The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Miami-Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech15-27Miami
National Program I#42 of 138–Power Program I#11 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 21 · time TBA, 17 days away.

1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Miami leads the all-time series 27-15. They've met 42 times since 1953. Miami has won the last 5.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Virginia Tech
Win total
7.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+7
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +21
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan believes Hawkins is a top scorer on the team
Hawkins was actually incredible last season, which is why we were so good at after contact stats. Hawkins and Overton is a genuinely great 1-2 punch.
Verified verbatim
Miami
Win total
9.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-5
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -28
What fans are saying · recruiting result
fans believe Miami's coaching staff is exceptionally skilled at recruiting top-tier talent
Mario is a hell of a recruiter. He's getting 4 & 5 Star QB's after going to the portal 3 years in a row! These kids could go and possibly start at big schools yet they choose to come to Miami to learn.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1953–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeVirginia TechMiamievery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Virginia Tech won, gray: Miami won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

Miami has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Virginia Tech led 4 and Miami led 19.

more passmore runVirginia TechMiami2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262008Miami 18.0 ptsMiami won 16-142019Miami 15.8 ptsVirginia Tech won 42-352024Miami 12.2 ptsMiami won 38-34
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Miami once won 12 in a row. The biggest win was Virginia Tech by 33 in 1999. The biggest crowd, 76,108, was in 2002.

The coaching duels

Frank Beamer vs Butch Davis5-1
Frank Beamer vs Larry Coker3-3
Frank Beamer vs Al Golden2-3
Frank Beamer vs Randy Shannon3-1
Jerry Claiborne vs Charlie Tate0-3
Bill Dooley vs Howard Schnellenberger0-3

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
122-248
Miami leads
1st-rounders
13-63
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Virginia TechMiami
1960s2-6
1970s4-20
1980s6-29
1990s19-46
2000s47-63
2010s29-52
2020s15-32

Best picks, either side

1985Bruce Smith Defensive End · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2001Michael Vick Quarterback · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2025Cam Ward Quarterback · Tennessee TitansRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1987Vinny Testaverde Quarterback · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1991Russell Maryland Defensive Tackle · Dallas CowboysRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1977Eddie Edwards Defensive End · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1987Alonzo Highsmith Running Back · Houston OilersRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1990Cortez Kennedy Defensive Tackle · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 3#3 overall

Recent meetings

2025Miami34-17
2024Miami38-34
2022Miami20-14
2021Miami38-26
2020Miami25-24
2019Virginia Tech42-35Miami — Miami favored by 14.0
2018Miami38-14
2017Miami28-10Virginia Tech — both ranked
2016Virginia Tech37-16
2015Miami30-20
2014Miami30-6
2013Virginia Tech42-24Miami — Miami routed by 18
2012Miami30-12
2011Virginia Tech38-35

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Virginia Tech’s chance to win through that meeting. Virginia Tech is 1-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2024: firestorm.

2024Miami 38-34Virginia Tech lost 34-38 at Miami. Chance to win started at 12%, low under 1%, high 81%.Firestorm
2021Miami 38-26Virginia Tech lost 26-38 at Miami. Chance to win started at 31%, low 1%, high 36%.
2020Miami 25-24Virginia Tech lost 24-25 vs Miami. Chance to win started at 52%, low under 1%, high 90%.
2019Virginia Tech 42-35Virginia Tech won 42-35 at Miami. Chance to win started at 15%, low 15%, high better than 99%.
2018Miami 38-14Virginia Tech lost 14-38 vs Miami. Chance to win started at 30%, low under 1%, high 57%.
“If our defense gets one stop we win. Asking a lot”
A Miami fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “I would be frothing at the mouth tbh if that had gone the other way”
    A Miami fan

Meetings with their own story page

2 meetings in our archive, 2017 to 2019.