Tag: Virginia Tech football

Wisconsin football top class of 2026 quarterback target decommits from Virginia Tech

Wisconsin football top class of 2026 QB target decommits from Virginia Tech

Wisconsin top class of 2026 quarterback target Peyton Falzone decommitted from Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

The news arrives 10 days after Wisconsin extended an offer to the talented four-star recruit. Falzone initially pledged his commitment to the Hokies in June of 2024, but recent offers and unofficial visits appear to have altered his decision.

Falzone unofficially visited Madison for Wisconsin’s marquee matchup against No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 17. A week later, the Pennsylvania native made the trek to Columbus to witness No. 2 Ohio State vanquish the Indiana Hoosiers at The Shoe.

The highly touted recruit also made his way to Iowa City for an official visit with the Hawkeyes on Nov. 29. At this stage, it appears as if Falzone’s recruiting window is as open as ever.

Another plus for the Badgers — seven programs are listed on Falzone’s offer sheet. That list includes Virginia Tech, Penn State, Syracuse, Kent State, Lehigh and Bucknell, per 247Sports. That could change in the coming weeks, but UW has cemented itself as a top contender as of Nov. 30.

247Sports considers the junior the No. 194 overall prospect, No. 15 quarterback and No. 5 recruit from his home state of Pennsylvania for the class of 2026. On3, ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports consider Falzone a four-star recruit.

On3’s recruiting prediction machine considers Penn State his most likely landing spot, but his decision is nowhere near final. With only one quarterback committed to Wisconsin’s class of 2026, three-star Jarin Mock, Falzone would enter UW’s quarterback room as the top option in the 2026 cohort.

ESPN’s broadcast was floored by Virginia Tech fans passing around a giant turkey leg

“Y’all ain’t got no house training.”

No. 23 Clemson took on Virginia Tech on the road in Blacksburg on Saturday, and while the game was fairly close, a group of fans devouring a giant turkey leg briefly stole the show and the nearly undivided attention of the broadcast.

ESPN’s Mark Jones and Roddy Jones were on the call for the ACC matchup, and early in the third quarter, a camera cut to a bunch of Hokies fans with their turkey leg. But it wasn’t the size or general visual that caught Jones’ and Jones’ attention; it was the fact that the fans appeared to each take a bite or two and then pass the turkey leg to the next person.

As far as gross or unsanitary things college football fans do, this one seems fairly mild. But Jones and Jones were bewildered by the turkey leg getting passed around.

“I’ve seen three people’s hands on it, that’s three people who have put their mouths on it. Y’all ain’t got no house training.”

“I don’t know how sanitary that is, man. A turkey leg — it’s me, myself and I, and that’s it.”

The longer it took these fans to down the turkey leg, the more baffled Jones and Jones seemed to get.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

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First half analysis: Clemson is playing into Virginia Tech’s hands in must-win game

It’s been an ugly one in Blacksburg so far for the Clemson Tigers.

Anyone hoping the Clemson Tigers‘ 33-21 loss to the Louisville Cardinals last week in Death Valley was a “one-off” — albeit one with incredibly bad timing this late into the regular season — to a team with a great defensive game plan has had a rude awakening.

A week after the loss to Louisville, Clemson hoped for a turnaround against a Virginia Tech Hokies team with four losses. It’s been anything but that so far at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech leads Clemson, 7-0, at halftime. Here’s how both teams got to that point.

Clemson’s offense can’t finish drives

After Clemson’s defense opened the game with a three-and-out stop, Cade Klubnik and the offense’s first drive got off to a promising start. But the Tigers couldn’t finish after using 15 plays to move the ball 48 (net) yards to the Virginia Tech 32.

Klubnik was picked off by Jaylen Jones on a jump pass at the 4-yard line. The Tigers took 6:31 off the clock but came away with zero points.

On its second drive, Clemson went for it on 4th and 2 at the Virginia Tech 26-yard line, but Klubnik was sacked on a play that was blown up by Cole Nelson on the right side of the Tigers’ defensive line.

