For the 15th time since he became defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech in 1995, Bud Foster has fielded a top 20 defense. Here’s a look at Virginia Tech’s total defense (yards per game) rankings for years the Hokies have finished in the top 20. There are currently 129 FBS teams, with two more currently reclassifying to FBS status.
Bud Foster was co-defensive coordinator with Rod Sharpless in 1995, and he has held the position alone since 1996, giving him 23 years as defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech. He has fielded top-ten defenses 11 times and top-four defenses seven times in his career. In 2005 and 2006, the Hokies were No. 1 in the nation in yards per game, and in 2001 they narrowly missed finishing No. 1, holding the top spot late in the season before surrendering it to Texas in the last week.
There is one game remaining in the college football season: Alabama vs. Georgia for the national championship. Alabama is currently ranked No. 1 in total defense, and Georgia is ranked No. 6. Neither team is likely to fall below the Hokies, so Virginia Tech’s current ranking of No. 13 will most likely stand at season’s end.
In scoring defense, the Hokies are currently ranked No. 4 (14.8 ppg). Alabama is No. 1 (11.1 ppg) and Georgia is No. 5 (15.7 ppg).
Virginia Tech also finished 13th in the nation in tackles for loss (TFL) in 2017. Here’s a look at the Hokies’ TFL totals since 1993, the first year of the current bowl streak.
On the offensive side of the ball, Virginia Tech extended their scoring streak to 296 games, third-longest in the FBS. The Hokies entered the year with the fifth-longest streak, but Air Force and Tennessee saw their streaks end at 306 and 289 respectively in 2017.
Note: all infographics by @OX_VT on Twitter.
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Very respectable numbers, and very likely to get better in next five years. Be proud!
In Bud We Trust!