Hokie ClubAfter hosting three games in a row at Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech football hits the road this weekend for a clash with ACC Coastal Division foe North Carolina on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
Saturday will mark the Tar Heels' (3-1) first ACC contest, while the Hokies (2-2) are already 1-0 in league play after a 27-10 win over Boston College on Sept. 10.
How to Follow
TV: The game will be televised on ACC Network with Dave O'Brien (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst) and Kelsey Riggs (sideline) on the call.
Radio: The Virginia Tech Sports Network, including its flagship station 105.3 FM "The Bear" in Blacksburg, will carry the contest over the airwaves. Bill Roth will handle play-by-play duties while Mike Burnop provides color commentary and Zach Mackey reports from the sideline.
Streaming: Catch the game online at ESPN.com and in the ESPN mobile app.
Live Audio: Listen to live audio coverage of the matchup at HokieSports.com/Watch and in the HokieSports mobile app.
Live Stats: Monitor the game through live stats on HokieSports.com, including play-by-play updates and full team and individual statistics.
Social Media: Stay connected with the Hokies on Twitter (@HokiesFB), Instagram (@hokiesfb) and Facebook (@VirginiaTechFB).
Three Things to Know
1. Who responds better after a loss? If you rewind a year ago, things were very different coming into this game. UNC was preseason No. 10 nationally and had a Heisman and ACC Player of the Year favorite in quarterback Sam Howell, while the Hokies were coming off of a non-bowl season. Tech ended up playing spoiler at home, defeating Carolina 17-10 in both team's season opener. This time around, both teams seek to bounce back from their double-digit losses this past weekend. Tech is already 1-0 following a loss under head coach Brent Pry, while the Tar Heels are 11-3 after a setback under head coach Mack Brown during his second stint with the team (2019-present).
2. Tech has had success in Chapel Hill. As the saying goes, it's tough to win on the road. But the Hokies have been able to say 'Tech Triumph' proudly when they leave Chapel Hill in their history, owning an 8-4-2 mark while playing at North Carolina. Tech has been able to win three of its last four at UNC, dating back to 2014.
3. A high-powered offense will face a stingy defense. Carolina has one of the better offenses in the country, averaging the eighth-most points per game (46.5) nationally and converting for a high clip on third down (52.8%) to rank ninth in FBS. However, it will face a defense in the Hokies that has the fourth-best third-down conversion (20.4%) in the land and ranks No. 10 in total defense (256 ypg). Tech put up a good fight against West Virginia's offense, which is a top-15 scoring offense as well, to just 16 points through three quarters. But the Mountaineers were able to hit another gear late, so look for Tech's defense to learn from last week heading into its bout with Carolina.
Top Performers in Week 4
Kicker William Ross: It hasn't taken long for Tech's new kicker to make a name for himself, with the redshirt junior being perfect on his tries for both PATs (9-for-9) and field goals (6-for-6). The last time a Hokie made his first six field-goal attempts was Brian Johnson during the 2018 season. Versus the Mountaineers, Ross drilled a 44-yarder in the third quarter to make it a 16-10 ballgame.
Linebacker Dax Hollifield: Already a household name, Hollifield has had a memorable few seasons for Tech since he arrived in 2018. After recording seven tackles against West Virginia, the fifth-year senior now has over 300 tackles (303) in his storied career, with 125 of those being solo stops. On his way, he passed senior analyst Xavier Adibi (291) and current Baltimore Raven Chuck Clark (296).
Receiver Kaleb Smith: Smith, a big-play threat for the Hokies on the outside, is off to a hot start in 2022 and is coming off of a five-catch, 70-yard outing versus West Virginia. The Louisa County, Virginia native had a receiving touchdown and the reception marked Smith's second touchdown of the season, a team high. The touchdown catch itself was a 28-yarder, marking Smith's seventh game of having at least one 25-yard catch in a contest, showcasing his ability to stretch the field.