Clemson’s offensive line is flailing

After the first quarter, Clemson had seven first downs to Virginia Tech’s one. The Tigers had 91 yards of total offense while holding the Hokies to 35 yards (23 of which came on one chunk play). But the Tigers also allowed three sacks in the opening period.

After T.J. Parker forced a fumble by Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones early in the second quarter, Clemson took over with promising field position at the Hokies’ 36. But Klubnik failed to scramble for a first down when he attempted to run on 3rd and 1 and lost two yards as the O-line broke down again.

Special teams continues to be an issue for Clemson… and a plus for Virginia Tech

Clemson, which has had issues in the kicking game for the past two seasons, proceeded to line up for a 46-yard Nolan Hauser field goal try. The kick was blocked by Keyshawn Burgos and returned for a touchdown on a scoop and score by Quentin Reddish for the game’s first (and only) points.

It was Hauser’s sixth blocked kick of the season, and the third in the last two games.

At halftime, Clemson has nine first downs to Virginia Tech’s seven. The Hokies have amassed only 96 total yards against the Tigers’ 4-3 defense while Clemson has been held to 152. Klubnik was off-kilter, completing just 8-of-19 attempts for 81 yards with the interception plus the three sacks.

There have been other mistakes as well. Normally sure-handed receiver Antonio Williams dropped a wide-open pass early in the second quarter that could have gone for big yards. Klubnik then overthrew Bryant Wesco who was open on a streak pattern down the left sideline.

With the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes falling on the road to Georgia Tech in a 28-23 upset, Clemson would still need another Miami loss or an SMU loss to get back into the ACC championship race. But none of that can happen if the Tigers can’t fix their own woes starting in the second half against a hungry Virginia Tech team.

‘These guys again?!’ ESPN assigns familiar broadcast crew to Clemson-Virginia Tech game

Here’s who will be on the call for ESPN when the Clemson Tigers visit the Virginia Tech Hokies this Saturday.

The Clemson Tigers will meet the Virginia Tech Hokies Saturday afternoon at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg. For Dabo Swinney and the Tigers (6-2 overall, 5-1 ACC), it will be their first head-to-head matchup against the Hokies (5-4, 3-2) since 2020.

ESPN and ABC have announced their commentator pairings for Week 11 games, including Clemson vs. Virginia Tech. The crew of Mark Jones (play-by-play) and Roddy Jones (analyst) will call the game from the booth. Quint Kessenich will report from the sidelines.

Kickoff is set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN.

It’s the third Clemson game this season that the broadcast team of Jones, Jones and Kessenich have worked. The crew also called the Tigers’ back-to-back wins over the Stanford Cardinal and the Florida State Seminoles on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5.

RELATED: Kickoff time, TV info announced for Clemson football vs. Pitt on Nov. 16

Mark Jones is one of the longest-tenured and most admired broadcasters in the ESPN family, having worked as either a play-by-play announcer or sideline reporter for the network on college football broadcasts since the 90s. He is also one of the lead play-by-play announcers for ESPN’s coverage of the NBA.

Radio coverage for Saturday’s Tigers-Hokies game can be found on SiriusXM Channel 194, with the Clemson Athletic Network crew of Don Munson, Tim Bourret and Reggie Merriweather.

The Tigers fell nine spots to No. 17 in the US LBM Coaches Poll following their stunning 33-21 loss to Louisville last Saturday. The Tigers checked in at No. 23 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, released earlier this week.

Contact/follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

USA TODAY Sports’ expert predictions for Clemson-Virginia Tech showdown

Here’s who USA TODAY Sports experts think will win Saturday’s showdown between No. 17 Clemson and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Following a stunning 33-21 loss to the Louisville Cardinals, the Clemson Tigers will look to rebound Saturday when they head to Blacksburg to face the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium.

Clemson’s loss to Louisville dropped them nine spots to No. 17 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. In the initial College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers (6-2 overall) ranked No. 23.

