Hokie ClubBeing back on the road for the second weekend in a row, Virginia Tech football will play at Pitt on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network at Acrisure Stadium.
For more on what you should know heading into the ACC matchup:
How to Follow
TV: Saturday's game will be televised on ACC Network with Wes Durham (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Taylor Davis (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 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. A familiar face will be on the other sideline. Tech head coach Brent Pry, who is in his first year with the Hokies, will face a familiar coach on Saturday in Pitt's head coach Pat Narduzzi, who is in his eighth season in Pittsburgh. The two have a history facing one another, with those times coming four years in a row from 2016-19, when Pry was the defensive coordinator at Penn State. The Nittany Lions came away 3-1 in those games and split 1-1 in Pittsburgh. Outside of the lone loss for Penn State in 2016 when the Panthers put up 42 points, Pry held Pitt's offense in check, allowing under 15 points in the other three games (all wins).
2. Who owns the clock will have the upper hand. Time of possession won't necessarily win a team a ball game, but it sure will increase one's chances, with not having your defense on the field all game. One thing that Pitt has been able to do so far through five contests is just that – keeping its defense off the field and keeping them fresh, while taking a good amount of time off the clock by running the football (40 rushing attempts per game). The Panthers currently average having the ball on offense 34 minutes a game, which ranks No. 11 nationally for the most. Tech on the other hand ranks No. 49 (30:45) and has had the ball in its hand longer than its opponent in four of five games this season. So, be on the lookout for which team is able to control the clock more and have the upper hand Saturday.
3. Tough sledding in Pittsburgh. Pitt and Tech, which were league foes in the BIG EAST from 1993-03 and have been ACC members since the Panthers joined in 2013, have a storied rivalry over the years. The two schools, which are roughly 325 miles apart, have both been able to defend their respective turfs, with Pitt owning a 7-4 record at home, while Tech is 7-3 at Lane Stadium. However, the Hokies have lost six of their last seven games in Pittsburgh, with the lone win coming in 2016.
Top Performers in Week 5
Kicker William Ross: Ross, who played soccer growing up and transitioned to playing football when he was 17 years old, has made his first seven field goals, including a 34-yarder versus North Carolina. He's the first Tech kicker to make his first seven field goals since 2007 (Jud Dunlevy).
Running back Keshawn King: For the fifth time of his career and the third time this season, King owned at least 50 rushing yards, tallying 52 rushing yards against the Tar Heels on nine carries (5.8 avg). King leads the team this season with 231 rushing yards and has the longest run this year (65 yards vs. Boston College, Sept. 10) of any Hokie.
Tight end Dae'Quan Wright: Wright made his debut for the Hokies Saturday and did not disappoint, recording a team-high four catches for 31 yards. Wright, who stands at 6-foot-4, 231 pounds, flexed out outside as a receiver multiple times, showcasing his ability as a pass-catching tight end.
Linebacker Dax Hollifield: Once again leading the team in tackles, Hollifield, who wore the iconic No. 25 against the Tar Heels, racked up 10 tackles (7 solo). That marked the seventh time of his career leading the Hokies in tackles in a game and the second time this year. With his 10 tackles, Hollifield moved up to No. 9 all-time in career tackles at Tech with 313.
Receiver Kaleb Smith: Smith, who finished with three catches for 49 yards versus UNC, had a 34-yard reception on Tech's opening drive that led to a Ross field goal. Smith now has had eight games in his career of having at least one 25-yard catch, including two contests in a row (28-yarder vs. West Virginia, Sept. 22).