Catch up on coverage of Virginia Tech football before the Hokies play at SMU

Here are the keys to victory for Virginia Tech and SMU when the Hokies and Mustangs meet on Friday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

A look at who has the edge Friday in Virginia Tech's ACC road game against SMU.

Hairston's snap count has steadily increased in recent weeks as his work away from the ball has improved. Even with Luke Reynolds receiving plenty of midseason accolades, Hairston’s steady work ethic is showing up as a key piece to the Virginia Tech offense.

Plus notes on Tyson Flowers' homecoming, how much fun the Hokies are having this season, and key returns on the offensive line.

Here is where Virginia Tech is projected to play in the bowl season before the College Football Playoff’s first rankings are revealed Tuesday evening.

“I think, again as a competitor, those are the guys you want to go against. You want to go against the best competition," safety Tyson Flowers said. "You want to test and see where your skills are up against the best."

The ACC on Monday announced that the Hokies’ first home game in four weeks on Nov. 14 against Stanford will be a primetime kickoff on one of two television networks.

“Unflappable,” quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien said of Ethan Grunkemeyer. “He’s a competitor. He’s tough as hell. We talk about being the thermostat of the team (and) he’s definitely that."

Plus notes on the three-way battle for the backup quarterback spot, what winning football looks like at Virginia Tech this season, and how the Hokies are handling the open week.

“You can say whatever you want about Grunk; you can’t question his toughness,” Hokies coach James Franklin said.

Here's what you need to know about the series history and how to watch the Hokies take on the Mustangs on Friday.