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Pitt vs. Virginia Tech: Perfect 4-0 rivals in huge ACC clash

Dustin Judge
Pitt vs. Virginia Tech: Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel runs into the end zone for a touchdown at Syracuse in October 2025

Two of the ACC’s four remaining unbeaten teams meet Friday, Oct. 2, when Pittsburgh visits Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. The Pitt vs. Virginia Tech game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, and both the Panthers and Hokies are 4-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Pitt is making its first road trip of the season after outscoring four home opponents 157-34, including a 59-0 rout of Bucknell on Sept. 26. Virginia Tech, under first-year coach James Franklin, is off to its best start since 2017 after rallying from a 14-6 fourth-quarter deficit to win 21-14 at Boston College, according to CBS Sports.

Pitt vs. Virginia Tech game information

  • Date: Friday, Oct. 2
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Venue: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va.
  • TV: ESPN
  • Records: Pittsburgh 4-0 (1-0 ACC), Virginia Tech 4-0 (1-0 ACC)
  • Line: Virginia Tech by 3, total 54.5 (DraftKings, via ESPN)

Pittsburgh Panthers outlook

Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers enter Pitt vs. Virginia Tech after dominating on both sides of the ball. Pitt leads the ACC in scoring defense at 8.5 points allowed per game and ranks second in total defense at 244.5 yards allowed, according to Sports Illustrated. No opponent has scored more than 14 points against Pitt.

Sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel has completed 88 of 130 passes for 1,191 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception, per ESPN. He threw seven touchdown passes against Miami (Ohio) and six against Bucknell but had none against UCF or Syracuse, Pitt’s two Power Four opponents so far, SI noted.

Damon Ferguson Jr. leads the backfield with 239 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries, and Cataurus Hicks leads the receivers with 12 catches for 252 yards and a touchdown.

Virginia Tech Hokies outlook

On the other side of Pitt vs. Virginia Tech, the Hokies rank second in the ACC in scoring at 43.3 points per game. Sophomore quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer has thrown for 1,012 yards and eight touchdowns. He picked apart Maryland for 314 yards and three touchdowns two weeks ago, but wet weather held him to 147 yards on 22-of-25 passing at Boston College, according to SI.

Running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. ran for 209 yards on 25 carries against Boston College, including the 76-yard touchdown that put the Hokies ahead for good, and was named ACC Running Back of the Week. He has 409 yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries this season. Luke Reynolds leads the receivers with 30 catches for 280 yards and four touchdowns.

Key Pitt vs. Virginia Tech matchup

The clearest collision is Virginia Tech’s ground game against Pitt’s run defense. The Hokies average 177.8 rushing yards per game, sixth in the ACC, while Pitt allows just 53.3, second-best in the league, CBS Sports reported. Bucknell managed only 31 yards on 24 carries against the Panthers. If Virginia Tech’s line can move the Pitt front, Grunkemeyer will get easier throwing situations.

On the other side, Heintschel’s passing game faces a Hokies defense that just gave up 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns to Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie, per SI. Thirteen different Pitt players caught a pass against Bucknell, a sign of how many options Narduzzi’s offense can use if Virginia Tech focuses on any single target.

What to watch

The Pitt vs. Virginia Tech winner moves to 5-0 and 2-0 in ACC play, keeping pace with No. 4 Miami and Duke as the conference’s other unbeaten teams. Miami visits Clemson on Saturday. Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 12-11 and won the most recent meeting 38-21 in Blacksburg three years ago, according to CBS Sports.

Franklin has asked for a loud Lane Stadium on Friday night. “We need it to be a four-quarter game, four quarters of support from our fans and from our students,” he said Monday, according to Yahoo Sports. Narduzzi praised the Hokies’ scheme, saying, “They do a good job schematically,” and that “they’re going to try to put us in a bind,” per CBS Sports.

For more ACC coverage, see our Boston College vs. SMU preview and our college football page.

Reporting from CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports and Sports Illustrated contributed to this story. Statistics and schedule: ESPN.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.