a 49-35 margin (9/22/18).
• Virginia Tech is 3-0 in home openers under Justin Fuente.
• Despite limiting Boston College RB A.J. Dillon to 81 rushing yards last week and holding BC to zero net yards in the third quarter, Tech couldn't overcome five turnovers.
• Virginia Tech is home again next week vs. Furman (9/10), while ODU continues its tour of the Commonwealth at UVA (9/10). Tech's contest vs. Furman will be televised by the ACC Network.
PLAYMAKERS APLENTY ON OFFENSE
• TE James Mitchell and WRs Kaleb Smith and Tayvion Robinson registered their first career TD catches last week. Robinson led Tech with six catches for 72 yards at Boston College (8/31).
• After catching 10 passes for 209 yards with two TDs in the season's first seven games, Turner registered 16 catches for 326 yards and two TDs in his final five contests of 2018. He caught a career-best five passes for 49 yards at Boston College (8/31).
• WR Hezekiah Grimsley tied a career high with six catches and registered a career-high 98 receiving yards at BC (8/31).
• Former walk-on WR Kaleb Smith caught four passes for 62 yards with an 11-yard touchdown at Boston College (8/31) in his first appearance in a Virginia Tech uniform.
• QB Ryan Willis threw for 344 yards and four TDs at BC (8/31). Those four TD passes tied a career high, while his 344 passes yards were the second-best tally of his career (348 at TCU, 10/8/16).
HOKIES RANK AMONG THE FBS' YOUNGEST TEAMS
• More than half of Virginia Tech's roster entering the 2019 season is made up of freshmen. 52.5 percent to be exact.
• That percentage ranks third in the FBS this season.
Most Freshmen on 2019 FBS rosters
School Fr. R-Fr. Total Pct.
1. UCLA 43 21 64 53.3
2. Oklahoma State 31 31 62 52.9
3. Virginia Tech 37 26 63 52.5
4. Coastal Carolina 39 24 63 51.6
5. Nebraska 47 31 78 50.9
