The Hokies face off against the Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina Saturday afternoon. Below are some storylines fans should keep a lookout for heading into Saturday's game against UNC at 3:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
New Week, Fresh Start
Both teams are coming off tough losses the week prior and are looking to bounce back heading into Week 5. Luckily for the Hokies, they do well overcoming adversity, standing at 230-189-16 all-time after a loss. UNC has been a favorable opponent for Tech, as the Hokies are 14-4 against the Tar Heels since joining the ACC back in 2004, and are 17-7-6 all-time when playing in Chapel Hill. Tech head coach Brent Pry is 1-0 after a loss, while UNC head coach Mack Brown is 11-3 after a setback during his second stint with the school.
Important Recruiting Game
On Saturday, the Hokies will be traveling to the state of North Carolina for the first time this season. This trip will be very important for recruiting, as some of the most impactful players in recent history have hailed from the "Tar Heel State". Current players include both the Hollifield brothers (Dax and Jack), linebacker Alan Tisdale and tight end Drake De Iuliis. Some recent alumni include the likes of wide receiver Tré Turner, current Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Diablo and current Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley. Legendary head coach Frank Beamer is even from Mount Airy, North Carolina. A win Saturday will most certainly help in luring the top recruits from the state and build upon their recruiting class.
Unstoppable Force vs. Immovable Object
Saturday we will see the battle of two highly impressive units – Tech's defense versus UNC's offense. The return of the Lunch Pail defense hasn't gone unnoticed, ranking third in the ACC in rushing defense (86.0 ypg), second in passing efficiency defense (108.17) and first in total defense (256.0 ypg). The Hokies will be facing their most formidable foe yet, as the Tar Heels' offense ranks first in the ACC in scoring offense (46.5 ppg) and passing efficiency (187.08). We will see which squad comes out on top on Saturday, as a win will give the respective team a crucial conference win, with it improving the Hokies to 2-0 in league play, while Carolina would pick up its first conference win.
Prime Opportunity for Grant Wells
Coming into the season, Wells was widely regarded as one of the more productive quarterbacks in college football, coming from Marshall where he put up big numbers in the air. We have seen flashes of his potential, throwing for 314 yards and two touchdowns in his game against Wofford and connecting on deep balls each game. Against the Terriers, he broke the program's record for most completions in the first quarter (12). This weekend, Wells will be facing off against a UNC defense that has struggled against the pass so far this season, ranking last in the ACC in passing yards allowed (278.8 ypg), passing efficiency defense (172.08), and total defense (495.02 ypg).
Cutting Down on the Mistakes
Saturday will feature the ACC's two most penalized teams, with Tech and UNC committing 80.75 and 72.25 penalty yards per game. Cutting down on the penalties was undoubtedly a focus throughout the week of practice for each team and will be something to keep an eye on during the game. The team that limits the penalties will have an advantage in the game, especially with expected weather conditions on the way.