# 2020 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

The 2020 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Tech during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hokies were led by fifth-year head coach Justin Fuente and played their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, competing as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
After completing their regular season with a 5–6 record (5–5 in ACC play), the program announced on December 16 that players had voted to end their season and would not consider a bid to a bowl game. The Hokies had appeared in a bowl game for 27 consecutive seasons, dating back to the 1993 Independence Bowl. This was fourth-longest streak of consecutive bowl game appearances in college football history.

## Schedule

Virginia Tech had games scheduled against Liberty, Middle Tennessee, North Alabama, and Penn State, which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ACC released their schedule on July 29, with specific dates selected at a later date.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 26 | 8:00 p.m. | NC State | No. 20 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN | W 45–24 | 1,000 |
| October 3 | 4:00 p.m. | at Duke | | Wallace Wade StadiumDurham, NC | ACCN | W 38–31 | 0 |
| October 10 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 8 North Carolina | No. 19 | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ABC | L 45–56 | 3,535 |
| October 17 | 8:00 p.m. | Boston College | No. 23 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA (rivalry) | ACCN | W 40–14 | 1,000 |
| October 24 | 3:30 p.m. | at Wake Forest | No. 19 | Truist Field at Wake ForestWinston–Salem, NC | ACCRSN | L 16–23 | 2,135 |
| October 31 | 4:00 p.m. | at Louisville | | Cardinal StadiumLouisville, KY | ACCN | W 42–35 | 11,901 |
| November 7 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 25 Liberty* | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN | L 35–38 | 1,000 |
| November 14 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 9 Miami (FL) | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA (rivalry) | ESPN | L 24–25 | 1,000 |
| November 21 | 4:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh | | Heinz FieldPittsburgh, PA | ACCN | L 14–47 | 4,612 |
| December 5 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 3 Clemson | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ABC | L 10–45 | 250 |
| December 12 | 8:00 p.m. | Virginia | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA (Commonwealth Cup) | ACCN | W 33–15 | 250 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### NC State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolfpack | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| • No. 20 Hokies | 17 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 45 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT −6 | 56.5 |
| Statistics | NC State | Virginia Tech |
| First downs | 19 | 22 |
| Total yards | 386 | 495 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 314 |
| Passing yards | 247 | 181 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:55 | 29:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| NC State | Passing | Devin Leary | 12/16, 165 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 14 carries, 94 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | Devin Carter | 4 receptions, 79 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Braxton Burmeister | 7/11, 106 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Khalil Herbert | 6 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | James Mitchell | 3 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD |

### At Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hokies | 7 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
| Blue Devils | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 31 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT −11 | 54 |
| Statistics | Virginia Tech | Duke |
| First downs | 25 | 19 |
| Total yards | 487 | 410 |
| Rushing yards | 324 | 139 |
| Passing yards | 163 | 271 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:04 | 25:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Braxton Burmeister | 9/25, 163 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Khalil Herbert | 20 carries, 208 yards, 2 TDs |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Tayvion Robinson | 2 receptions, 85 yards |
| Duke | Passing | Chase Brice | 22/39, 271 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Duke | Rushing | Mataeo Durant | 11 carries, 86 yards |
| Duke | Receiving | Jarett Garner | 3 receptions, 84 yards |

### At North Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Hokies | 0 | 14 | 23 | 8 | 45 |
| • No. 8 Tar Heels | 21 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| UNC −3.0 | 59 |
| Statistics | Virginia Tech | North Carolina |
| First downs | 25 | 31 |
| Total yards | 495 | 656 |
| Rushing yards | 260 | 399 |
| Passing yards | 235 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 32:06 | 27:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 7/13, 136 yards, 2 TDs |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Khalil Herbert | 18 carries, 138 yards, 2 TDs |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | James Mitchell | 4 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD |
| North Carolina | Passing | Sam Howell | 18/23, 257 yards, 3 TDs |
| North Carolina | Rushing | Michael Carter | 17 carries, 214 yards, 2 TDs |
| North Carolina | Receiving | Dyami Brown | 3 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TDs |

### Boston College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| • No. 23 Hokies | 3 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 40 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT −12.5 | 62 |
| Statistics | Boston College | Virginia Tech |
| First downs | 24 | 23 |
| Total yards | 435 | 461 |
| Rushing yards | 90 | 350 |
| Passing yards | 345 | 111 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:12 | 30:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Boston College | Passing | Phil Jurkovec | 28/51, 345 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Boston College | Rushing | David Bailey | 10 carries, 41 yards |
| Boston College | Receiving | Jaelen Gill | 6 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 11/15, 111 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Hendon Hooker | 18 carries, 164 yards, 3 TDs |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Khalil Herbert | 1 reception, 29 yards, 1 TD |

