COLLEGIAT ETIMES
WUVT-FM RADIOTHON HOLDS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
Julian Namez | News Writer
This year’s Radiothon included various show themes by WUVT’s DJs.
WUVT 90.7 FM, Virginia Tech’s student-run radio station, recently held its annual Radiothon from Oct. 20-26. Radiothon is a weeklong fundraising campaign featuring nonstop live DJs and themed shows.
WUVT, originally founded in 1948, is a non-commercial, Federal Communications Commission-licensed FM radio station, broadcasting to the wider Montgomery County region. It operates under the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, and is known for playing a wide variety of music often not found on commercial radio. The station operates out of Squires Student Center, featuring primarily student and alumni DJs.
This year’s Radiothon featured themed shows such as “Early Bird Gets the Worm: songs about birds and bird
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fun facts” hosted by DJ Captain Morgan and “Shoegaze Showdown: a tasteful selection of our favorite shoegaze bands” hosted by DJ The Magic Mug. Listeners were able to donate through the website or by calling into the station, and receive premiums such as WUVT stickers, beanies, soccer jerseys and letterman jackets. Each premium was designed by the WUVT art staff.
Hanya Hudgens, a sophomore studying food science and technology, is the business manager for WUVT. As business manager, her role is to “help design, buy and send out each of the premiums,” Hudgens explained.
“The money we raise goes towards keeping our station running as we are 100% student-run– things like new hardware for the station and our FCC license,” Hudgens said.
that to their readers, but rather to report as completely and impartially as possible all verifiable facts so that readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth.
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Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor in chief and managing editors.
Hudgens expressed the significance of WUVT for students at Virginia Tech.
“WUVT is like a third place for students and music lovers and plays a big part in the live music culture in Blacksburg,” Hudgens said. “We have over 50,000 copies of physical media in our station and it’s an amazing place for students to find new music and express themselves.”
The radio station was able to exceed its goal of $20,000, raising a total of $23,268 — the most in Radiothon history. If you are interested in listening to WUVT, you can listen online at https:// www.wuvt.vt.edu/listen-live or on FM channel 90.7.
COLLEGIAT ETIMES
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ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Justin Louie DJs for his show “The Louie Agenda” on WUVT, Virginia Tech’s student-run radio station, April 21, 2021.
‘CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS’ PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS VIRGINIA TECH RESEARCHERS ACROSS DISCIPLINES
Abhigna Koochana | News Writer
The goal of the podcast is to show different areas of research to students.
Curious Conversations, a podcast hosted by Travis Williams, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Office of Research and Innovation, explores various research topics, including researcher’s expertise, motivations and the practical applications of their work. Every week, the show features a different researcher at Virginia Tech to talk about their work.
According to Williams, the idea of the podcast came from attending his kid’s birthday parties. At these parties, he would meet different people from various backgrounds, some of them being researchers.
“I wanted everybody to be able to go to a cookout with a researcher and pick their brain on a very basic level and be like, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’” Williams said. “‘Why does it matter? And how are you changing the world? And, how’s it going to help me?’ And give you something that you can go back and brag to your family or friends about.”
The development of the podcast started with reaching out to researchers, writing interview questions and creating a conversation. Williams likes to do research on his guests beforehand in order to see how they respond to questions and get familiar with their work.
“I don’t know that a researcher has ever directly reached out to me and been like, ‘Hey, I want to be on the podcast,’” Williams said. “It’d be cool if they did, but I also think it speaks to their humility that a lot of times I’ll reach out to them and sometimes they’re like, ‘Well, I don’t know if I’m an expert.’ So I’m like, ‘Yes, you are brilliant.’”
Williams wants students to know that they have access to many opportunities with the faculty and programs on campus. The goal in creating this podcast is to show the different areas that research can explore and how researchers contribute to society.
“A lot of these folks’ projects, they include students just like them that are
Curious Conversations, a Research Podcast cover
helping out and learning and contributing, and they’re a big part of the research enterprise at Virginia Tech,” Williams said. “There’s a lot of opportunity there, no matter what you’re interested in, to go be a part of those programs and to not only get to rub elbows with people who are brilliant, but also develop your own skill set, make yourself more workforce-ready. Maybe discover there’s something that you would love to do that you never thought you would do, or maybe discover there’s something you don’t want to do, which is just as important.”
Looking ahead, Williams hopes to one day feature a live recording panel where listeners can engage with the researchers while they showcase their expertise.
