College Football
Preview
Virginia at Virginia Tech
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 30, 2024
Where: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia

Bowl eligibility is on the line for both rivals Saturday night as Virginia and host Virginia Tech finish the regular season in Blacksburg, Va.

Both teams are 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The visiting Cavaliers have lost two in a row and five of their last six, while the Hokies are on a three-game losing streak.

Virginia is trying to get to a bowl game for the first time under third-year head coach Tony Elliott. Virginia Tech won the Military Bowl last season and is seeking its second postseason berth with third-year coach Brent Pry.

The Hokies have won the last three editions of the Commonwealth Clash and have not lost to the Cavaliers at home since 1998. Virginia Tech is 3-2 at home this season and Virginia is 3-2 on the road.

Virginia Tech is coming off a 31-28 defeat at Duke, its fifth loss by seven or fewer points this season. By comparison, Virginia's last four losses were by a combined 91 points.

"It's super frustrating," Hokies wide receiver Ali Jennings said of the Hokies' 0-5 record in one-score games. "A lot of times we are the better team, but we shoot ourselves in the foot."

Virginia Tech had twice as many first downs as Duke (24-12) and three times the rushing yards (190-64) but couldn't catch up after falling into a 31-17 hole. The Hokies had three chances to tie or take the lead in the final eight minutes but came up empty.

Collin Schlee started at quarterback for the injured Kyron Drones (knee), but Schlee exited with a first-half injury and was replaced by freshman William "Pop" Watson III.

Drones, who threw three touchdown passes in last season's 55-17 rout of Virginia, is considered day-to-day heading into Saturday's finale.

The Cavaliers fell 33-7 at home last weekend to then-No. 13 SMU. They trailed 26-0 before getting on the board with Anthony Colandrea's TD pass to Malachi Fields with 4:16 remaining.

Virginia also has a cloudy QB picture, with some calling for Tony Muskett to replace Colandrea (13 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions this season).

"We gotta figure out who gives us the best shot, but at the end of the day, whoever's your quarterback, he's got to have help from his supporting cast all the way around," Elliott said.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W‑L Strk PF PA Home Away Grass Turf Conf
Virginia 5-6 L2 23.2 28.0 2-4 3-2 4-5 0-0 3-4
Virginia Tech 5-6 L3 29.0 23.3 3-2 2-4 4-4 0-0 3-4
Last Meeting
Virginia Virginia Tech
Date Away Home Tot Rus Pas Tot Rus Pas
11/25/23 VT 55 UVA 17 286 43 243 500 252 248
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Passing Player COMP % YDS TD INT
Virginia A. Colandrea 63.0 243 2 1
Virginia Tech K. Drones 45.5 244 3 0
Rushing Player CAR YDS AVG TD
Virginia D. Hawthorne 4 16 4.0 0
Virginia Tech B. Tuten 16 117 7.3 1
Receiving Player REC YDS AVG TD
Virginia M. Washington 14 115 8.2 0
Virginia Tech D. Felton 3 133 44.3 2
Touchdowns Player TD
Virginia M. Fields 2
Virginia Tech D. Felton 2
Season
Passing Player COMP % YDS TD INT
Virginia A. Colandrea 61.9 2125 13 11
Virginia Tech K. Drones 60.7 1562 10 6
Rushing Player CAR YDS AVG TD
Virginia K. Pace 114 499 4.4 3
Virginia Tech B. Tuten 165 1034 6.3 13
Receiving Player REC YDS AVG TD
Virginia M. Fields 53 788 14.9 5
Virginia Tech S. Gosnell 25 480 19.2 1
Touchdowns Player TD
Virginia M. Fields 5
Virginia Tech B. Tuten 15
Quickchart Matchup
Virginia Virginia Off vs  Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Def
Virginia 368.8 yards
Virginia Tech 367.5 yards
Virginia 3.7 yards/rush
Virginia Tech 3.9 yards/rush
Virginia 7 yards/attempt
Virginia Tech 7.2 yards/attempt
Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Off vs  Virginia Virginia Def
Virginia Tech 372.9 yards
Virginia 404 yards
Virginia Tech 4.8 yards/rush
Virginia 4 yards/rush
Virginia Tech 6.9 yards/attempt
Virginia 7.8 yards/attempt