Hokie ClubHeading into their third meeting since joining the ACC, the Hokies and Orange each look for a primetime victory inside Lane Stadium on Thursday evening. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game set to air on ESPN.
Enjoy the action-packed night in Blacksburg with tickets to Thursday's game starting at $60.
Drones On Notice
Ever since taking over the controls as Tech's starting signal-caller prior to the non-conference matchup with Rutgers in mid-September, Baylor transfer Kyron Drones has continued to shine in the first five starts of his collegiate career.
Progressively improving as time goes along, Drones reached a new plateau in the 30-13 victory over Wake Forest, totaling the fourth highest-graded performance (87.6) of all quarterbacks throughout college football, according to Pro Football Focus.
On top of that, Drones became the first Tech quarterback to throw for over 300 yards since Jerod Evans did so twice in 2016, finding the end zone twice in the air en route to the 17-point win.
With the continued development and improvement shown, Drones has set himself up for a surplus of success for the rest of the year. And with the Syracuse defense giving up over 380 yards of offense per game, the sky remains the limit to start off that stretch with a strong performance on Thursday night.
Back Where It Belongs
Serving as a staple of the tradition of Tech football, Thursday night football has been worshiped in Blacksburg for the longest period of time. And in 2023, that's certainly no exception.
Returning to its roots of suiting up on Thursday night is always anticipated within the Hokies' program. For second-year head coach Brent Pry, that certainly stands out.
"That's Blacksburg. That's Virginia Tech," Pry said. "It's been great for our brand. I think people got to know Virginia Tech on Thursday nights, maybe before anyway else. Again, it's about us being 1-0. But everybody's excited about a Thursday night game in Lane."
The Hokies find themselves 23-12 all-time in Thursday night affairs and are 12-7 all-time inside Lane Stadium. Though historically successful when suiting up on the gridiron for a Thursday night bout, Tech is seeking its first win on the day since a 39-36 victory over Pitt in 2016 in the Steel City.
Red Zone Resilience
Though typically a potent offense when entering the red zone, the Tech offense will face quite the challenge against Syracuse's stout defense when opponents arrive in scoring position.
The Orange currently sit at eighth in the country when it comes to red zone defense, with the opposition scoring just 66.7% (16-for-24) of the time when venturing inside the opposing 20-yard line.
Compared to the offensive side of the ball, the Hokies have positioned themselves in the middle of the pack. Tech has scored 85.2% (23-for-27) of the time it has reached the red zone and has found the end zone 48.1% (13-for-27) of the time.
Facing a stout Syracuse front, it remains imperative to put up points when the Hokies arrive in the red zone, and if Tech can find a way to score seven when given the opportunity, it likely serves as a game-changer for the rest of the campaign.
Turning The Tides
With the two sides serving as former Big East foes, Tech and Syracuse will meet for the 20th time on Thursday night, with the Orange having won four of the last five in the series between both sides. The Hokies also find themselves sitting at 0-2 against the Orange since Syracuse joined the ACC and will eye their first victory in the series since 2003.
After starting 4-0, the Orange have lost three in a row and have been outscored 112-24 over that stretch of time. Despite a dangerous offensive attack led by standout quarterback Garrett Shrader, the chance is there for a big-time win.
And with a victory on Thursday night, Tech will have set itself up for the finish it anticipated the rest of the way in 2023.