To say the least, Cade Klubnik and crew need a lot of things to go their way to even get back into playoff consideration. That starts by taking care of a Virginia Tech team that is 5-4 overall.

Like Louisville, the Hokies’ record is a bit misleading. All four of their losses this season have been by seven points or less, including a 38-31 overtime loss at Syracuse last Saturday.

According to multiple news reports, Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones will not play Saturday. The Hokies will reportedly turn to backup QB Collin Schlee, a transfer from UCLA.

On Thursday, the six-member panel of Dan Wolken, Paul Myerberg, Eddie Timanus, Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza and Erick Smith all predicted the Tigers to win Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech in the group’s weekly Top 25 college football predictions.

Kickoff for Saturday’s Clemson-Virginia Tech game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN.

Contact/follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

Kickoff time, TV info announced for Clemson football vs. Virginia Tech

Here’s when Clemson will play Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Late Saturday night, the ACC announced kickoff times for Week 11 conference games, including the Clemson Tigers‘ matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on Nov. 9.

The Tigers (6-2) and Hokies (5-4) will get underway at 3:30 p.m. ET in Blacksburg. The game will be televised on ESPN. It’s the first time this season that the Tigers will play in the 3:30 p.m. time slot.

Cade Klubnik and the Tigers fell 33-21 to the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday night in Death Valley. Virginia Tech fell to the Syracuse Orange 38-31 in overtime at JMA Wireless Dome in Week 10.

RELATED: Clemson embarrassed at home by Louisville as College Football Playoff hopes fade

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is 6-0 all-time against Virginia Tech, including a 45-10 victory at Lane Stadium on Dec. 5, 2020 in the last meeting between the two schools.

Clemson leads the all-time series against Virginia Tech, 23-12-1.

ACC Week 11 Kickoff Times, TV info

Friday, November 8

California at Wake Forest – 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network

Saturday, November 9

Miami at Georgia Tech – noon ET on ESPN

Syracuse at Boston College – noon ET on The CW

Clemson at Virginia Tech – 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Duke at NC State – 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network

Florida State at Notre Dame – 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Virginia at Pitt – 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network

Contact/Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

Latest update on kickoff for Clemson-Virginia Tech in crucial Week 11 game

The latest on Clemson vs. Virginia Tech in Week 11 on Nov. 9.

The Clemson Tigers will head to Blacksburg, Va., on Nov. 9 for a critical road game against the Virginia Tech Hokies.

On Monday, the ACC announced that kickoff time for Clemson-Virginia tech will not be announced until after the completion of Saturday’s Week 10 games. It’s the second week in a row that the ACC has used its six-day “flex” option for kickoff time and TV/broadcast information for the Tigers’ next game.

Clemson did not learn until late Saturday that their upcoming game against the Louisville Cardinals this week would be a prime time game under the lights of Death Valley (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

RELATED: Clemson has a clear path to the 2024 College Football Playoff

Dabo Swinney’s team is 6-1 and ranked No. 8 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll after a bye last week. Cade Klubnik and the Tigers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers in their last game, 48-31, on Oct. 19 at Clemson Memorial Stadium.

Kyron Jones and Virginia Tech (5-3) defeated Georgia Tech, 21-6, over the weekend at Lane Stadium for their third straight win in ACC play after falling just short of an upset against the Miami Hurricanes on Sept. 27.

Brent Pry and the Hokies are at Syracuse this Saturday for a noon ET kickoff at JMA Wireless Dome (formerly Carrier Dome).

Other Key Week 10 ACC Games

Aside from Clemson vs. Louisville this weekend, No. 5 Miami hosts former coach Manny Diaz and the Duke Blue Devils at Hard Rock Stadium Saturday at noon ET. The game can be seen on ABC.

The NC State Wolfpack will host the Stanford Cardinal at noon ET on ACC Network, followed by the North Carolina Tar Heels’ visit to Tallahassee to face the Florida State Seminoles at 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network.

In a game with huge implications in conference standings, the 17th-ranked Pitt Panthers head to Dallas for a Top 25 showdown against the No. 20 SMU Mustangs at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network.

