Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Hokies are set to hit the road in Week 6, facing Stanford, who is hosting Virginia Tech in their inaugural ACC season after moving on from the PAC-12. This matchup will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams, following the Cardinal's victory in the 2011 Orange Bowl. After 13 years, these teams will clash again, with kickoff slated for Saturday, Oct. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network. In this week’s edition of Know the Foe, presented by AAA, we’ll explore what to expect from Stanford.
Stanford is under the direction of second-year head coach Troy Taylor, who in his debut season with the Cardinal finished 3-9, losing all seven home games. Continuing to build his foundation, Taylor's 2024 recruiting class ranked 25th in the country by ESPN. The program signed seven four-star recruits, including QB Elijah Brown from Mater Dei High School (alma mater of Bryce Young, Matt Leiner and Matt Barkley) and running back Cole Tabb.
As the 2024 season unfolds, Stanford sits at 2-2, coming off a 40-14 loss to ACC rival No. 17 Clemson. However, the Cardinal have secured victories against Syracuse and Cal Poly. The key to Stanford's offense is starting quarterback Ashton Daniels, who has thrown for 633 yards, averaging 158.3 yards per game. Daniels has completed 59% of his passes, totaling five touchdowns against six interceptions. His dual-threat capability is evident as he adds 252 rushing yards, averaging 63 yards per game on 50 carries.
The staring signal-caller has benefited from returning wide receiver Elic Ayomanor, who leads the team with 284 receiving yards on 21 receptions and has scored two touchdowns this season. Together, they form a dynamic connection that is crucial to Stanford’s offense.
In their Week 5 loss to Clemson, backup quarterback Justin Lamson shared playing time, completing 4 of 8 passes for 54 yards and one touchdown. Depending on Daniels' recovery from an ankle injury, Lamson may be in line to start against the Hokies. Whoever takes the helm will face a significant challenge in defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland. Recognized as one of the premier pass rushers in the country, APR is currently second in the nation with seven sacks.
On the defensive side, Stanford linebacker Tristan Sinclair leads the team in tackles (24), along with a sack, four tackles for loss (TFL) and five quarterback hits. Cornerback Collin Wright has also been impactful, leading the team with two interceptions, complemented by 19 tackles.
Despite these individual performances, the Cardinal ranked outside the top 100 nationally in several key defensive metrics, including EPA per dropback allowed, pass success rate allowed, and Pro Football Focus coverage grades after facing TCU and Cal Poly. This may present an opportunity for Tech’s receivers to exploit the Cardinal secondary.
After amassing nearly 400 yards of offense against No. 8 Miami, the Hokies present a formidable threat both in the air and on the ground. Quarterback Kyron Drones threw two touchdown passes, while Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 141 yards and added another score, marking his seventh consecutive game with a touchdown for Virginia Tech. As the Hokies prepare to face Stanford, the team's offensive firepower and defensive resilience will be crucial in securing a victory on the road.
Looking ahead, Virginia Tech will be returning home to Lane Stadium under the Thursday night lights on Oct. 17th to face Boston College. While this game is sold out, fans still seeking single-game ticket options for Boston College are encouraged to visit SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace of Virginia Tech Athletics.