Examining Virginia Tech's Extremely Up-And-Down 2014 Season

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer certainly isn't shy about his feelings toward Frank Beamer and the Virginia Tech program.

"The coaches that survive are consistent winners and believe in fundamentals," Meyer said Tuesday on the weekly Big Ten coaches teleconference. "Always have a very good defense, excellent special teams and over the years the offense has improved.

"[Beamer] is also a friend so I think he’s just great for college football.”

Quite simply, Meyer has tons of respect for Beamer and his 273 career wins (231 of which have come as head coach of the Hokies).

It's perhaps for that reason why the game one year ago between the Buckeyes and Virginia Tech was so puzzling. Ohio State was flat-out not prepared to face the Hokies. The Buckeyes were out-coached and out-played last year on their home field.

"They came into our house and embarrassed us," Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett said Monday.

After the game, it appeared Virginia Tech was perhaps being overlooked for the 2014 season and that Ohio State was going to suffer through a mediocre season. After all, the Buckeyes had lost Braxton Miller for the season just a few weeks prior, were trying to break in four new starters on the offensive line and had just implemented an entirely new pass defense. 

Quite frankly, Ohio State looked very averaged on that September night at Ohio Stadium and Virginia Tech looked like a strong contender.

But from that point forward, the two teams went in completely opposite directions. The Buckeyes, of course, went on to win the national championship while the Hokies stumbled their way to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Military Bowl against Cincinnati.

So, what exactly happened to Virginia Tech in 2014?

Well, following the win over Ohio State, the Hokies catapulted all the way up to No. 17 in the AP Poll and were looked at as a potential threat to Florida State for the ACC title. But Virginia Tech faltered the very next week with a 28-21 loss at home to East Carolina. The following week, again at home, the Hokies fell 27-24 to Georgia Tech in their ACC opener. Just like that, the team that had beaten almighty Ohio State in Week 2 was suddenly 2-2.

Things didn't get a whole lot better from there, either, as Virginia Tech battled through some injuries and went through a streak of three consecutive ACC losses — to Pittsburgh, Miami and Boston College — that included an embarrassing 30-6 loss to the Hurricanes at Lane Stadium. Then, of course, came the nearly-impossible-to-watch 6-3 double-overtime defeat to Wake Forest.

There were some positives along the way — a win at No. 19 Duke in Week 10 and a victory over Virginia in the final week of the season to become bowl eligible — but for the most part, things were a disaster after that victory over the Buckeyes.

Virginia Tech ranked just 96th in the country in total offense in 2014 (365.3 yards per game) and was 93rd nationally in scoring offense (24.1 points per game). As usual, the Hokies had a solid defense, ranking 21st in the country in total defense (343.8 yards allowed per game) and 14th in scoring defense (20.2 points allowed per game). 

All reports out of Blacksburg seem to believe the 2015 version of Virginia Tech will be one of Beamer's most talented groups in recent years. The Hokies bring back 16 starters (eight on offense, eight on defense) and will again feature one of the nation's top defenses.

Virginia Tech is again considered one of the contenders in the ACC and will certainly provide Ohio State with a difficult first game of the 2015 season. 

Because of that reason, and Meyer's respect for Beamer and the Hokies, the Buckeyes seem to be preparing harder than they ever have for a season-opener.

"Whenever you play a great team to start the season, your focus is," Meyer said before pausing, briefly, "I know we play Hawaii the second game, but our focus has all been on this one.”