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College Football Schedule Week 3: Under the Radar Games to Watch

By Andrew Miller

Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6) makes a pass being pressured by the Purdue Boilermakers defense in the second quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6) makes a pass being pressured by the Purdue Boilermakers defense in the second quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) scores a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Kyle Monangai (5) scores a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Virginia Tech at Rutgers

2:30 PM CT on the Big Ten Network

Oh yeah. We’re immediately diving in to sickos territory. There’s absolutely nothing better than the rekindling of an old Big East rivalry.

Ok, this is definitely not a rivalry. But they were conference mates in the Big East throughout the 90s and early-00s, playing annually from 1992-2003. The Hokies have won 12-straight against the Scarlet Knights, with Rutgers last win coming in 1992. They most recently met in the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl, a 13-10 Tech victory.

But that history is completely irrelevant now. Virginia Tech is trying to erase the stain that was the Justin Fuente-era in Blacksburg under second-year HC Brent Pry after a 3-8 2022 season. Rutgers, meanwhile, is looking to recapture the “magic” of the 2000s with Greg Schiano in the fourth year of his second stint with the Scarlet Knights. Schiano had six winning seasons at Rutgers back in the day, but the encore hasn’t been great, going 12-22 over the past three years.

Neither of these teams are particularly good. Tech is 1-1, handling Old Dominion in Week 1 (which, to be fair, was an improvement for them) before losing at home in an ugly game to Purdue 24-17. Rutgers, to their credit, has dominated both their opponents for a 2-0 start. But considering they beat Northwestern and Temple, how much do you really take away?

But two bad teams meet and crazy things can happen, right? The Hokies will be without their top WR and potentially starting QB Grant Wells. Though there’s a belief that backup Kyron Drones may actually be a better option going forward because of his mobility. I have absolutely no idea what to expect out of this game, but maybe it gets interesting.

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