From USA Today website:
Virginia Tech: It is a nice cliché to say there are no excuses in sports. But of course there are excuses! Especially for Virginia Tech, a roster that seems like it has been held together with duct tape and string since the season began. At some point, Hokies fans would like to be able to see a their full team play. But because of issues (primarily COVID-related) that have just decimated Virginia Tech’s defense, they’ve gone into every game missing huge chunks of their team. And you can only overcome that for so long. North Carolina exposed the Hokies 56-45, but how do you really measure a team that is missing 15 defensive players and had to play without any safeties? Other players who were healthy enough to be in the game on defense had barely practiced, and nickel back Chamarri Conner was ejected early for targeting. Maybe the worst is over for Virginia Tech, but no team in the country has been as adversely affected by COVID-19 positives and contact tracing issues for as long. Until that changes, it’s going to be difficult to know what the Hokies’ actual potential is.