“This podcast hinges on the support of one, the people that I work with in my office that help promote it or suggest people and really our research community, like people being okay with jumping on and just talking to me about their stuff and helping me understand it,” Williams said. “I hope that it helps other people better understand what they do.”
Curious Conversations is available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. If you are an expert interested in being on the podcast or know someone, email Travis Williams at traviskw@vt.edu.
LIFESTYLES
BEHIND CASSELL WALLS: HOW TEAM MANAGERS SUPPORT HOKIE BASKETBALL
Hunter Grove | Lifestyles Contributor
A
student manager’s work often goes unseen, but the team couldn’t play without them.
Basketball season is finally here, and Hokie fans couldn’t be more excited — for good reason. Head coach Mike Young contributed some stellar additions to the team’s roster, including freshman Neoklis Avdalas, who withdrew from the NBA draft last spring to become a Hokie. West Virginia’s Amani Hansberry, one of the top 16 recruits in the country, also joined the roster.
Beyond the new players and big plays, a devoted crew works tirelessly behind the scenes to make everything possible: the basketball managers.
“The days are long, especially Saturday night games,” said Isaac Yeaker, men’s basketball manager and junior in multimedia journalism. “We can be here for over 12 hours, from setting up for practice to getting stuff done for the game and all the postgame work.”
On game day, players and managers wake up early to warm up before it starts. Another one- to two-hour practice session could be in order, depending on the time before the game starts. Managers are expected to be at Cassell Coliseum two hours before the game begins, and then work additional hours cleaning after it’s over.
Beyond the long hours, Yeaker and the other managers handle a variety of responsibilities that keep the team running smoothly. From making sure basketballs are properly inflated to scouting opponents and breaking down game footage, the managers have their hands in nearly every aspect of the team’s operations.
It’s not uncommon for managers to spend 30 minutes to an hour rebounding shots for the team. Many have to keep up with the team’s work ethic, practicing and training to match the pace.
“On your laundry day, you have to do the team’s laundry and the staff’s laundry. It’s not glamorous, but it’s something that has to get done daily by everybody,” Yeaker said.
Other tasks can include working out with the team, cleaning the locker rooms
and using the Zamboni on the courts after games. Managers are often responsible for setting up game-day tailgates and festivities while staying on call for potential issues and emergencies.
With the long hours managing the team in addition to keeping up with schoolwork, the job can be stressful. The management team emphasizes a “school first” environment, meaning students are encouraged to prioritize academics when necessary.
Managers often juggle morning practices, afternoon classes and late-night game preparations. Communication and maintaining a proper work-life balance are key to their success.
For many team managers, their love of basketball and passion for the team
make the long hours and menial tasks worth it. Many relish the chance to be a part of something bigger and enjoy seeing their hard work pay off on the court.
“It’s gratifying to see that what we’re doing matters,” Yeaker said. “Sometimes it might not feel like it does. You really build bonds with the staff and players, and I definitely call some of these guys my friends.”
Being a team manager is a coveted experience for any sports fan. Having a hand in the operations and a chance to work alongside the team they’ve loved for years is deeply gratifying. Students who aspire to a career in coaching or the sports industry find the role especially valuable, learning directly from the staff
and Young.
“Coach Young really represents Southwest Virginia and grew up here in Radford. Learning from a guy like that, who really knows what it means to be out here, has been really cool,” Yeaker said. The Hokies’ success doesn’t just come from plays made on the court — it also comes from the work done off the court. Every rebound grabbed and every load of jerseys washed is another step toward victory, even if the tasks go unnoticed. The basketball managers’ drive and passion help ensure every game is a success for both fans and players alike.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON PURSER
BETWEEN THE BUZZER: HOKIE MINI-GAMES KEEP CASSELL IN THE ACTION
Emma Duncan, Cat Pizzarello and Ella Winterling | Lifestyles Editor and Assistant Editors
When the action pauses, basketball fans come out to play.
Football season begins its close as Hokie basketball ramps up for its season, filling Cassell Coliseum with eager fans ready to see the men’s and women’s teams back on the court. A large part of bringing Cassell to life is not only the student-athletes, but also the in-venue and marketing teams that keep school spirit up when the players are off the court.
Organizers complete Virginia Tech football games with a slew of on-field mini-games during timeouts and breaks to keep the roaring crowd entertained. These humorous intermissions also accompany basketball season.
