Line of Scrimmage: Inside look at Virginia Tech feat. Bryan Manning of Gobbler Country

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Opponents in two ACC Championships as well as a national title game, Virginia Tech and Florida State haven’t faced off against each other often in the last 10 years.

Since 2015, though, the two schools have faced off just twice — a 39-17 FSU win in 2023 and a 24-3 Virginia Tech win in 2018.

On Saturday, FSU and Virginia Tech will face off for the 38th time in series history, as Florida State looks to take one step closer to bowl eligibility and the Hokies try to add a bit of happiness to a season that’s already led to a regime change.

What is there to know about Virginia Tech ahead of Saturday’s game? Bryan Manning of our SB Nation sister site Gobbler Country offers his insight.

The Hokies started out 0-3, which led to the firing of head coach Brent Pry. The Old Dominion loss being the nail in the coffin. Since the firing, Tech is 3-3 and has remained competitive in each game. What’s been the main difference since Pry’s departure?

Pry was a good guy. He loved Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, he wasn’t head-coaching material. Pry made the same mistakes in year four as he made in 2022. The Hokies had a talented roster in 2024 and massively underachieved. He was on notice before the season. As far as why they’ve been more competitive, Philip Montgomery is a former head coach. He was a solid coach. He understands the little things of managing an entire game, unlike Pry. And this team has really rallied around Montgomery.

Kyron Drones is in his third year as quarterback for VT. After a step back last year, Drones appears to be back on pace with his 2023 season (stats-wise). What does Drones need to do on Saturday to lead the Hokies to a win over FSU?

Drones is a very polarizing player. He is an excellent runner. He runs with the power of a fullback. Unfortunately, he remains an inconsistent passer. The Hokies would probably have two more wins if the passing game were better. In fairness to Drones, he carried them to one victory. Drones’ problem is accuracy. He misses a lot. Two years ago, he was pretty good throwing the deep ball, but that hasn’t been the case since. For the Hokies to win, Drones needs to be successful running the ball. They can’t get behind.

On defense, the unit has had trouble getting opponents off the field. They are near the bottom of the ACC in defensive success rates and are susceptible to explosive plays. What’s been the main struggle for the Tech defense this year?

Penalties have been one issue. The Hokies have committed several penalties of 15-yard variety this year, at the most inopportune times. It cost them a win against Wake Forest. Tech also doesn’t have a dominant pass rusher, putting more pressure on a secondary that runs hot and cold. VT’s defense always plays hard; it just lacks talent in important spots.

How do you see Saturday shaking out for Virginia Tech?

FSU is nearly a two-touchdown favorite, but that hasn’t stopped this team from losing this year. I think this game comes down to the wire. The Hokies are coming off a much-needed bye week. They’ve had success against Castellanos before. Does that necessarily mean I think Virginia Tech wins? No. The Seminoles are the more talented team. However, this VT team doesn’t quit, even if it’s limited. Ultimately, I think FSU wins a close one, maybe 27-24.

Finally, is Tech going to hire James Franklin? Or do you expect a different direction in the head coaching search?

All signs continue to point toward Franklin. It sounds like he’s been negotiating his buyout from Penn State before he signs with Virginia Tech. What’s interesting is that Franklin and Pry are close. They’ve known one another for over 30 years, and Pry was Franklin’s DC at Penn State. Now, Franklin will likely be his replacement. The funny part is that Pry has been reportedly very positive about Virginia Tech. I think Franklin wants the VT job and the Hokies definitely want him. They’re handing him the keys to the entire program, allowing him to restructure it in his vision. And he’s getting a ton of cash and resources to make it happen. Franklin knows this is the perfect job for him in this cycle, and he likely sees an ideal opportunity to turn things around quickly. The question is, when does it become official?

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