Notre Dame Football Opponent Summary: Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech (Nov. 19)
Series Record: First meeting.
Last Meeting: N/A
2015 Record: 7-6
Virginia Tech’s Rivals Class Rankings 2012-16: No. 22 (2012), No. 23 (2013), No. 25 (2014), No. 24 (2015) and No. 49 (2016).
Notre Dame’s Rivals Class Rankings 2012-16: No. 20 (2012), No. 3 (2013), No. 11 (2014), No. 11 (2015) and No. 12 (2016).
2015 Summary
After 29 seasons at Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer stepped down with 23 consecutive winning seasons and 23 straight bowl appearances, the longest current NCAA recognized streak. Under Beamer, the Hokies had eight straight seasons from 2004-11 with at least 10 victories, but in the last four they had slipped to 7-6, 8-5, 7-6 and 7-6 again in 2015 following a 55-52 win over Tulsa in the Independence Bowl.
Virginia Tech opened with a 42-24 loss versus Ohio State, which it defeated in 2014 for the lone loss by the national champion Buckeyes that season. The Hokies never strung together more than two straight wins last year, but never lost more than two in a row either. Four of the defeats were by a touchdown or less, notably a four-overtime loss to Duke (45-43) and then another in OT to North Carolina (30-27).
Projected Starters Returning (per ESPN.com’s Phil Steele): 16, eight on offense and eight on defense.
The Hokies, Miami and Army all have 16 starters back, the most among 2016 Irish foes.
The offense especially is loaded with playmakers. Isaiah Ford earned first-team All-ACC notice at wide receiver with 75 catches that averaged 15.5 yards and included 11 touchdowns, while tight end Bucky Hodges earned second-team all-league honors. He has snared 85 passes the past two years, 13 for touchdowns. Running back Travon McMillian had a stellar sophomore campaign with 1,043 yards rushing and 5.2 yards per carry. Although starting quarterback Michael Brewer has graduated, fifth-year senior Brenden Motley started six games in place of the injured Brewer, passing for 1,155 yards and rushing for 224.
The defense has less star power and lost a couple of mainstays along the front line in tackle Luther Maddy and end Dadi Nicolas, both of whom were invited to the NFL Combine. The cornerback position features leading tackler Chuck Clark (107 stops and nine passes defended) and Adonis Alexander, who last season intercepted four passes as a true freshman.
Offseason News
• Hired to replace Beamer was Memphis’ 39-year-old Justin Fuente. He thrived at Memphis, leading the Tigers in 2014 to their first 10-win season since 1938 and followed with a 9-3 mark this past season. He brought with him offensive coordinator Brad Cornelson (who coached Andy Dalton during TCU’s unbeaten season in 2010) from Memphis while retaining the esteemed Bud Foster — who had been with Beamer from the start in 1987 — as defensive coordinator.
• Cornerback Kendall Fuller, who played in only three games last season before suffering a knee tear, opted to forego his senior year to turn pro. Fuller had received second-team All-America notice in 2014.
2016 Outlook
Replacing a coaching legend can be a thankless task for the successor, but the good news is Beamer’s last four seasons were under par, so Fuente arrives at a time when his arrival could mean revival. It’s comparable slightly to Jimbo Fisher replacing Bobby Bowden at Florida State where there was a feeling of “it’s time.” Reaching eight wins should be doable in Fuente’s first year.
The Hokies, who recruited at top-25 level from 2012-15, should be able to score points with their experience on offense. How they fare along the line of scrimmage, especially defensively, will dictate whether they can get back to the double-digit campaigns that were routine from 2004-11. An immediate test will be versus Tennessee Sept. 10 in the first college football game ever played at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Will Notre Dame Be Favored, The Underdog Or Is It A Toss-Up?
This could be one of head coach Brian Kelly’s more challenging Senior Day games in his seven seasons at Notre Dame, comparable to a hard earned 23-13 win versus BYU in 2013 or even the 31-28 loss to Louisville in 2014, although this Fighting Irish edition should be stronger than both. Virginia Tech has had a culture of success with 23 straight winning seasons and is capable of pulling off the upset — like at Ohio State in 2014 — but for now Notre Dame would appear to be at least a one-touchdown favorite, and possibly even double digits.