Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Picked to Finish 6th in ACC By Athlon Sports

Where will Virginia Tech finish in the ACC in 2024?

Dec 27, 2023; Annapolis, MD, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) throws to tight end Harrison Saint Germain (87) for a second quarter touchdown against the Tulane Green Wave at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

In less than eight weeks, Virginia Tech is going to be kicking off its season on the road vs Vanderbilt and they will be starting a season that they hope ends in them getting to the ACC Championship. The Hokies are seen as a contender to get to the ACC Championship this season due to the majority of their team returning and a favorable schedule. In their recently released projections, Athlon Sports has Virginia Tech finishing 6th in the ACC, behind Florida State, Clemson, Miami, Louisville, and NC State.

I think that is a fair projection for Virginia Tech, but I do think they could be much higher. The Hokies are a legitimate ACC contender with what should be on of the top rushing offenses in the league and they return the bulk of one of the ACC's best defenses, including cornerback Dorian Strong. I don't think Virginia Tech will finish lower than 6th.

CBS Sports college football analyst Chip Patterson gave his prediction for each win total in the ACC and he has the Hokies going over their win total, finishing with a 10-2 record:

Wins: at Vanderbilt, Marshall, at ODU, at Miami, at Stanford, Boston College, Georgia Tech, at Syracuse, at Duke, Virginia
Losses: Rutgers, Clemson

Analysis: "After three wins in Year 1 and seven in Year 2, both the oddsmakers and our projections are calling for another step forward for coach Brent Pry in Year 3 with the Hokies. It's not just the overwhelming amount of returning production from last season, but how that group performed during a stretch in which the Hokies closed the year with five in wins in their last seven games, with all five victories coming by at least 17 points. Things seemed to click in Blacksburg, and when you carry that over to a schedule that does not have Florida State, NC State or SMU, there is clear room for more upward movement within the league. Over 8.5 wins"

If this prediction comes true, it is hard to see how Virginia Tech would not be playing in the ACC title game with a 10-2 record, with one of the losses being a non-conference loss vs Rutgers. The Hokies would have the tiebreaker over Miami and Georgia Tech, so it could depend on how Florida State finishes.

If Virginia Tech did get to the ACC Championship Game, they would then have the opportunity to win the conference and qualify for the new 12-team playoff. Considering where the program was when Brent Pry took over, that would be a huge accomplishment in year three. Virginia Tech is getting a lot of love this offseason and one thing they are going to have to navigate is how to handle the expectations. Games against Miami and Clemson are going to be huge tests, but those might be the only games in which the Hokies are underdogs. Being able to play as a favorite is going to be vital for this team going into the season.