University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt hosts Thursday Night Showdown with Virginia Tech
10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
PITT (5-2, 2-1 ACC) vs. VIRGINIA TECH (5-2, 3-1 ACC)
October 27, 2016 • 7 p.m., ET
Heinz Field (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
ESPN • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @Pitt_FB • #VTvsPITT
LINK (PDF): Pitt Game Notes (vs. Virginia Tech)
GAME STORYLINES
- Pitt hosts No. 25 Virginia Tech in a critical Coastal Division game. Both teams are 5-2 overall and looking to avoid a second ACC loss. North Carolina is currently atop the Coastal with a 4-1 league mark, just ahead of the Hokies (3-1) and Panthers (2-1).
- Pitt has won six of the past seven meetings with Virginia Tech. The Panthers are 4-0 all-time against the Hokies at Heinz Field, including a 21-16 win in 2014 that was also played before an ESPN Thursday night television audience.
- Pitt averages 38.4 points per game to rank as the ACC's second highest scoring offense. Pitt has scored at least 36 points in six consecutive games, the longest active streak among FBS teams.
- Pitt's productive offense will face a stiff challenge in Virginia Tech, which surrenders just 17.9 points and 302.0 yards per game. The Hokies are 11th nationally in total defense and 16th in scoring defense.
- Ejuan Price is making a strong case for All-America and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. The senior defensive end leads the entire nation with nine quarterback sacks. Half of Price's 26 tackles this season have been behind the line of scrimmage.
- Ejuan Price spearheads a Pitt rushing defense that surrenders just 96.6 yards per contest. The Panthers top the ACC and rank fifth nationally in fewest rushing yards allowed. The Hokies average nearly 200 yards per game on the ground.
- Quadree Henderson has two kickoff return touchdowns this year and three over his last eight games. The sophomore leads the country with a 35.9-yard kickoff return average.
- James Conner, who overcame a knee injury and cancer during the past 12 months, continues to amaze. Conner is Pitt's leading rusher and, in his last game at Virginia, played three snaps at defensive end, recording a QB hurry.
SERIES NOTES
This marks the 16th meeting between Pitt and Virginia Tech in a series that dates back to 1993...Virginia Tech leads the overall series, 8-7, but the Panthers have won six of the past seven meetings...Pitt is 5-3 at home and 2-5 on the road against Virginia Tech...the Panthers are 4-0 all-time against the Hokies at Heinz Field...Pitt and Virginia Tech meet annually as Coastal Division members and the Panthers lead the ACC series, 2-1...Pitt has won each of the last two encounters, 17-13 last year in Blacksburg and 21-16 at Heinz Field in 2014...that '14 game was an ESPN Thursday night national telecast...Virginia Tech's last win in the series was a 19-9 decision in Blacksburg in 2013...the Panthers lost the initial four games of the series before earning their first victory in 1997, a 30-23 decision at Pitt Stadium...five of Pitt's wins have come against nationally ranked Virginia Tech squads (No. 13 in 2012, No. 5 in 2003, No. 3 in 2002, No. 12/13 in 2001 and No. 19/20 in 1997)...the initial 11 games of the series were played when both schools were members of the Big East...one of the most memorable games occurred in 2003 when a late touchdown by fullback Lousaka Polite lifted Pitt past the Hokies, 31-28, in an ESPN primetime battle of Top 25 teams at Heinz.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1993
Series Overall: Virginia Tech leads 8-7
ACC Series: Pitt leads 2-1
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 5-3
At Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech leads 5-2
At Neutral Sites: DNA
Last Meeting: Oct. 3, 2015 (Pitt 17, Virginia Tech 13)
Last Meeting at Pitt: Oct. 16, 2014 (Pitt 21, Virginia Tech 16)
Current Series Streak: Pitt has won 2 (2014-15)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 4 games (2001-03, 2012)
Longest Virginia Tech Series Win Streak: 4 games (1993-96)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 31 points (38-7, 2001)
Largest Virginia Tech Victory Margin: 42 points (63-21, 1993)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ESPN
Dave Flemming, play-by-play
Jesse Palmer, analyst
Laura Rutledge, reporter
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play
Bill Osborn, analyst
Larry Richert, reporter
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 84, XM Channel 84, Internet Channel 84
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com via CSLive
Pitt Gameday LIVE App
TuneIn (free live and on-demand content)
