From Virginia Tech Hokies On SI · · 3m
Virginia Tech is 2-0, but how much of it is real?
Blowout wins and big numbers come with caveats, and Maryland on Saturday is the first real chance to sort signal from noise.
In brief
Blowout wins and big numbers come with caveats, and Maryland on Saturday is the first real chance to sort signal from noise. Nearly every good stat from Virginia Tech's 2-0 start has a caveat, and so does nearly every worry. Maryland is the first opponent that can settle which ones matter. Originally reported by…
Chasing a rare 3-0 start
Virginia Tech travels to College Park to face Maryland on Saturday. A win would give the Hokies their first 3-0 start since 2017.
A long Power Four drought
The Hokies haven't beaten a Power Four team outside their conference since 2017, when they topped West Virginia at FedEx Field. This may be their best shot in years.
“Virginia Tech might have its best opportunity in years to end that drought.”
117-24 in eight quarters
On paper, the start looks dominant. Virginia Tech has outscored its first two opponents by 93 points.
Consider who they played
Those points came against Old Dominion, ranked No. 96 in SP+, and VMI, ranked No. 408. That context hangs over every number so far.
Grunkemeyer's efficient start
Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer is 48-for-62 for 551 yards and four touchdowns. Most of those throws have been short and intermediate.
The deep ball question
His PFF grade on throws of 20-plus yards is 39.8, which ranks No. 213 out of 228 eligible quarterbacks.
Four throws prove little
That grade comes from just four deep attempts. Where Tech asks him to throw most, he has been excellent, with a 91.2 PFF grade to the short middle.
“maybe four attempts through two games aren't nearly enough to answer the question yet.”
Record night against VMI
Tech scored 73 points, its second-most since 1987, and won by 70, its best margin since 1922. It also piled up 619 yards of offense.
The defense smothered VMI
VMI managed just 83 total yards, the fourth-fewest Tech has allowed since 1987. Tech punted once. Small sample, but it beat an inferior team the way it should.
“It destroyed a vastly inferior opponent.”
Old Dominion found the cracks
ODU tallied 10 tackles for loss and four sacks, showing real problems with Tech's offensive line despite the lopsided scores.
32 completions, while leading
Tech's 32 completions against ODU were its most since at least 1987. Six of the next 10 games on that list were losses, but this time Tech threw its way to a 34-6 halftime lead.
Fourth downs by choice
Tech converted three fourth downs, tied for seventh-most since 1987. Only one of the six games above it was a win, but Franklin went for it by choice, not because Tech was trailing.
“aggressiveness was rewarded rather than necessitated by playing from behind.”
The run game stalled
Tech ran for 268 yards against VMI but only 89 net yards against Old Dominion. That drop matters with a tougher front on the schedule.
A shuffled offensive line
Starting center Kyle Altuner missed the ODU game after getting hurt in the opener. Right guard Montavious Cunningham was ejected, so he may miss part of the Maryland game.
Maryland is the real test
Tech still scored 44 points without a working run game, but that approach may not hold up against Maryland's front. Kickoff is Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
“Almost every encouraging statistic Virginia Tech has produced through two games comes with a reasonable caveat, but almost every concern comes with one, too.”
The takeaway
Nearly every good stat from Virginia Tech's 2-0 start has a caveat, and so does nearly every worry. Maryland is the first opponent that can settle which ones matter.
