Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Defense Makes Strong Statement to Rest of ACC

J.T. Barrett got the message. 

The rest of the ACC better take notice. 

The Virginia Tech Hokies, coming off two subpar seasons by traditional Frank Beamer standards, made perhaps the biggest statement south of the Mason-Dixon line on Saturday with its 35-21 upset of the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

What led the Hokies over Urban Meyer and Co.? Well, the fact that Braxton Miller wasn't suited up surely played a part of it. 

But not even the most mobile of quarterbacks could've escaped the relentless, suffocating pressure that the Hokies put on Barrett throughout the night. Barrett was the victim of seven sacks—six of them in the second half and three on the Buckeyes' penultimate drive, which ended in Hokies defensive back Donovan Riley taking an interception to the house and sealing the game. 

Barrett was also picked off three times by the Virginia Tech secondary. As a whole, the Hokies held the Buckeyes to just 4-of-16 on third-down conversions and just 2.7 yards per rush attempt. Barrett also completed just 9-of-29 passing attempts. 

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There's no other way to put it: Virginia Tech locked down Ohio State—all night. 

And now with only one game against a ranked team—No. 21 North Carolina on October 4—left on its schedule, Virginia Tech may very well be a dark horse to not only dethrone Florida State as the ACC champion but an under-the-radar contender for the College Football Playoff. 

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Beamer Ball is in full effect in 2014, and that is nothing but great news to fans in Blacksburg who suffered through a 7-6 season in 2012 and an 8-5 one last year. 

Riley's pick six to ice the game away was the epitome of Beamer Ball. The best teams under Beamer have always been terrific at scoring points, keeping their opponent off the board and finding ways to win by any means necessary. 

And it's guys like Kyshoen Jarrett, a rover linebacker who made two interceptions on Saturday night, that make the system work. Jarrett is a jack of all trades, having done everything in his career with the Hokies from pick off quarterbacks to returning punts. 

It's guys like Dadi Nicolas and Derek Di Nardo, who each recorded two sacks against the Buckeyes, that have revitalized the Hokies' defense. 

After two below-average seasons, there was a growing suspicion that Beamer—the longest tenured coach in college football—was on the hot seat. 

Not anymore. Virginia Tech proved on Saturday night that they are back, and their message was delivered loud and clear. 

Just ask Barrett.