Bailey Angle, the in-venue host for Virginia Tech Athletics, is the face facilitating these charming productions, leading everything from the Benny’s Slice-Off to Press Your Luck. Angle’s role in Lane Stadium follows him to Cassell.
“The structure of our basketball (mini)-games they’re a little bit easier to execute quickly because we know when the basketball timeouts are going to be.
It’s a little bit easier to engage in,” Angle said. “A lot of times, we’re able to prepare a lot easier and just know that we’re going to do it. Everybody can see what we’re doing. We’re in the middle of the court in a way more intimate setting.”
Basketball season also features numerous games that are specific to Cassell. As the first few games approach, here’s a preview of what’s to come.
Half Minute to Win It
Hosted by Virginia Credit Union, the Half Minute to Win It competition takes place down on the court, giving individuals a close-up memory moment. The player will attempt a layup, free throw, a three-pointer and a half-court shot for the chance to win various cash prizes. The catch — they only have 30 seconds.
“You can win $75 if you hit the layup or the free throw, $150 if you hit the threepointer and $350 if you hit all four. If you hit just the layup, it’s just $25. We don’t have that at football,” Angle said.
PK’s Delivery Dash
During PK’s Delivery Dash, the player
holds a pizza box while attempting to dribble and lay the ball through the net using their dominant hand. Winners receive pizza and t-shirts.
Benny’s Box Toss
One of the most notable mini-games during Virginia Tech football games is Benny’s Slice-Off. Benny’s also plays a role in Cassell’s festivities with the Benny’s Box Toss.
“Last year was a stacking game. This year, we’re doing a little bit of a different thing where you have to throw a Benny’s box,” Angle said. “Right now, it’s just a hula hoop, but we’re going to get a mat for a target. If you land the Benny’s box on the mat, you get a Benny’s prize pack, which has a $20 gift card to Benny’s and a hat.”
From contests that test fans’ basketball skills to challenges featuring Blacksburg food staples, mini-games keep Cassell’s spirit up through the duration of commercial breaks and time-outs. While the clock may stop, the energy doesn’t.
“I want our students to know that when Cassell is rocking, it’s the loudest gym in the ACC,” Angle said. “They should totally come out.”
HOKIE SPORTS
VIRGINIA TECH’S NEW COURSE REQUEST SYSTEM IS A MESS
Sarah Leberknight | Opinions Columnist
Hokie Registration lacks basic functionality and makes course request harder for students.
Virginia Tech sent Hokie Scheduler to an early grave last semester, sticking students with its very plain course request system. This fall, while we were still mourning Hokie Scheduler’s easy-to-use software and color-coded calendar, Tech debuted its new system, Hokie Registration. I was hopeful that it would be the savior course request needed — something fresh and functional.
Instead, students were met with an over-the-top orange and maroon system that bombards users with buttons, menus and, initially, error messages, as Hokie Registration was broken on launch day. Everyone I ran into on launch day and I were baffled, irritated, or completely unsatisfied with the new system. What could have been a great opportunity to make course request less stressful for students was instead a flop of epic proportions, as Hokie Registration overcomplicates the process and manages to be the worst course request software in recent years. The old system, which required the copying and pasting of CRN numbers from the timetable, wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t as charming as Hokie Scheduler and it didn’t provide a calendar, but it was incredibly simple. Copy, paste and hit
submit. That was it. And honestly, I wish we had it back because in comparison, Hokie Registration is anything but simple.
When you first open up Hokie Registration, you are met with a low-resolution photo and a sidebar with a whole lot of buttons. It is not an inviting platform, but that could be overlooked if it were easy to use — which it isn’t. First, you have both a plan and a cart. It would be incredibly easy for students to put all their classes in the “plan” part and not realize that that isn’t actually registering. The cart also has no confirmation button, so it could easily be confused as to whether or not students actually registered. Finally, there are options for alternative carts, but it is unclear as to what those actually are or if they even work.
Now, Hokie Registration does have a calendar, which should be a welcome addition, but it, too, is flawed. First off, it doesn’t look nearly as nice as Hokie Scheduler’s calendar, with no color-coding — just gray blocks. Worse, it’s not automatically available on the sidebar. You have to click into something else, either the cart or through the “plan tools” button on the “build my schedule” page, to view it. It should be on the sidebar or somewhere
easy to get to, not hidden behind buttons and menus.
