COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : SUGAR BOWL : Virginia Tech Does It With Defense

How did Virginia Tech get to New Orleans? Not with its offense.

The Hokies do not have a 1,000-yard runner, quarterback Jim Druckenmiller averaged fewer than 200 passing yards a game and the top receiver, Bryan Still, caught only 32 balls for 628 yards.

No, success came on defense. The Hokies gave up only two yards per rushing play, a statistic that caught the eye of Texas Coach John Mackovic.

“Their run defense is the best in the country,” he said. “When I look at two yards per carry, I know we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

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Longhorn quarterback James Brown, hobbled because of ankle problems much of the season, is practicing every day.

“His ankle is not 100%,” Mackovic said. “His shoulder is not 100%. But he hasn’t been 100% all season. We expect he will play the entire game.”