Just re-watched the 2014 OSU game, and... IT. WAS. NO. FLUKE.

I've had that glorious 2014 game at OSU on our DVR for almost a year now, but had yet to sit down and watch it over again. Today was a pretty free Sat, so I fired it up and sat back to enjoy (only fast-fwd'ing through commercials).

My subject line really says it all. This was no fluke win by the good guys. VT went up to Columbus, OH and flat outplayed OSU. We executed with our new starting QB; OSU did not. Brewer played lights-out (especially on 3rd down). Barrett showed flashes of the greatness he would show throughout the remainder of the season, but he simply could not make the throws needed to beat our DBs. Or, to be fair to Barrett, his WRs couldn't do their part. And, as has been much publicized, our defensive scheme with the "bear" front pretty much shut down their running / option game. It was simply a brilliant defensive scheme, executed very well by the defense.

Now, let me be clear. I do not expect it to be as "easy" on Sep 7 in Blacksburg. As we all saw, OSU gelled (to say the least) throughout the rest of last season. They will be a more formidable opponent in 2 weeks in Lane. But let's also recognize that VT should be much improved on offense this season, with an equally devastating defense. At least on paper. They obviously have to prove it through execution on the field. But, I am confident we will again be a match-up problem for OSU. I'll stop short of predicting the upset. But, if we execute anywhere close to how we did last year in Columbus, I give us a fair shot in 2 weeks.

I realize I'm on a VT fan site and therefore preaching to the choir. But, I'm flat out tired of hearing the national media pundits almost dismissing OSU's first game this season. I get it, they did what they did following the VT game last season, and we did what we did. But, if you watched that 2014 game (as I just did), there is no way OSU (or the media) should think of last season's game as a fluke.