They’ll be talking about this one for a while, and many will feel former Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry and Virginia Tech got jipped.
With three seconds left and Virginia Tech down 38-34, Tech had one last play from the Miami 30.
QB Kyron Drones launched a Hail Mary, and as usual, many people were going for the ball in the end zone.
Initially, it was ruled that Tech receiver Da’Quan Felton came down with it. But after further review, it was ruled an incomplete pass.
Some feel the evidence was not conclusive enough to overturn the call. Others feel the play should have initially been ruled a touchdown. In any case, this one will be talked about for a while.
VT, which came in 2-2 with losses at Vanderbilt and to Rutgers at home, took it to No. 7 Miami on the road as a 17.5-point underdog.
A Tech win would have benefitted Penn State since Miami is one of the eight teams ranked ahead of PSU in the AP Poll.
With two other teams ahead of Penn State— No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama— facing off in Tuscaloosa Saturday night at 7:30, Penn State should still move up at least as long as it beats No. 19 Illinois and looks semi-decent doing it.
Pry had been an assistant under James Franklin at Penn State since Franklin took over in 2014, and Pry became Penn State’s defensive coordinator in 2016.
In the early days of Pry’s coaching career, he worked at Virginia Tech under head coach Frank Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster.
Pry had worked under Franklin since 2011, first for three years at Vanderbilt and then eight seasons at Penn State.
“I’m truly excited for Brent and his family,” Franklin said after Pry got the VT job. “He’s a passionate leader who’ll inspire his team to play their best football; but his greatest strengths are his dedication, relatability and humility. It’s those characteristics combined with his deep understanding of X&Os that will serve Virginia Tech and the entire Blacksburg community best.”
This near-upset is also a reminder to Penn State fans that anything can happen. PSU is an 18-point favorite over Illinois, a very similar spread to the Miami game.
