Virginia Tech vs. Florida State: Preview, predictions, TV schedule and more

By Joe Romano | Aug 30, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Florida State Seminoles running back Cam Akers (3) and Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Nyqwan Murray (8) celebrate after scoring during the game between the Delaware State Hornets and the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL on November 18th, 2017. (Photo by Logan Stanford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Josh Jackson (17) (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Keys for Virginia Tech

The Virginia Tech Hokies enter their third season under coach Justin Fuente. In 2016 Fuente took over for long-time coach Frank Beamer and took the Hokies to an ACC Coastal Championship. His sophomore campaign saw the team lost to an unranked Georgia Tech team as the biggest blemish on their resume.

Virginia Tech lost two talented players on defense to the first round of the NFL draft in brothers Tremaine and Terrell Edmunds. All-in-all the NFL snagged five players from the Hokies.

However, the team returns starting quarterback, redshirt sophomore Josh Jackson, now in his third year with Fuente after starting every game a year ago. Jackson and the majority of his weapons return to this offense that averaged 28 points per game a season ago. It will be important for the Hokies to lean on Jackson against a talented and fast Florida State defense. The dual-threat quarterback actually finished with the most rushing attempts on the team with Virginia Tech spreading carries between four talented running backs and the quarterback. The ability to open up the offense against the Seminoles with his running threat could lead to the big plays that the Hokies love.

Defensively it will be tough to replace the Edmunds brothers, two top corners and nose tackle Tim Settle. A season ago the Hokies once again finished top five nationally in points per game. Their fast and powerful defense gives offenses headaches with unique pre-snap looks and sound assignment football. With a new coach on the other sideline and a quarterback coming off a season-ending injury, defensive coordinator Bud Foster should dial up his exotic defense to stifle the Seminoles. Despite the high over/under total, the Hokies could prove a tough challenge with their defensive talent and scheme.

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