Clemson football vs. Virginia Tech: Kick time, TV channel, injury report, weather

The Clemson football team is back on the road with a lot at stake.

Here’s your gameday guide for the No. 23 Tigers’ trip to Blacksburg on Saturday afternoon to face ACC opponent Virginia Tech for the first time in five seasons.

Clemson vs. Virginia Tech game, TV info

• Who: No. 23 Clemson (6-2, 5-1 ACC) at Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2 ACC)

• When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

• Where: Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va.

• TV: ESPN

• Broadcast crew: Mark Jones, Roddy Jones, Quint Kessenich

• Stream: Via ESPN or the ESPN app

• Radio: 105.5 FM in the Clemson area (see all Clemson radio affiliates here)

• Satellite radio: Sirius XM Channel 161 or 194

• Series history: Clemson leads 23-12-1 and has won six straight

Clemson vs. Virginia Tech Vegas odds

Clemson is a 6.5-point road favorite at Virginia Tech, per the VegasInsider.com consensus betting line. That’s moved up slightly from Sunday’s opening line (Clemson -5.5).

One-score spreads have been infrequent this year for Clemson, which was a 10.5-point underdog to Georgia in its season opener and favored by at least 16.5 points in its next six games (and 20 or more points three times).

Clemson lost to unranked Louisville last weekend as an 11-point home favorite, which is certainly influencing the betting line for Saturday’s Virginia Tech game.

Weather forecast for Blacksburg, VA

“Intervals of clouds and sunshine” with a high of 63 degrees, per the Weather.com 10-day forecast. There’s a small chance of rain, but it should be a cool, crisp night.

Sunset is 5:15 p.m., so Saturday’s 3:30 game will finish under the lights at Lane Stadium. Nighttime weather is “mainly cloudy” with a low of 43.

Top storylines for the game

• Saturday’s 31-22 loss to Louisville dramatically affected Clemson’s standing in the ACC championship game race. The Tigers are now 5-1 in conference play and no longer control their own destiny. Entering the weekend, they have just a 9% chance of qualifying for the league title game in Charlotte. Clemson needs to win its remaining two games at Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh to stay in contention, while getting some help from the undefeated Miami and SMU teams sitting above Clemson in the standings. The Hurricanes and Mustangs are both 5-0 in the ACC and favored in all remaining games.

• Clemson was the healthiest it had been in a while entering the Louisville game but ended the night with four injuries to defensive players. Coach Dabo Swinney earlier this week ruled out starting DT DeMonte Capehart and DB Shelton Lewis for the VT game, and those two join WR Tyler Brown as players who are week to week. Star DE Peter Woods and DT Tré Williams are both day to day and questionable to travel/play.

• Virginia Tech is dealing with some injuries of its own. Starting QB Kyron Drones and RB Bhayshul Tuten both missed last week’s overtime loss to Syracuse with injuries, but coach Brent Pry said both players are trending toward playing this week. Drones is a dual-threat option at quarterback, and Tuten has 951 rushing yards this year. If they play, they could feast on a Clemson defense that surrendered 210 rushing yards and a season-low 7.8 yards per carry to Louisville.

• With its “Enter Sandman” entrance, Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium is considered one of the more raucous venues in the ACC and nationally. Clemson, though, hasn’t had many issues there historically. Clemson is 8-2 in Lane Stadium since it opened in 1965, and that .800 winning percentage is tied with South Carolina for the highest of any opponent that’s played Virginia Tech there at least five times. Swinney is 6-0 against the Hokies, including three road wins and two wins in ACC championship games.

Clemson vs. Virginia Tech players to watch

• Clemson RB Jay Haynes: He’s operating behind starter Phil Mafah, so his opportunities have been limited. But it feels like Haynes (4.9 yards per carry) is due for a big play, whether on offense or on special teams as the kick returner.

• Clemson DT Payton Page: With Capehart’s injury, Page tied his season high with 50 snaps vs. Louisville. He’s the team’s most experienced and productive defensive tackle right now and has 18 stops and two TFL this year.

• Virginia Tech WR Stephen Gosnell: Virginia Tech is 26th nationally in rushing yards per game (201.4) and doesn’t need to throw it a ton. When the Hokies do, Gosnell is their season leader in receiving yards (462).

• Virginia Tech DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland: The veteran edge rusher leads the ACC and the nation in sacks with 12. He also has 21.5 career sacks at VT, which is tied for seventh in program history.

Clemson football 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: vs. Georgia in Atlanta, L 34-3

• Sept. 7: vs. App State, W 66-20

• Sept. 14: OPEN

• Sept. 21: vs. NC State, W 59-35

• Sept. 28: vs. Stanford, W 40-14

• Oct. 5: at Florida State, W 29-16

• Oct. 12: at Wake Forest, W 49-14

• Oct. 19: vs. Virginia, W 48-31

• Oct. 26: OPEN

• Nov. 2: vs. Louisville, L 31-22

• Nov. 9: at Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

• Nov. 16: at Pitt, noon (ESPN)

• Nov. 23: vs. The Citadel

• Nov. 30: vs. South Carolina

Clemson football 2024 depth chart

As of Nov. 4

Offense

QB: Cade Klubnik (Christopher Vizzina)

RB: Phil Mafah (Jay Haynes OR Keith Adams Jr.)

Outside WR: Antonio Williams OR T.J. Moore (Cole Turner)

Slot WR: Tyler Brown OR Troy Stellato (Misun Kelley)

Outside WR: Bryant Wesco Jr. OR Adam Randall (Cole Turner)

TE: Jake Briningstool (Olsen Patt-Henry)

LT: Tristan Leigh OR Collin Sadler (Elyjah Thurmon)

LG: Marcus Tate OR Collin Sadler (Trent Howard)

C: Ryan Linthicum (Harris Sewell)

RG: Walker Parks (Trent Howard)

RT: Blake Miller (Collin Sadler)

Defense

DE: Peter Woods (Jaheim Lawson)

DT: Payton Page (Vic Burley)

DT: Tré Williams (Stephiylan Green)

DE: T.J. Parker (Cade Denhoff)

Strongside LB: Wade Woodaz (Jamal Anderson)

Middle LB: Wade Woodaz (Sammy Brown OR Dee Crayton)

Weakside LB: Barrett Carter (Sammy Brown OR Dee Crayton)

CB: Avieon Terrell (Ashton Hampton)

SS: Kylon Griffin OR Tyler Venables (Ricardo Jones)

FS: R.J. Mickens (Tyler Venables)

Nickelback: Khalil Barnes (Sherrod Covil Jr.)

CB: Jeadyn Lukus (Ashton Hampton)

Special teams

PK: Nolan Hauser (Robert Gunn III)

P: Aidan Swanson (Jack Smith)

KO: Robert Gunn III

LS (PK): Holden Caspersen

LS (P): Philip Florenzo

H: Clay Swinney

PR: Antonio Williams

KOR: Jay Haynes (Phil Mafah)