But that’s the thing about Hokie Registration: there’s always another button and another menu. It’s horrifyingly amazing how many things I have to click through to actually be able to add a class to my cart. The first menu comes up after searching for a class. Then you click on a class, and another menu comes up next to it. Then you can open up the calendar if you want, adding another menu.
And then, when you click add to cart, guess what? Another menu pops up. Most of the time, you have to manually close each menu, too. It’s an atrocity to look at, assaulting the eyes with orange and maroon and a truly unbelievable amount of menus and buttons. The system both looks and feels cramped, creating a maze that students have to trial and error their way through.
The search function is also not great, mainly because it isn’t specific enough. If you type in a word, it doesn’t just give you classes with that word in the name of the class. That could be a good thing, potentially broadening your horizons. Instead, it will pull up any class that has that word in the description. The results quickly
become oversaturated and sometimes irrelevant, and you might be scrolling for a while to find what you are looking for.
I genuinely found it easier to look for the classes I needed on the timetable and then search for the exact class code on Hokie Registration. It shouldn’t be easier for me to use two systems. Hokie Registration, if it’s to be the end-all be-all for course request, it should be able to be the place where students do everything. Unfortunately, it’s simply not built to be user-friendly or intuitive.
For a school with tech in its name, Virginia Tech is incredibly bad at creating student-friendly systems, as evidenced by how much of a mess Hokie Registration is. It’s way too easy to get lost in the system — a system that is critical for students to register for classes for the next semester. It feels like VT threw everything they could possibly think of into Hokie Registration because there is way too much to look at and navigate through. Instead of being an innovation, it’s multiple steps backwards, becoming a frustrating obstacle instead of a helpful tool.
WHY THE YOUTH NEED TO VOTE
Kennedy Monahan | Opinions Contributor
Changing the world we live in starts with voting, something everyone should do.
With Virginia elections being just around the corner, it’s time to focus on the group that votes the least: young people. Since the voting age was lowered to 18, those between the ages of 18 to 29 have the lowest turnout of any age group. As the age group that will live to see the effects of today’s policies the longest, this must change.
One of the largest barriers to youth voting is time and information. About 31% of young people who didn’t vote said they were too busy, had conflicts or did not have enough information. However, it has actually gotten easier to vote. Nearly all states offer early in-person and
absentee voting. It is clear that people have plenty of opportunities to make a change, so why does the younger generation not vote?
In the 2024 presidential election, youth voter turnout was about 47%, the lowest of any age range. Voter turnout tends to be highest during presidential elections, so it will likely be lower for this year’s gubernatorial election. In Virginia’s last gubernatorial election, only 25% of young people voted. The reason for this is not that younger people don’t care about politics; it’s that they feel unqualified to participate in politics.
One main reason some people feel unqualified is a lack of information. In 2022, 21% of young voters said they did not have enough information about the candidates or where to vote, and another 21% said they did not know how to register. Furthermore, only about half of them were contacted by any political campaigns, while over 70% in every other age range were contacted. For each of these problems, solutions can be found on college campuses. In 2022, only about 31% of college students voted. Part of this could be due to the lack of opportunities for students to learn about voting while in college.
At Virginia Tech, every once in a while, you might see a table of people asking you if you’re registered to vote. Most people probably walk right by. Occasionally, there might also be tables set up promoting Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger. Even while Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears visited Virginia Tech during Gobblerfest, there hasn’t been much information about her around campus since.
continued on page 7
So while some students may feel there is not much information on voting, they have all the resources they need right at their fingertips. Registering to vote only takes a couple of minutes, and you don’t even have to do it in person; it’s available online. If you don’t know anything about the candidates, you can find the ballot and then Google information about each candidate.
Additionally, as long as you are registered in the state of Virginia, you can vote. If you are not registered to vote in Blacksburg, you can get an absentee
ballot and vote that way. For those who are registered to vote and live on campus, you can vote at the Squires Student Center. Students living off campus can go to different polling locations around Blacksburg.
Voting has truly never been easier, and students at Virginia Tech should take full advantage of their ability to vote. Voting is the simplest way to participate in our democracy. Just over 50 years ago, people aged 18 to 20 were the ones fighting for the right to vote, and now people that age aren’t voting.
