Virginia Tech gets the weekend off, but the ACC scoreboard still matters plenty for the Hokies.
After a 20-16 win over Clemson, Virginia Tech is 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the ACC, riding a two-game winning streak and already bowl-eligible in James Franklin's first season at the helm. With four games left, the Hokies still have room to rise in a packed conference race, and a few results elsewhere could shape just how high they can climb.
The biggest game on Virginia Tech’s radar is SMU’s visit to Syracuse, especially with the Hokies set to play in Dallas on Nov. 6.
SMU has become one of the ACC’s stronger teams, and a Syracuse upset would send the Mustangs into that meeting with another conference loss on the ledger. That would matter for Virginia Tech, which could face an SMU team coming off an ACC defeat and sitting at two league losses.
No matter how Saturday plays out, the trip to Dallas is going to be a major factor in where the Hokies land in the standings.
There’s also a clear rooting interest for Virginia Tech when California heads to Raleigh. The Golden Bears beat the Hokies 25-20 on Oct. 10, so they already own the head-to-head edge if the two teams end up tied in the ACC standings. A loss to NC State would help create some separation between Virginia Tech and a direct competitor, and any additional California losses would only help the Hokies.
Virginia Tech won’t play Virginia until Nov. 28, but Saturday’s game still matters. The Cavaliers are coming off a close 19-16 loss to Duke, while Wake Forest has established itself as one of the ACC’s top contenders. For once, Hokies fans should be pulling for UVA, because a Wake Forest loss would give Virginia Tech another opening to move up the conference table.
Pittsburgh is in the mix, too. The Panthers already hold the head-to-head advantage after beating Virginia Tech 35-33 in Blacksburg earlier this month. Georgia Tech, which beat the Hokies 34-24 on Oct. 17, can help Virginia Tech by handing Pitt another conference loss if the Yellow Jackets come through.
Virginia Tech still has the chance to shape its own finish with SMU, Miami and Virginia still ahead, along with a home game against Stanford. But if the right results break the Hokies’ way during the bye week, they could return next Friday in a better spot.
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Franklin also pointed to the ongoing competition behind the starting quarterback spot, a battle that has stayed active as the Hokies sort out their depth. He praised the way some freshmen have helped, while also noting there is more room for young players to earn trust as Virginia Tech tries to turn close losses into lessons and keep building on a resilient first half of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Has A Rising Draft Name Fans Need To Watch
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Wide receiver Brown and defensive lineman Stevens have also turned in notable production, giving scouts a few more reasons to keep watching the Hokies down the stretch, even if Stevens still has work to do to rise into the upper tiers. Quarterback Grunkemeyer has added another layer to the evaluation with impressive efficiency, as his completion rate is tracking toward a program mark, and that mix of individual momentum could make Virginia Techs draft picture look very different by the time the season ends. [Read more 🡒]