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. 

Where Clemson ranks in The Athletic’s preseason ranking of all 134 FBS teams

See where the Tigers ranked entering Week 0 in The Athletic’s ranking of all 134 FBS teams for the 2024 season.

With less than a week remaining until the start of the 2024 college football season (for six FBS teams, anyway), The Athletic’s Chris Vannini returned with his eighth annual ranking of all 134 FBS college football teams ($).

Dubbed The Athletic 134, Vannini ranks Clemson at No. 16 entering the season — seven spots below defending ACC champion Florida State at No. 9 and one spot ahead of Miami at No. 17.

Vannini says of Clemson and the Hurricanes:

“I don’t like the trajectory at Clemson, which just has not been as good at quarterback, receiver and on the defensive line as it was when it was winning national championships, but this should still be a top-10 talent roster. Does Miami have enough talent to get past all those times it trips over itself? Adding quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez are two big-time moves. Mario Cristobal isn’t on the hot seat, but you want to see real progress.”

Virginia Tech was the only other ACC team that placed inside Vannini’s Top 25. The Hokies were ranked No. 24, two spots ahead of NC State at No. 26. Among other ACC teams ranked in order in The Athletic 134, SMU was next up at No. 28 with Louisville at No. 32.

Clemson welcomes NC State to Death Valley on Sept. 21 in the third game of the season. The Tigers travel to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech on Nov. 9.

“Virginia Tech won six of its last nine games last year and seemed to finally turn the corner under Brent Pry. With basically everyone back, this feels like a step-forward year into something bigger,” Vannini said of the Hokies.

On NC State, Vannini offered:

“NC State is another program that deserves more respect, winning at least eight games in six of the last seven seasons (although never more than nine wins). With talented transfer quarterback Grayson McCall from Coastal Carolina, don’t turn your back on the Wolfpack.”

Ohio State topped The Athletic 134‘s Week 0 rankings, will be updated each week throughout the season. Georgia was No. 2 with Oregon at No. 3. Texas (No. 4) and Alabama (No. 5) rounded out the top five.

Clemson opens the season in less than two weeks against Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (noon ET, ABC). The Tigers are ranked No. 14 in both the preseason AP and US LBM Coaches Top 25 Polls. Georgia is ranked No. 1 in both polls .

Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and commentary.

Commanders move on from longtime team executive

Malcolm Bracken will not return to Washington.

With the 2024 NFL draft in the books, we are beginning to see more movement from the Washington Commanders as they reconfigure their football operations department.

Last week, we learned that Washington was not bringing back Eric Stokes. Stokes had been with the Commanders since 2020, most recently serving as senior director of player personnel.

On Monday, another Washington executive with longer ties to the organization will not return. Ben Standig of The Athletic reported that Malcolm Blacken, the team’s senior director of player development, will not have his contract renewed.

Bracken served three different stints in Washington, first from 1996-2000 as a strength and conditioning coach and in 2010. He returned in 2013 to serve as Washington’s director of player development before being elevated to his current role in 2020.

A former running back at Virginia Tech, Bracken helped players on and off the field, specifically rookies adjusting to the NFL. Bracken was often praised for his work.

Here he is back in 2023 with the rookie class:

It’s unknown if Washington will replace Bracken from within, or hire someone from the outside.

ACC starting quarterback rankings for 2024

Here are our ACC quarterback rankings for 2024, with projected starters.

We are still some time away from the start of the 2024 college football season, but that doesn’t stop us from looking ahead.

Today, we are looking at the ACC starting quarterbacks for 2024 and ranking them ahead of the season. This is just a preview, as it is still many months from the season, and things can change fast. While every team doesn’t have a starting quarterback on paper, we are making projections on these starters based on what we know right now.

The ACC is a bit different now, with the addition of new programs and new faces to the conference. Try not to get mad with these, they’re subjective! That said, here are our ACC starting quarterback rankings heading into the 2024 season.

– Updated 5/11