Before every game, I ask a reporter who covers the Gophers upcoming opponent to give us a view from the opponent’s perspective.
I asked Andy Bitter from Tech Sideline five questions about the Virginia Tech Hokies.
The Gophers will make their 25th all-time bowl appearance when they take on Virginia Tech in the 2025 Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Minnesota has won their last seven bowl games, which is currently the longest streak in the nation.
Huge thanks to Andy for giving us his thoughts!
1. The Hokies entered the 2024 season coming off a 2023 season where they finished with an overall record of 7-6. They were fifth in the conference, and they ended their season with a 41-20 victory over Tulane in the Military Bowl. Before the season, Vegas had the Hokies going bowling again and finishing around the same spot in the conference. What were the expectations for the Hokies entering this season in Blacksburg? How would you grade their 2024 season?
Although Tech got back to a bowl game and finished with the same record as last year, it’s been largely a disappointing season. The Hokies brought nearly everybody back, including quarterback Kyron Drones, added some key pieces on the defensive line, somehow managed to get all of its stars to not jump to the NFL after the 2023 surge and still barely dragged themselves to a bowl game by beating rival Virginia in the regular season finale. Drones didn’t look comfortable in the pocket early in the season, turned the corner a little and then got hurt, making this almost a lost season for him. The offense never tapped into its deep group of receivers the way fans hoped, and once running back Bhayshul Tuten got dinged up, the Hokies lacked direction at times late. A defense that was supposed to be Brent Pry’s specialty struggled to hold leads or prevent big pass plays, ultimately leading to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Chris Marve. And though the special teams had good final numbers, there were enough big-time gaffes to offset a lot of the good. Pry said before the year he’d be disappointed if this team didn’t make the ACC championship. Well, they weren’t anywhere close to it in what felt like a pivotal Year 3 for the coach.
2. The Hokies offense averaged 379 yards per game this season, which was good for 10th in the ACC. They scored 29.7 points per game, which was 8th in the conference. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the offense this year?
The Hokies were at their best when they ran the ball, feeding Tuten repeatedly and throwing off play-action, which is where Drones seems to be most comfortable. It only felt like things were clicking about half the time, though. Both Drones and Tuten missed time in the second half of the season, throwing a wrench into game planning. With those two not 100 percent, Tech had a tough time finding something to lean on offensively, despite bursts of production with backups (at Syracuse, vs. UVa). The O-line’s been a consistent issue, though, enough so that Pry parted ways with offensive line coach Ron Crooks after the regular season. Tuten, who was among the best at breaking tackles, more often than not made the group look better than it was. With him opting out of the bowl game and Drones being injured, it’s putting a whole lot of pressure on quarterback Pop Watson and some young running backs to carry the load behind a re-made offensive line missing pieces due to transfers. It’s not an ideal situation.
3. The Virginia Tech defense finished sixth in the ACC by only allowing 359.7 yards per game. They finished fourth in the conference in points per game by allowing 22.8. What made the Hokies defense so tough to play against this year? If you’re the Gophers, how would you attack the Virginia Tech defense?
Tech was especially good at locking things down in the red zone. The overall stats are pretty pedestrian defensively, but the Hokies had the nation’s No. 7 red zone defense, with a stretch in September and October when they seemingly forced a turnover inside their 5-yard line every week. When Virginia Tech had all of its players, it was pretty good at disruption. Antwaun Powell-Ryland’s 16 sacks were more than anyone in Virginia Tech history but Bruce Smith and Corey Moore. The Hokies had 14 interceptions, which ranked 26th nationally. Alas, APR declared for the draft and the two starting corners who accounted for six of those picks won’t play (one going pro, one transferring). In fact, opt outs, transfers and injuries might force Tech to start four different defensive backs from the regular season finale. Those four players have a combined one career start. Without that feared pass rusher and with new faces in the secondary, the Gophers might find success through the air.
4. Even though Minnesota and Virginia Tech haven’t played in weeks, that doesn’t mean that nothing has been happening in the last few weeks for both programs. The conclusion of the regular season means the beginning of the transfer portal and seniors opting to go to the NFL draft. How have the Hokies fared since the season ended? Are there any impact players that will be missing the bowl game due to the transfer portal or opting for the NFL draft? How different will the Hokies team be when they face Minnesota on January 3rd?
It has been a rough couple of weeks for the Hokies. Tech had 10 players make one of the three All-ACC teams or earn an honorable mention. Only two — punter Peter Moore and kicker John Love — will play Friday. In all, 13 of the 22 players who started on offense and defense in the UVa game on Nov. 30 will not be in the lineup against Minnesota. That includes All-ACC first-teamers APR and defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles, Tuten (second-team All-ACC, 1,159 yards, 6.3 ypc, 17 total touchdowns), cornerbacks Mansoor Delane (4 INT in 2024) and Dorian Strong (7 career INT), offensive linemen Xavier Chaplin, Braelin Moore and Kaden Moore (95 combined starts) and receivers Da’Quan Felton and Jaylin Lane (70 catches, 826 yards, 4 TD).Also, Drones is banged up to the point that he will likely not play and starting safety Jaylen Jones is questionable with an injury, meaning the two starting safeties might be a true freshman making his first start and a sophomore who’s played 47 snaps this year. Other than that … There’s some intrigue around Watson at quarterback. He looked like a play-maker against UVa, using both his arm and legs and showing some savvy beyond his age. The Gosnell brothers — Stephen at wideout and Benji at tight end — are a pretty good pass-catching pair. And there’s some young talent like receiver Ayden Greene, linebacker Caleb Woodson and cornerback Dante Lovett who could be fun to watch in larger roles. The staff’s done a decent job of building up depth. This will put that to the test. Some spots — offensive line and secondary, specifically — feel like bigger problem areas than others, though, units where the sheer volume of turnover is going to be a big issue.
5. Minnesota and Virginia Tech meet for the first time ever in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on January 3rd. Minnesota will make its 25th all-time bowl appearance and will enter the game having won their last seven bowl games, the longest active streak in the nation. The Hokies are currently touchdown underdogs against the Gophers. What does Virginia Tech need to do to pull off a victory against Minnesota? What is your prediction for the game?
Tech will need a great plan, for sure. Legendary defensive coordinator Bud Foster is coming out of retirement to help out with the staff short-handed, with the plan being for him to be in the booth with a headset to serve as eyes in the sky to offer his thoughts. Offensively, Tech will need to game plan around its deficiencies on the O-line either through misdirection or option calls that can get the defense’s eyes going in the wrong direction. This doesn’t feel like a game where the Hokies can just line up and try to run people over. Minnesota’s defensive front is just too good. Watson pulling some plays out of his hat sure would help too. Overall, I just think it’s too much for the Hokies to overcome. I’m picking the Gophers 26-17, and that might be lowballing the final margin. Minnesota seems like the tougher team in the trenches, which will matter. And if it’s a close game, Pry, who is 1-12 in one-score contests in his time with the Hokies, doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Crazy things happen in bowl games, but pulling this one out feels like a tall task for Tech.