Virginia Tech hopes to build on a strong finish to last season when it faces Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee. The Hokies have won five of their last seven games in 2023, finishing 7-6, with each of those wins coming by at least 17 points. Virginia Tech is led by head coach Brent Pry, who was on Vanderbilt’s staff from 2011-13. The Hokies have 22 starters (11 on offense, nine on defense and two specialists) on the team, the most in the country, according to 247 Sports. That includes the Hokies’ best passer (Kyron Drones), their top three runners (led by Bhayshul Tuten with 863 yards, followed by Drones with 818) and five of their top six receivers (led by Da’Quan Felton with 667 yards). Also returning are leading tackler Keli Lawson (80 tackles), interception leader Dorian Strong (three picks) and Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who led the Hokies in sacks (9.5), forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (two). Strong and transfer defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles (5.0 sacks at Duke last year) both made the preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team. With all that experience, the bar is high for the Hokies this year. “Yeah, I’d probably be disappointed (if we didn’t make the ACC championship game),” Pry told ESPN. The Commodores (2-10 in 2023) lost all nine games against Power 5 teams last year, all by at least 16 points. And so Vanderbilt reshuffled the deck. Head coach Clark Lea is now also the defensive coordinator, while Lea brought in former New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill and offensive coordinator Tim Beck for the other side of the ball. Vanderbilt also brought in New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia (2,973 passing yards, 928 rushing yards) and will look to run the ball out of multiple formations, with sophomore Sedrick Alexander likely leading the team in runs. “You’re going to see some kind of NFL offense,” Pavia said. “We take what they give us, and if they give us a chance to make a throw, we make a throw. If there isn’t one, we check in. We establish the run game, just do the little things right.” Big tight end Cole Spence (who missed all of 2023 with an injury) is ready to be a weapon, as is sophomore wide receiver Junior Sherrill. Vanderbilt’s defense is pinning its hopes on a pair of All-Southeastern Conference candidates in linebacker Langston Patterson and safety CJ Taylor, as well as several impactful transfers, including hybrid safety/linebacker Randon Fontenette (TCU). – Field Level Media