BLACKSBURG – After its week of preparation, Virginia Tech football is ready for its primetime matchup with No. 14 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ACC Network.
The Hokies (3-1) host the Irish (4-1) for its second ever trip to Lane Stadium and fourth meeting all-time between the teams. Tech is 1-2 in the previous matchups with Notre Dame, the lone win coming in the first game in 2016 as the Hokies topped the Irish 34-31 in South Bend.
Last week's top performers:
- The Hokies enjoyed an open date last week as Notre Dame hosted Cincinnati in South Bend in a Top 10 matchup.
- Although the Irish could not top the Bearcats, they did record a turnover for the fifth straight game, upping their season total to 12 takeaways on the year.
- Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer recorded a team-high eight receptions for 93 yards.
- Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne relieved starter Jack Coan and set career highs with nine completions for 143 yards.
- Notre Dame DL Isaiah Foskey tallied a strip sack, upping his season sack total to a team-high 5.0.
What to watch for Saturday:
- Tech is currently on a four-game home winning streak, dating back to the 33-15 win over Virginia in the 2020 season finale. The Hokies are outscoring opponents 76-24 and have racked up eight rushing TDs during that span.
- The last time the Hokies beat AP Top 25 opponents at home in a single season was 2009 when they beat No. 19 Nebraska 16-15 and No. 9 Miami 31-7
- Notre Dame has not lost to an unranked opponent since Virginia Tech defeated the Irish in South Bend 34-31 on Nov. 19, 2016. Notre Dame has since won 35 straight games versus unranked opponents.
- WR Tré Turner is just four receptions away from moving into the Top 10 on Tech's all-time receptions list. He currently sits 11th with 110 career receptions, three behind VT Sports Hall of Fame member Ricky Scales.
- QB Braxton Burmeister owns a 5-0 career mark as Virginia Tech's starter in Lane Stadium and has accounted for five total touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in that time.
- RB Raheem Blackshear is one of four active Power Five running backs to accumulate over 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in his career.