Virginia Tech football: A look at the Hokies’ history with Boston College

The Virginia Tech Hokies and the Boston College Eagles certainly have an interesting history on the gridiron. The two teams had never met until 1993, when both were a member of the Big East conference and have played every year since, with the lone exception being the 2004 season—Virginia Tech’s initial season in the ACC. B.C., of course, would join VT in the ACC the following year.

The Hokies lead the all-time series, 17-8, and have won the previous two meetings after the Eagles won back-to-back games in 2013 and 2014. Boston College’s win in 2014 was one of the more embarrassing defensive performances in recent Virginia Tech history. Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy rushed for 122 yards and a score against Bud Foster’s defense and the Eagles as a whole rushed for 258 yards. Murphy struggled mightily throwing the football, yet still gashed Tech’s defense.

The best years of this rivalry occurred in 2007 and 2008. Boston College won both regular-season meetings, while the Hokies won rematches in the ACC championship game. It’s been a major struggle since that time for the Eagles. Matt Ryan, of course, led B.C. to a dramatic Thursday night win back in 2007 in rain-soaked Blacksburg.

In head coach Justin Fuente’s first year in 2016, the Hokies throttled the Eagles 49-0. Can they repeat the performance on Saturday? The Hokies can ill-afford a loss to Boston College after their first loss of the season last week to Clemson.