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Virginia Tech Hokies – fans, players and coaches – watched last night as the Nebraska Cornhuskers struggled on the road against Missouri for three quarters.

The Cornhuskers, ranked 21st in the country, were playing solid defense, holding the 24th ranked Tigers’ offense to just 10 points. Nebraska gave up a safety on a botched punt and trailed 12-0 after three quarters.

Nebraska’s offense, however, was another story. It struggled mightily for the first three quarters. Head coach Bo Pelini was at a loss. But in the fourth quarter, it was as if someone flipped a switch. Nebraska woke up and exploded for 27 fourth quarter points to win 27-12.

The Huskers scored three touchdowns in a little more than three minutes early in the final quarter and then added another for good measure in the closing minutes.

The win propelled Nebraska to a 4-1 record – its only loss to No. 5 Virginia Tech in the final minutes of the game.

Following the home-at-home series between Nebraska and Virginia Tech, the fans from both sides have developed a mutual respect and even kinship.

When Hokie football fans traveled to Lincoln in 2008, Husker fans treated them like family. And when Nebraska fans came to Blacksburg earlier this year, Hokie fans returned the hospitality.

So when Nebraska staged a dramatic, come-from-behind road win last night on national television, Hokie fans were generally happy to see their new friends win. Though the reason for jubilation was not without added benefit. Nebraska’s win also helps Virginia Tech’s strength of schedule and its RPI ranking.

According to RealTimeRPI.com, the Hokies have the second highest strength of schedule rating. This is in large part to having played three top 25 teams and beating two of them. The Hokies lost their season-opener to now No. 3 Alabama and then went on to beat No. 21 Nebraska – which will certainly move up after last night’s win – and No. 11 Miami.

Virginia Tech’s five opponents have a combined record of 17-7 and only Duke has a losing record. Tech’s three toughest opponents through its first five games have a combined record of 12-2. The two loses obviously have come at the hands of Frank Beamer’s team.

While many thought that No. 22 Georgia Tech would be the toughest remaining game on the Hokies schedule, Boston College is 4-1 and has been playing surpisingly well for a team that is supposedly rebuilding. The Eagles have beaten Virginia Tech three straight years in the regular season and four of the last five, though the Hokies have beaten Boston College in two straight ACC Championship games.

Tech hosts the Eagles Saturday, Oct. 10, at noon in Blacksburg, Va. If the Hokies wins, they will have a shot to move up to No. 4 in the rankings.

No. 1 Florida and No. 4 LSU play at LSU on Saturday night. If the Gators win, LSU will drop a few spots making way for the Hokies to move up. If LSU wins a close game, don’t expect Florida to drop more than a couple of spots. If the Tigers blow Florida out, then the Gators could drop below the Hokies, who would then move up.

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