Throwback Thursday - Notre Dame vs. Virginia Tech

Hopefully you’ve put the last game behind you, (I know I’m trying to), because today it’s time to look at the history of the Notre Dame vs. Virginia Tech series. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have played the Virginia Tech Hokies a total of three times with the Hokies winning once (2016), and the Fighting Irish winning twice (2018 & 2019).

11/19/2016: Notre Dame 31 - VT 34

10/06/2018: Notre Dame 45 - VT 23

11/2/2019: Notre Dame 21 - VT 20

As you can see, two of those games were pretty close, as I expect this year’s game to be. Here are some historical comparisons of the two teams.

Virginia Tech’s all time record is 760-484-46 (.607), to Notre Dame’s 922-330-42 (.729).

Virginia Tech has had no national championships, to Notre Dame’s 11.

Virginia Tech has been to 33 bowl games, with a record of 13-20-0, to Notre Dame’s 37 bowl games, with a record of 18-19-0.

The Hokies have had 8 consensus All-Americans, to ND’s 104 consensus All-Americans.

The Hokies have had 157 NFL Draft picks, to ND’s 520 NFL Draft Picks. And the Hokies have had 14 first round NFL Draft picks, to ND’s 69 first round NFL Draft picks.

The Hokies have spent 0 weeks at No. 1 in the AP poll, to Notre Dame who has spent 98 weeks at No. 1 in the AP poll.

Here are some highlights from the two Notre Dame wins over VT.

In the 2018 matchup, Notre Dame’s Dexter Williams ran for three touchdowns, one of which was for 97 yards, and a No. 6 Notre Dame easily handled the Hokies.

“I was looking at the Jumbotron the whole time,” Williams said, “to make sure I didn’t get caught.”

There was plenty of caution that day from the members of Notre Dame nation as the Fighting Irish made the trip to Blacksburg, but in a matter of seconds the Hokie fans went from roaring to silence as Dexter Williams found a hole in the line and scampered for one yard and the score (on a drive that went 78 yards, in 12 plays, in 5:36). Williams would score twice more (a 97-yard run, and a 31-yard run), along with Miles Boykin (5-yard pass from Ian Book), Julian Love (42-yard fumble return), and Justin Yoon (31-yard field goal).

In the 2019 matchup, the Irish got on the board first, with 9:10 remaining in the first quarter, on a pass from Ian Book to Cole Kmet, a lead the Irish would hold until the end of the first quarter when Hazelton would toss an 8-yard pass to Quincy Patterson II to tie the game at 7-7. In the second quarter, the two teams would each score touchdowns, Notre Dame first on a pass from Book to Tommy Tremble, and VT second on a Divine Deablo 98-yard fumble return.

In the third quarter the Hokies would pull ahead on a 44-yard Brian Johnson field goal, and again in the fourth quarter with another 25-yard Brian Johnson field goal, but the Irish weren’t done yet. With 29 seconds remaining in the game the Irish pulled off the win on a Ian Book 7-yard touchdown run.

So, who ya got this weekend? I’ve got the Irish in a close win, provided we’ve got the right quarterback at the helm. What do you think?

Cheers & GO IRISH!