Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech football hits the road for its first away game of the year, traveling to New Jersey for a matchup against Rutgers on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. The Hokies will face their second straight Big Ten opponent after hosting Purdue this past weekend in Blacksburg.
How to Follow TV: The game will be televised on Big Ten Network with Joe Beninati (play-by-play), Adam Breneman (analyst) and Taryn Hatcher (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 FoxSports.com and in the FOX Sports mobile app.
Live Audio: Listen to live audio coverage of the matchup at HokieSports.com/Watch or 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 KnowRally amongst adversity
On Saturday, the Hokies figured out ways to pivot when the scheme could be more advantageous with a shift in philosophy. A great example was taking advantage of Bhayshul Tuten's ability to make plays in space with the passing game. On back-to-back offensive snaps, Tuten scored a 30-yard touchdown off a catch and run, then followed it up with another 15-yard reception. Offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen exploited that matchup when the opportunity presented itself and the momentum shifted in the Hokies favor. The Hokies also showed mental fortitude following a five-hour game delay, putting together eight consecutive stops on third down through the end of the third quarter. These showcases of resiliency are exactly what Tech needs to get back on track.
Closing out the game
Playing a complete game will be critical for Tech in its first road matchup of the year. Finding ways to make just a few more players than the opposing team could help earn a victory. Rutgers found major success against Temple in the fourth quarter, scoring 23 straight points to close out the game. The Hokies didn't score in the second half against Purdue but can find optimism in the plays made to close out the season opener. Late in the fourth quarter against Old Dominion, Tech made big plays on all three phases, scoring on offense, forcing an interception and returning a punt 66 yards on special teams. Winning on the road is generally a hard-fought victory, and playing well in the second half can help them win their first scheduled away game of the season since 2020.
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Tech's defense will have its hands full attempting to contain Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior brings plenty of size and athleticism to the Scarlet Knights offense. First-year offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca has utilized a good deal of RPO over the first two weeks to leverage Wimsatt's mobility. It will be pertinent for the Hokies to stay disciplined in their run-fits on the first level and their coverage responsibilities in the secondary.
Players to WatchWide Receiver Da'Quan Felton: The 6-foot-5, 215-pound wideout brings a ton of height and length for quarterbacks on passes down the sideline. Felton has one reception for 34 yards so far this season, a big play downfield that helped set up a Hokies touchdown. The redshirt senior is a big play threat due to his size and speed, which was evident after he led Norfolk State in touchdowns (7) and had a 90-yard touchdown catch at James Madison in 2022.
Cornerback Mansoor Delane: Building on a strong freshman year, Delane started his sophomore campaign right where he left off in 2022. In the opener against Old Dominion, he allowed just two receptions for 11 yards on six targets over 33 coverage snaps. The Silver Spring, Maryland native offers versatility in the secondary, lining up at both cornerback and safety. Defensive coordinator Chris Marve has a valuable chess piece with the defense back after Delane led the Hokies in pass breakups (8) last season.
Kicker John Love: After winning the kicker competition during fall camp, Love is perfect on the season for field goal attempts. After converting two chip shots of 21 and 27 yards respectively against ODU, the redshirt freshman showcased his leg strength with a 41-yard field goal this past weekend. Given the effects on the field quality following a significant weather delay, making your longest attempt on the season is a big confidence booster. Love has also been impactful as the placekicker with nine touchbacks on 11 kickoffs limiting opponents to only two kickoff returns this season.