the pass completion had been allowed to stand, then on the next play does VT run another pass play (aka shot down the field) or get "conservative" and call a run play? The momentum swing says take another shot down the field. Since VT would have been outside the RZ, it might be a good time to have some run a route in the middle of the field (i.e. post route) because I think USC like to use Cover 2 that year. Also, it might have even been the perfect time to look to throw to the TE because USC's DBs' focus would have been more on the WRs especially after giving up that big play. The other reason I would call a pass play is because if the offense moved the ball to somewhere between 20-25 yard line, then the offense is still at a place on the field where USC still has to respect the passing game. At the same time you are just far enough away from the EZ that if any of the RBs on the roster is able to get to the second level at full speed, then he has a good chance of being able to run into the EZ for a long TD run. Especially if VT snaps the ball quickly and really feeds of the momentum gained from the 2 pass completions back-to-back (hypothetically speaking). A TD run from the 20-25 yard line is like that uppercut the boxer never saw coming, but was set up perfectly to receive it a few punches ago.