Carolina opponent preview: Virginia Tech

Saturday, Oct. 19 (TBA) at Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va.

2018 result: 6-7 (4-4 ACC); lost 35-31 to Cincinnati in Military Bowl.

Last meeting: Virginia Tech 22, Carolina 19 (Oct 13, 2018).

All-time series: Virginia Tech, 23-11-6.

Head coach: Justin Fuente, 21-15 (15-9 ACC).

ACC preseason poll: Third, Coastal.

Key losses: QB Josh Jackson, RB Steven Peoples, WR Eric Kumah, WR Sean Savoy, RT Yosuah Nijman, LG Kyle Chung, RG Braxton Pfaff, DT Ricky Walker, DE Trevon Hill.

Key returners: QB Ryan Willis, RB Deshawn McClease, RB Jalen Holston, WR Damon Hazelton, WR Tre Turner, WR Hezekiah Grimsley, TE Dalton Keene, LT Christian Darrisaw, DE Emmanuel Belmar, DE TyJuan Garbutt, DE Houshun Gaines, LB Dax Hollifield, LB Rayshard Ashby, LB Dylan Rivers, S Reggie Floyd, S Khalil Ladler, S Divine Deablo, CB Caleb Farley, CB Jovonn Quillen.

Top newcomers: QB Braxton Burmeister (grad transfer, Oregon), C Brock Hoffman (grad transfer, Coastal Carolina), G Doug Nester, WR Jaden Payouted

Getting to know the Hokies, quickly

2018 was a very strange season for the Hokies. As if things couldn't get worse after losing to Old Dominion, four straight losses to Georgia Tech, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Miami sent the fanbase into a panic.
Despite a shocking disaster of a season for Bud Foster's defense, which surrendered 438 yards per game, Virginia Tech found a way to extend its winning streak over Virginia.
The good news? Nearly everyone is back from that defense. Or is that the bad news?
Seriously, if you're a betting man, go bet the farm on the Hokies ranking better than 98th in total defense this season. It's free money.
Willis was more than admirable after taking over for Josh Jackson last season, completing 58.5 percent of his attempts for 2,716 yards with 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
Hazelton (51 rec., 802 yards, 8 TD) and Turner (26 rec., 535 yards, 4 TD) make for a heck of a receiving duo. Turner, who had considered Carolina out of high school, came on strong at the end of last season.
All of that sounds great, so what was the issue last year?
Throughout the season, there were sudden departures. During the offseason, things really took a turn with 14 players in the transfer portal.
Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated has the story on a divided team that some players wanted to throw their final game of the season to go home early.

In conclusion...

As best anyone can predict the Coastal Division, Virginia Tech should be in the mix to win it.

Logic says that the Hokies' defense will bounce back to its usual, physical self and batter overmatched opponents. The only real concern is the offensive line, where a group that wasn't great last season lost three starters along with the top rusher, Peoples.

What would a win mean for Carolina?

It's not exactly a rivalry, but the Heels and Hokies have had some back and forth in recent years, from Carolina beating Virginia Tech in Frank Beamer's final home game to the Hokies derailing the Heels' 2016 season with a victory during Hurricane Matthew.

Last season's game might have been the worst loss of all for a Carolina team searching to find something positive, and instead, combined every issue that plagued it throughout the season into several awful minutes.

Regardless of what's happened recently, the Hokies have been the standard in the Coastal. A win would be huge in turning things around and building confidence.

What would a loss mean for Carolina?

If you were making a list of six must-wins for the Tar Heels to get bowl-eligible, this one probably isn't on it. So, from that standpoint, isn't devastating.

For the most optimistic Carolina fans, this would probably mean the Tar Heels won't be playing a big-time bowl game.

Neat college football thing

Lots of teams have picked up gimmicks in recent years, but Virginia Tech's is more of a trademark.

Early in his tenure, Foster chose the lunch pail as a symbol of the attitude he wanted his defense to bring.

The contents of the lunch pail have changed over time, including a mission statement and pieces of turf from victories, but nothing is more important than the card bearing the names of the 32 victims of the 2007 campus shooting.

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