Whether or not you think your vote matters, politics affects you. Virginia Tech’s suspension of Pathways Seven, which aims to teach identity and equity, shows that politics affects the classes you take. They affect you when you walk into Kroger and can only buy a certain amount of groceries, and how fast you’re able to drive going there and back. Politics affects how much federal funding Virginia Tech gets, directly affecting your college education.
gubernatorial election, you can vote for the candidate who you think will make Virginia a better place. No matter your political stance, this is your chance to be a participant in your country’s democracy. Even if it feels like democracy is falling apart, voting is something you can do to keep it alive. continued from page 6 @COLLEGIATETIMES
The list could go on and on; nevertheless, the point is that in this year’s
SPORTS
REVAMPED AND INVIGORATED, VIRGINIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL EXPECTS MORE THIS SEASON
Dylan Tefft | Sports Editor
Behind a number of offseason additions, Hokies basketball has high hopes.
At Virginia Tech basketball’s media day, Mike Young and his players echoed what a productive offseason had already suggested: The program is revamped, invigorated and aiming high ahead of its 2025-26 campaign.
“I really like our team,” Young said. “Good to be back in (Tech’s basketball practice center) Hahn Hurst, and another season underway.”
“We’ve got a lot of guys, and new guys. It’s really not even the same team,” said redshirt-junior guard Jaden Schutt. “We’ve got some big guys, but got a lot older in the transfer portal, and there’s just an overall different dynamic to this team. A lot more experienced and a lot more talented.”
Last year, an all-new, excruciatingly green Hokies team finished 8-12 in the ACC. Roster turnover was similar this time around — they retained just four players — but that’s where the resemblance between the last two offseasons ends. When the season begins in November, Tech will field a level of talent that it couldn’t afford a year ago.
That started with the return of key players from last season: Schutt, senior forward Tobi Lawal, and sophomore guards Ben Hammond and Tyler Johnson. The program also added associate head coach Chester Frazier, general manager Nelson Hernandez and,
earlier this week, assistant head coach David Moats. He most recently spent eight years at Boise State, five as director of basketball operations and three as an assistant coach.
The revised staff helped form one of Tech’s strongest recruiting classes in recent memory, headlined by Athens, Greece-born guard Neoklis Avdalas, who passed on the 2025 NBA Draft to improve his draft stock with the Hokies.
The 19-year-old averaged 14 points, 7.1 rebounds and eight assists in the U20 European Championships this summer, which, as Young noted, delayed his arrival in Blacksburg until August. Avdalas is expected to be a one-and-done player, but more importantly, one of the most exciting prospects to ever don maroon and orange.
“When Neo visited, his dad is a delightful man,” Young said. “He played professionally in Greece for a long time — delightful man. And we were talking about (if Avdalas is a) two-guard, small forward, point guard. His dad said, ‘He’s a playmaker,’ and he’s a playmaker.”
German-born center Antonio Dorn also committed to Tech this offseason. The 22-year-old seven-footer has professional basketball experience in Germany’s second division. He brings size to the roster along with West Virginia transfer Amani Hansberry,
whom Young is particularly high on.
“We talk about a connector, an offensive connector, which is very important,” Young said of the 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward-center. “When your connector is your five, that lends itself to some things offensively that can be really, really hard to guard.”
“Amani is like a Swiss army knife,” Lawal said. “He can really do everything on the court.”
Other notable additions include Delaware transfer Izaiah Pasha — who’s expected to compete for the starting point guard job — and UNLV transfer Jailen Bedford, who will play with his fourth school in five seasons.
“My journey has been crazy, nothing short of a blessing,” Bedford said. “I started at JUCO, and I’m just grateful to be here … It’s the perfect fit for my last year.”
Bedford, whom Young called “our best on-ball defender,” is one of six guards competing for minutes. He, along with Hammond, Johnson, Schutt, Avdalas and Pasha have already begun battling for the lion’s share in practice.
Each player will get in-game opportunities, though. Avdalas appears to be a shoo-in at starting point guard, but his versatility may shift him across the court. Schutt and Johnson will play the wing often like last year.
Tech’s backcourt seems mostly set, with Young saying that if the season started today, he’d play Lawal at the four and Hansbury at the five. He added that they could move around in situations that call for Dorn’s height, and noted freshmen Christian Gurdak and Sin’Cere Jones as depth pieces.
That’s perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Young’s squad — depth. No matter the starting lineup, a wealth of talent is expected to be waiting in reserve. That was a foreign feeling for the Hokies last year, when they lacked convincing answers at both point guard and center. All signs point to a better season for Tech.
