ACC & Big 12 Week 10 Preview: Hokies look to snap Notre Dame’s home winning streak

Virginia Tech (5-2) at No. 16 Notre Dame (5-2) – 2:30 p.m. on NBC

Virginia Tech is heading to South Bend on Saturday to take on the 16th-ranked Fighting Irish. The Hokies and the Irish have met just twice previously, with the road team winning both times.

The first time the schools met was in 2016 at Notre Dame Stadium. Virginia Tech overcame a pair of 17-point deficits to end up winning 34-31. To this day, the 2016 contest remains Notre Dame’s most recent home loss to an unranked foe.

Last season in Blacksburg, the No. 6 Irish defeated the No. 24 Hokies 45-23 after Notre Dame scored 28 second-half points and held Virginia Tech to a single touchdown in the final two quarters. Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams registered 178 rushing yards and three touchdowns that day.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the teams:

Virginia Tech Quick Hits:

• The Hokies are coming off a bye week after winning a wild 43-41 6-OT game against North Carolina in Week 8.
• The Lunch Pail Defense has racked up 25.0 sacks through the first seven games in 2019, which ranks fifth in the ACC.
• Cornerback Chamarri Conner has 4.0 sacks on the season, a team high.
• Linebacker Rayshard Ashby leads the Hokies defense and the ACC with 10.3 tackles per game.
• The Hokies’ red zone offense ranks sixth nationally with a 96.6 percent conversion rate.
• Quarterback Hendon Hooker has led the Hokies to victory in their last three games, which were also his first three collegiate starts. Hooker totaled 572 yards and seven touchdowns through those three contests.
• Click here for the Hokies’ full game notes
• Click here for Virginia Tech’s depth chart

Notre Dame Quick Hits:

• Notre Dame is on a 15-game home winning streak, which includes a perfect 6-0 slate last season. It’s the third-longest winning streak at home for the Irish since Notre Dame Stadium opened in 1930.
• Notre Dame running backs have gone 1,260 carries without losing a fumble, dating back to 2015. It’s the longest active streak in the FBS.
• The Fighting Irish are the only team in the FBS to have scored on every red zone trip this season. Notre Dame has converted on 24-of-24 visits inside the 20, 21 of which were touchdowns (11 rushing, 10 passing).
• Quarterback Ian Book is now one of only five Notre Dame quarterbacks to complete four or more touchdown passes in three games in their career. Book joined a group that includes Brady Quinn, Tommy Rees, Jimmy Clausen and Ron Powlus.
• Tight end Cole Kmet averages 4.6 receptions per game (23 catches in five games) which ranks second among Power 5 tight ends.
• The Irish defense is ranked 25th nationally and has allowed 186.4 yards per game this season.
• Click here for the Irish’s full game notes
• Click here for Notre Dame’s depth chart

Here’s a quick look at a few more games we’ll have our eyes on this weekend in the ACC and Big 12:

NC State (4-3) at No. 23 Wake Forest (6-1) – Noon on ESPN
In 127 years of football, NC State has faced the Demon Deacons more times than any other opponent, and for just the fourth time in the 112 all-time matchups, Wake Forest is ranked. The last time the Wolfpack took on a ranked Demon Deacons squad was in 1992, when No. 13 NC State downed the No. 25 Wake Forest 42-14 in Raleigh.

Boston College (4-4) at Syracuse (3-5) – Noon on ACCN
Longtime rivals Boston College and Syracuse will meet for the 53rd time in a series that dates back to 1924. The Orange hold a 32-20 advantage in the all-time series.

Miami (4-4) at Florida State (4-4) – 3:30 p.m. on ABC
The Hurricanes are heading to Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday for one of the nation’s most intense and historic rivalries. Miami and Florida State are both entering the contest off of conference wins, and the Seminoles boast a four-game win streak on their home turf.

Virginia (5-3) at North Carolina (4-4) – 7:30 p.m. on ACCN
The Cavaliers and the Tar Heels are facing off in the 124th edition of the South’s Oldest Rivalry this weekend. This rivalry is the second longest in the FBS, behind only Minnesota and Wisconsin’s battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe (127 games). North Carolina leads the all-time series with Virginia 63-56-4.

Pittsburgh (5-3) at Georgia Tech (2-5) – 4 p.m. on ACCNX
The Panthers are looking to keep pace with Coastal leaders Virginia and North Carolina (both 3-2 in the ACC) when they face the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta on Saturday. Pittsburgh leads the overall series 8-5, but the series is tied 2-2 since Pitt joined the ACC.

No. 22 Kansas State (5-2) at Kansas (3-5) – 3:30 p.m. on FS1|
The Jayhawks are hosting the Wildcats in 117th edition of the Sunflower Showdown this weekend. Both teams are coming off of conference wins last weekend, as Kansas escaped with a 37-34 victory over Texas Tech and Kansas State upset No. 5 Oklahoma 48-41.

TCU (4-3) at Oklahoma State (5-3) – 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday’s matchup between TCU and Oklahoma State features the all-time winningest coaches at both schools in Gary Patterson (171 wins) and Mike Gundy (126 wins). The Horned Frogs are playing in Stillwater for the fifth time in its eight seasons in the Big 12 and own a two-game winning streak over the ‘Pokes.