Miami and Virginia Tech don't share a border, a division anymore or even a similar recruiting footprint, but for three decades this matchup has carried real weight in the ACC and, before that, the Big East.
Miami and Virginia Tech have met every year from 1992 through 2022, then took a one-year break when the ACC temporarily did away with divisions, before resuming the series in 2024. As of the 2024 season, the Hurricanes lead 26-15 overall and 2-0 in bowl games.
Miami-Virginia Tech Rivalry History
The rivalry started in 1953, when Miami shut out the Hokies 26-0 in the first meeting at the Orange Bowl.
Miami dominated the early years. From 1953 through 1994, the Hurricanes won the first 12 meetings, including a pair of bowl victories — the 1966 Liberty Bowl and the 1981 Peach Bowl. That stretch included a 43-23 win in Blacksburg in 1992 and a 24-3 victory in 1994, when No. 6 Miami overwhelmed No. 10 Virginia Tech and held the Hokies to negative rushing yardage.
The balance of power shifted with Frank Beamer's rise. Virginia Tech finally broke through in 1995 with a 13-7 win in Lane Stadium, then took four of the next five, capped by the signature game of the series: a 43-10 Hokies win in 1999 behind redshirt freshman Michael Vick. That night in Blacksburg was a launch point for Virginia Tech's run to the BCS title game and remains the largest margin of victory by either side.
The early 2000s turned the rivalry into must-see TV. In 2000, No. 3 Miami beat No. 2 Virginia Tech 41-21 at the Orange Bowl. Three years later, the Hokies flipped the script, taking down No. 2 Miami 31-7 in Blacksburg. When both schools moved from the Big East to the ACC in 2004, their regular-season finale in Miami became a de facto ACC championship game; No. 10 Virginia Tech won 16-10 to claim the conference crown.
From there, the series has been about runs. Miami stunned No. 3 Virginia Tech 27-7 in Blacksburg in 2005. The Hokies answered with four wins in five years from 2006-10, including a 31-17 road victory in 2010 that helped secure another ACC title. In 2017, with both teams ranked again, No. 9 Miami handled No. 13 Virginia Tech 28-10 at Hard Rock Stadium on the way to an ACC Coastal crown and a top-10 finish.
The most recent chapter might be the most controversial. In 2024, No. 7 Miami survived 38-34 in Miami Gardens after a Virginia Tech Hail Mary that was initially ruled a game-winning touchdown was overturned on review. It also extended Miami's current win streak in the series to four games heading into the 2025 matchup in Blacksburg.
Every score in the Miami-Virginia Tech series
- Nov. 13, 1953: Miami 26, Virginia Tech 0
- Dec. 10, 1966 – Memphis, Tenn. (Liberty Bowl): No. 9 Miami 14, Virginia Tech 7
- Nov. 4, 1967: Miami 14, Virginia Tech 7
- Oct. 18, 1968: No. 12 Miami 13, Virginia Tech 8
- Nov. 1, 1974: Miami 14, Virginia Tech 7
- Jan. 2, 1981 – Atlanta, Ga. (Peach Bowl): No. 20 Miami 20, Virginia Tech 10
- Nov. 14, 1981: No. 12 Miami 21, Virginia Tech 14
- Sept. 18, 1982: No. 15 Miami 14, Virginia Tech 8
- Nov. 14, 1987: No. 3 Miami 27, Virginia Tech 13
- Oct. 24, 1992: No. 1 Miami 43, Virginia Tech 23
- Sept. 18, 1993: No. 3 Miami 21, Virginia Tech 2
- Oct. 29, 1994: No. 6 Miami 24, Virginia Tech 3
- Sept. 23, 1995: Virginia Tech 13, Miami 7
- Nov. 16, 1996: No. 21 Virginia Tech 21, Miami 7
- Nov. 8, 1997: No. 20 Virginia Tech 27, Miami 25
- Sept. 19, 1998: Virginia Tech 27, Miami 20 (OT)
- Nov. 13, 1999: No. 2 Virginia Tech 43, Miami 10
- Nov. 4, 2000: No. 3 Miami 41, Virginia Tech 21
- Dec. 1, 2001: No. 1 Miami 26, Virginia Tech 24
- Dec. 7, 2002: No. 1 Miami 56, Virginia Tech 45
- Nov. 1, 2003: No. 10 Virginia Tech 31, Miami 7
- Dec. 4, 2004: No. 10 Virginia Tech 16, Miami 10
- Nov. 5, 2005: No. 5 Miami 27, No. 3 Virginia Tech 7
- Nov. 4, 2006: No. 24 Virginia Tech 17, Miami 10
- Nov. 17, 2007: No. 10 Virginia Tech 44, Miami 14
- Nov. 13, 2008: Miami 16, Virginia Tech 14
- Sept. 26, 2009: No. 12 Virginia Tech 31, No. 9 Miami 7
- Nov. 20, 2010: No. 14 Virginia Tech 31, Miami 17
- Oct. 8, 2011: No. 17 Virginia Tech 38, Miami 35
- Nov. 1, 2012: Miami 30, Virginia Tech 12
- Nov. 9, 2013: Virginia Tech 42, Miami 24
- Oct. 23, 2014: Miami 30, Virginia Tech 6
- Oct. 17, 2015: Miami 30, Virginia Tech 20
- Oct. 20, 2016: Virginia Tech 37, Miami 16
- Nov. 4, 2017: No. 9 Miami 28, No. 13 Virginia Tech 10
- Nov. 17, 2018: Miami 38, Virginia Tech 14
- Oct. 5, 2019: Virginia Tech 42, Miami 35
- Nov. 14, 2020: No. 9 Miami 25, Virginia Tech 24
- Nov. 20, 2021: Miami 38, Virginia Tech 26
- Oct. 15, 2022: Miami 20, Virginia Tech 14
- Sept. 27, 2024: No. 7 Miami 38, Virginia Tech 34