From DCist contributor Rebecca Walters:

The nation’s college football season kicks off in town this weekend with the 2004 Black Coaches Alliance Football Classic. The Redskin’s FedEx field hosts this year’s pre-season exhibition game with 2003 Co-National Champion USC Trojans squaring off against the relatively local Virginia Tech Hokies. The Saturday evening game will be the first time these two teams meet, and Virginia Tech’s first formal game as an ACC team.

With Virginia Tech offering only nine returning starters and suiting up 10 freshmen on defense, one would think USC would have no problem handling the Hokies. But the Trojans aren’t marching into FedEx unencumbered. The team is still without receiver Mike Williams and its young offensive line might be challenged if Hokie coach Frank Beamer motivates his new team to play the strong defense that Virginia Tech is known to employ.

Most bets are on USC this game, but a strong showing on Virginia Tech’s part is always in the back of most football fans minds with the Hokies known as a team that consistently turns expectations on their head. Last year that meant a Miami win and strong beginning season followed by mediocrity on the homestretch. This year, who knows? DCist hopes the show is good, no matter what the final score.