How much better exactly?
“Winning the ACC, that’s the goal, what we strive for,” Bedford said. “That’s what’s going to happen.”
The Hokies’ 2025-26 campaign begins Nov. 3 against Charleston Southern at 7:00 p.m. ET.
PUNTING MISCUES SWING VIRGINIA TECH’S LOSS TO LOUISVILLE
Sam Mostow | Sports Editor
Too often, special teams are an afterthought. A formality. A necessary but uneventful requirement — one that is omnipresent but lacks impact.
Not on Saturday. Punts and kickoffs swung the game’s pendulum back and forth, ultimately resulting in No. 16 Louisville’s 28-16 win over Virginia Tech in Lane Stadium.
Toward the end of the first quarter, Louisville lined up for a punt attempt. None of the Cardinals’ linemen blocked Virginia Tech’s P.J. Prioleau, though; Prioleau ran up to Louisville punter Carter Schwartz, dove and deflected the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety. The play turned a 7-7 tie into a 9-7 Hokies lead — plus Tech received the ball again.
“I saw it go out of the back of the end zone,” Prioleau said. “I got up, looked at it and was about to go chase it. I wanted to go score, but I saw it go out of the back of the end zone and was like, ‘All right, that’s cool, too.’”
The Cardinals began to claw back in
the third quarter. With Tech ahead 16-14 and 5:42 remaining in the period, Hokies punter Nick Veltsistas booted a kick 43 yards. Louisville punt returner Caullin Lacy fielded the ball at his own 32-yard line, then brought it 63 yards into the red zone. Keyjuan Brown rushed twice into the end zone to give Louisville a lead.
Lacy finished with 139 return yards across four punt and kickoff returns.
Veltsistas accumulated 376 punt yards via eight kicks and averaged 47 yards per punt — including one that traveled 68 yards to the far two-yard line.
“The thing he does is he takes a lot of chances back there, and then when he gets north and south, he can make some things happen,” said Virginia Tech interim head coach Philip Montgomery. “We knew we needed to do a great job to … make him run sideline to sideline and not let him get vertical. So, when he gets vertical, it gets scary.”
Right before Lacy’s longest return of the afternoon, Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones attempted a deep throw
on third down to wide receiver Donavon Greene. Drones’ pass, however, landed just in front of Greene’s outstretched arms.
“Whether you’re talking about a play on offense, defense or special teams, you’re trying to create the momentum,” Montgomery said. “You’re trying to create options. Some of them hit; some of them don’t.”
Virginia Tech safety Isaiah Cash notched the game’s only interception, hauling a pass from Louisville quarterback Miller Moss on third-and-12 and returning it 18 yards. The pick led to the Hokies’ first score of the day in the first quarter, which tied the game at seven points apiece.
“Huge play of the game — one of the best plays,” Montgomery said. “He made a tremendous play. I thought we had guys step up and make big plays throughout.”
Louisville running back Isaac Brown led a strong rushing attack, contributing 130 yards on the ground and a touchdown. He averaged 8.1 yards per
carry, though he left the game after suffering an apparent lower-body injury near the end of the fourth quarter.
Aside from Brown, the Cardinals found offensive success by committee. Moss completed 19 of his 28 passing attempts for 136 passing yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Chris Bell hauled in eight passes for 56 yards, while Lucy added six catches, 53 yards and a touchdown. Four different Cardinals netted positive rushing yards, contributing to a 6.9 yards per rushing attempt clip.
Drones went 11-for-24 in the air, notching 76 passing yards and a passing touchdown, along with 14 rushes for 85 yards and a rushing touchdown. Running backs Marcellous Hawkins and Terion Stewart both earned the bulk of the carries and contributed 45 and 22 rushing yards, respectively. Wide receiver Ayden Greene led his team with just 17 receiving yards, while Cameron Seldon notched the team’s lone touchdown in the air.
Next up is the Hokies’ second open week of the season, ahead of the final stretch of the season. The end of the season will bring two games against teams currently ranked No. 10 Miami and No. 15 Virginia with a road trip to Florida State before then.
“I think this team has grown tremendously throughout the year,” Montgomery said. “We’ve got three games left to go and finish writing this story.”
The Hokies blocked a punt in the defeat.
RILEY THOMPSON / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) is tackled by Louisville in Lane Stadium on Nov. 1, 2025, in Blacksburg, VA.