### At Wake Forest

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Hokies | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| • Demon Deacons | 10 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT −10.5 | 68.5 |
| Statistics | Virginia Tech | Wake Forest |
| First downs | 28 | 17 |
| Total yards | 433 | 316 |
| Rushing yards | 210 | 206 |
| Passing yards | 223 | 110 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:18 | 29:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 17/33, 223 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Hendon Hooker | 17 carries, 98 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Tré Turner | 5 receptions, 61 yards |
| Wake Forest | Passing | Sam Hartman | 12/17, 110 yards |
| Wake Forest | Rushing | Christian Beal-Smith | 13 carries, 129 yards |
| Wake Forest | Receiving | Jaquarii Roberson | 6 receptions, 46 yards |

### At Louisville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Hokies | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 35 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT −5 | 67.5 |
| Statistics | Virginia Tech | Louisville |
| First downs | 21 | 23 |
| Total yards | 466 | 548 |
| Rushing yards | 283 | 198 |
| Passing yards | 183 | 350 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 32:11 | 27:49 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 10/10, 183 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Khalil Herbert | 21 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Tré Turner | 4 receptions, 71 yards |
| Louisville | Passing | Malik Cunningham | 23/35, 350 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Louisville | Rushing | Javian Hawkins | 17 carries, 129, 1 TD |
| Louisville | Receiving | Dez Fitzpatrick | 5 receptions, 158, 1 TD |

### Liberty

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 25 Flames | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 38 |
| Hokies | 3 | 17 | 0 | 15 | 35 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT −17 | 67.5 |
| Statistics | Liberty | Virginia Tech |
| First downs | 29 | 24 |
| Total yards | 466 | 418 |
| Rushing yards | 249 | 201 |
| Passing yards | 217 | 217 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 37:27 | 22:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 20/30, 217 yards, 3 TDs |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 19 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | CJ Yarbrough | 5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 20/27, 217 yards, 3 TDs |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Hendon Hooker | 20 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Tré Turner | 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD |

### Miami (FL)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 9 Hurricanes | 3 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 25 |
| Hokies | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT –2 | 68 |
| Statistics | Miami (FL) | Virginia Tech |
| First downs | 25 | 23 |
| Total yards | 386 | 361 |
| Rushing yards | 131 | 160 |
| Passing yards | 255 | 201 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:40 | 27:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Miami (FL) | Passing | D'Eriq King | 24/38, 255 yards, TD |
| Miami (FL) | Rushing | Cam'Ron Harris | 14 carries, 63 yards, TD |
| Miami (FL) | Receiving | Dee Wiggins | 8 receptions, 106 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Hendon Hooker | 19/29, 201 yards, INT |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Hendon Hooker | 21 carries, 59 yards, TD |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Tré Turner | 5 receptions, 86 yards |

### At Pittsburgh

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hokies | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • Panthers | 6 | 17 | 17 | 7 | 47 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT –6.5 | 52 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Virginia Tech | Passing |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving |
| Pittsburgh | Passing |
| Pittsburgh | Rushing |
| Pittsburgh | Receiving |

### Clemson

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 3 Tigers | 10 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 45 |
| Hokies | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| CLEM –22.5 | 66.5 |
| Statistics | Clemson | Virginia Tech |
| First downs | 19 | 18 |
| Total yards | 433 | 333 |
| Rushing yards | 238 | 131 |
| Passing yards | 195 | 202 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 22:00 | 38:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Clemson | Passing | Trevor Lawrence | 12/22, 195 yards, TD, INT |
| Clemson | Rushing | Travis Etienne | 16 carries, 66 yards |
| Clemson | Receiving | Cornell Powell | 4 receptions, 90 yards, TD |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Braxton Burmeister | 10/12, 127 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Khalil Herbert | 21 carries, 96 yards, TD |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Raheem Blackshear | 4 receptions, 68 yards |

### Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cavaliers | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 15 |
| • Hokies | 3 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 33 |
| Over/under | Pregame line |
| VT –3 | 64 |
| Statistics | Virginia | Virginia Tech |
| First downs | 19 | 20 |
| Total yards | 322 | 464 |
| Rushing yards | 55 | 252 |
| Passing yards | 267 | 212 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:42 | 35:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia | Passing | Brennan Armstrong | 25/46, 259 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Virginia | Rushing | Brennan Armstrong | 15 carries, 23 yards |
| Virginia | Receiving | Lavel Davis Jr. | 3 receptions, 75 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | Braxton Burmeister | 15/22, 212 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Khalil Herbert | 20 carries, 162 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Tayvion Robinson | 5 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV* | 20 | 20 | RV | 19 | 23 | 19 | — | RV | | | | | | |
| Coaches | 24 | 24* | 19 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 23 | 20 | RV | RV | | | | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | Not released |

## 2021 NFL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
| 1 | 22 | Caleb Farley | CB | Tennessee Titans |
| 1 | 23 | Christian Darrisaw | OT | Minnesota Vikings |
| 3 | 80 | Divine Deablo | S | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 6 | 217 | Khalil Herbert | RB | Chicago Bears |