(AP)

By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

Rutgers filled a future nonconference hole Tuesday in announcing a home-and-home series for 2023-24 with Virginia Tech.

Rutgers last played the Hokies in the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl and met regularly as Big East opponents for 12 years.

“We are thrilled to renew this long regional rivalry,” AD Julie Hermann said in a statement. “The chance for us, a Big Ten program, to compete against a great ACC opponent is a tremendous opportunity and gives our fans the ability to easily follow us to an important nonconference away game.”

Adding Virginia Tech fills another power-five void in the nonconference, a near mandate for consideration for the College Football Playoff. 

In 2016, the Big Ten moves to a nine-game conference schedule, shrinking the nonconference field and elevating the need to add high-profile opponents early in the season.

A look at Rutgers' future nonconference dates:

Opponent	Wash. State	Kansas	Washington	Miami (Fla.)	UCLA
Year(s)	2015	2015, 2018	2016-17	2018-19	2020-21

Virginia Tech finished this season at 7-6, another down season for head coach Frank Beamer, the longest tenured at his position in the country.

Beamer agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2019 in August, first-year AD Whit Babcock's first big decision in Blacksburg.

Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood also inked a two-year extension through 2019 earlier this season.

Beamer dealt with health issues that prevented him from coaching on the field in the Hokies' Military Bowl victory against Cincinnati. He would be 77 when the teams meet in 2023.