Blacksburg, Va. ? Virginia Tech gained considerable attention early last season by winning at Texas A&M and becoming the first nonconference opponent to leave Kyle Field with a victory since 1988.

That game, though, was between two schools with very little history against each other. It will be a different scenario when they meet tonight.

“This is a top 10 team, who last year kind of embarrassed us,” Aggies tackle Alan Reuber said, recalling how the Hokies allowed just 156 yards of offense, then grabbed a piece of turf for their collection after a 13-3 win. “There’s definitely a lot of excitement in the air this week.”

The No. 8 Hokies (2-0) haven’t lost a game before October since 1996, a span of 26 consecutive victories. This season, they’ve opened with wins against Central Florida and Division I-AA James Madison.

The Aggies (2-0) haven’t won a road game against a top 10 team since they beat No. 6 Penn State in 1979. Under new coach Dennis Franchione, the Aggies have opened with closer-than-expected wins, beating Arkansas State, 26-11, and Utah, 28-26.

Texas A&M is eager to play the Hokies, especially after last year’s 6-6 season that resulted in the firing of coach R.C. Slocum. The Aggies could use a road win against a top team.

“All that you heard was that our schedule was too tough, we’ve got too many road games,” quarterback Reggie McNeal said. “So we go up to Virginia and show everybody what we’ve got. That should answer some of the questions that were asked this summer.”

A year ago, the Aggies kept it close by limiting Hokies running back Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones to 99 yards, less than half their average.

This year, Jones is still waiting for a breakout effort as the feature back, but Bryan Randall has played so well at quarterback that the Hokies haven’t struggled.

Randall has completed 73 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Franchione has noticed.

“You watch him this year and you can tell that there is a guy playing quarterback that is in command,” Franchione said. “He understands what is going to happen next.”

Barring any delays from the effects of Hurricane Isabel, kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CDT.