What games did COVID-19 have an effect on?

COVID-19 affected everyone differently this season and some more than others. I thought it might be interesting to look at each game from our schedule and see if it was affected and how if yes. So, here it is.

NC State: this game was originally scheduled for two weeks before until NC State had to postpone. Then when they were getting over it we started having our issues. We ended up dominating despite our roster numbers being down more than theirs. I wouldn't say this game would have been any different without COVID-19.

Duke: we were still having our fair share of issues with COVID-19 while Duke was okay. We won by 7 despite this. This game likely would have played out similarly without COVID-19.

UNC: we were still hurting from COVID-19. This is the first game where it showed. The defense playing in a scheme they didn't even get to implement in the spring got torched, and the better quarterback didn't play the entire first half because it was his first game back. This game could have been much different had we had a full team, the defense had spring practice, and the best quarterback played all four quarters.

Boston College: we were starting to get our full roster back and dominated this game. I can't recall if Boston College had any glaring COVID-19 issues, but I don't think it would have mattered. We outmatched them.

Wake Forest: COVID-19 had little effect on this game. I think we would have outnumbered their fans, but it wouldn't have mattered. We were unprepared and played as such. Pandemic or no pandemic, we lose this one.

Louisville: this was the first game I think where we were helped because of COVID-19. Louisville was pretty depleted, especially on defense, and we took advantage. I don't think this one goes the same way without COVID-19.

Liberty: some might disagree, but I'm going to say COVID-19 had an effect on this one. For whatever reason, G5 as a whole had a good season. I have no clue why. Maybe the small crowd sizes wherever they went helped. Either way, I think we beat Liberty in a normal year with Lane rocking. I don't think they would have come in with the same momentum either. Chalk this one up to COVID-19 (yes, I know some game management decisions should have been better).

Miami: Lane would have been rocking for this one. In a one-point loss, I think that could have made a difference. Maybe it would have helped Miami, maybe it would have helped us. Who knows with our recent performances in Lane? I definitely do think this would have been a different game without COVID-19, though.

Pittsburgh: Heinz Field curse. We were dominated. No chance. We would also lose this game during Spanish Flu, the Bubonic Plague, etc.

Clemson: I actually think the lack of a crowd helped us not get boatraced. Clemson has superior athletes all over the field, and a crowd would have just given them more adrenaline to hit us in the mouth early. They didn't hit us in the mouth till the third quarter. The result would have been the same regardless, though. COVID-19 had no real effect on this one.

Virginia: no effect. They were coming in on a four-game winning streak. We were coming in on a four-game losing streak. Despite their excellent discipline and commitment to the (mediocre) program, we dominated. Had that been played under normal circumstances, we would have just won by more. Bryce Perkins wasn't walking into the stadium to save them.

Does anyone have any disagreements or anything they'd like to add? I wrote this mostly assuming each game as if the previous results up to that point would have been the same. For example, maybe the Pitt game goes differently if we have a little more momentum coming in, which I think we might have without COVID-19. And of course, everyone else would have been playing without COVID-19 as well, thereby affecting the entire landscape of college football. I just thought it was a fun little exercise to put things in perspective and talk about something other than lack of staff changes and poorly executed press conferences.

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No, I *don't* want to go to the SEC. Why do you ask?

We don't love dem Hoos.

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"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K

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To you from failing hands we throw
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Now finish up them taters; I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters.

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K

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"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K

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To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

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I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction:
β€œI served in the United States Navy"

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Recovering scientist working in business consulting

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Recovering scientist working in business consulting

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I would root for the Russians before I would root for Virginia.

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I would root for the Russians before I would root for Virginia.

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This is home

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