Unless something incredible happens between now and Tuesday night, it will be Witten, not Hall, running pass routes for the Hokies in the Sugar Bowl.

Hall broke a bone in his left foot in a catching drill during the Hokies' practice Friday. The break did not displace the bone or damage the tendons, but team trainer Mike Goforth said Hall's chances of playing are "not good at all."

The second-ranked Hokies (11-0) will play top-ranked Florida State (11-0) with the national championship on the line, and Hall was a likely choice to receive additional action from the Hokies with the Seminoles focusing on Andre Davis.

Hall was to receive treatment throughout Virginia Tech's practice on Saturday, Goforth said. The treatment was to include electric stimulation to help control the pain and swelling, but was not likely to change the senior wideout's status.

"The Big Man has got to take care of this one," he said.

Hall's 25 catches ranked him second on the Hokies behind Davis' 35. Hall caught three passes for touchdowns, averaging 15.9 yards per catch, and returned 40 punts for 510 yards, a 12.8-yard average, with a 64-yard scoring runback.

"I just have to keep rehabilitating and get ready to go," Hall said in a statement released by the school. "I'll wear a splint and see what I can do. I just have to suck it up if at all possible and help this team.

"It's all a matter of what I can handle."

Witten, more of a possession receiver that the fleet-footed Hall, said he would be ready for an increased role, even if a protective device being prepared by the training staff enabled Hall to line up for at least a few plays.

"I'm excited," said the 6-foot-1 freshman from Elizabethton, Tenn.

"It's one of those things where you'd love to play, but Ricky's one of the ones that helped us get here, so you'd like for him to be able to play."

Even if Hall can play, Ike Charlton is likely to return punts. Charlton, a starting cornerback, hasn't fielded a punt all season, but shares time on the punt fielding team with Hall in practice and relishes the chance to do the job.

"It's not like I'm a true freshman going back there. I've been in big-game situations and pressure moments. It's just another big game for me," the junior said. "It's another chance for me to make something happen to help us win."

Tony Ball, the Hokies' receivers coach, said he thinks there's a chance Hall will play. "I know he wants to, and that's half the battle," Ball said.

Either way, the injury and a dislocated finger suffered by Emmett Johnson earlier in the week will force the Hokies to make some adjustments, Ball said.

"You've got to be able to hit the curve ball in this business," he said.