College Football
Preview
NC State at Virginia Tech
When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, November 18, 2023
Where: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia

North Carolina State and Virginia Tech will meet Saturday in an Atlantic Coast Conference game with plenty at stake in Blacksburg, Va.

For starters, the Wolfpack (7-3, 4-2) and Hokies (5-5, 4-2) sit tied for third in the conference with North Carolina.

Dave Doeren's North Carolina State squad has won three straight games since losing 24-3 at then-No. 17 Duke on Oct. 14. However, winning has not been part of the team's recent trips to Blacksburg.

The Wolfpack won there just once in four tries since 2004, including three consecutive setbacks. Doeren has never won in Blacksburg.

Also on the losing end of games against the Hokies is Wolfpack starting quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who returned to the lineup in Saturday's 26-6 victory over Wake Forest.

Armstrong, a graduate transfer from the Virginia Cavaliers, topped the game with 96 rushing yards and passed for 111.

"They're the No. 1 pass defense in the league," Doeren said of the Hokies. "I'm excited to get to go play against a team that's playing well in a great environment. ... A good challenge, looking forward to continuing the journey on the road in another senior day for another program. We know we're going to get their best."

On Monday, Wolfpack linebacker Payton Wilson was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, handed out annually to the nation's top defensive player.

With a win in their home finale, the Hokies would secure an appearance in a bowl game -- the first in coach Brent Pry's tenure. The team went 3-8 in his first season (2022).

Against Boston College last week, the Hokies scored 35 unanswered points in their first road win, 48-22, to snap the Eagles' five-game winning streak.

Virginia Tech totaled 600 yards of offense -- 363 via rushing on 51 carries (7.1 per rush).

"(They) had the No. 1 run offense in the league, and they had 120 and we had 360, so we flipped the script there," Pry said. "That's about physicality and temperament."

The Hokies lead the all-time series 28-19-4 and have been victorious in five of the past six meetings.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W‑L Strk PF PA Home Away Grass Turf Conf
NC State 7-3 W3 24.8 19.4 4-2 3-1 6-3 0-0 4-2
Virginia Tech 5-5 W1 26.0 23.9 4-1 1-4 4-2 0-0 4-2
Last Meeting
NC State Virginia Tech
Date Away Home Tot Rus Pas Tot Rus Pas
10/27/22 VT 21 NCST 22 356 60 296 293 50 243
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Passing Player COMP % YDS TD INT
NC State M. Morris 69.0 265 3 0
Virginia Tech G. Wells 50.0 243 1 0
Rushing Player CAR YDS AVG TD
NC State J. Houston 9 31 3.4 0
Virginia Tech M. Thomas 9 21 2.3 0
Receiving Player REC YDS AVG TD
NC State T. Thomas 10 118 11.8 2
Virginia Tech K. Smith 3 141 47.0 1
Touchdowns Player TD
NC State T. Thomas 2
Virginia Tech G. Wells 2
Season
Passing Player COMP % YDS TD INT
NC State B. Armstrong 59.9 1082 6 6
Virginia Tech K. Drones 59.4 1524 9 2
Rushing Player CAR YDS AVG TD
NC State B. Armstrong 96 433 4.5 4
Virginia Tech B. Tuten 137 613 4.5 7
Receiving Player REC YDS AVG TD
NC State K. Concepcion 50 573 11.5 6
Virginia Tech J. Lane 33 458 13.9 6
Touchdowns Player TD
NC State D. Mimms III 7
Virginia Tech B. Tuten 10
Quickchart Matchup
NC State NC State Off vs  Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Def
NC State 324.2 yards
Virginia Tech 319.6 yards
NC State 4.1 yards/rush
Virginia Tech 4.5 yards/rush
NC State 6.2 yards/attempt
Virginia Tech 6.6 yards/attempt
Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Off vs  NC State NC State Def
Virginia Tech 378.7 yards
NC State 314.9 yards
Virginia Tech 4.4 yards/rush
NC State 3.3 yards/rush
Virginia Tech 7.3 yards/attempt
NC State 6.7 yards/attempt