Fighting Gobbler
Fansided

Hokies Football Returns to Top 25 in AP, Coaches’ Polls

By Mike McDaniel

facebooktwitterreddit

After concluding a 9-3 regular season on Saturday, the Hokies return to Top 25 ahead of ACC Championship showdown with Clemson

After a convincing 52-10 Senior Day victory over in-state rival Virginia, the ACC Coastal Champion Virginia Tech Hokies returned to both Associated Press Top 25 poll, as well as the USA Today Coaches’ Poll on Sunday for the first time since prior to the Georgia Tech loss.

After capping off a 9-3 regular season campaign that included a Coastal Division-best 6-2 record in conference play, the AP Top 25 saw the Hokies sit at number 19, while the team comes in at number 18 in the USA Today poll.

After an improbable 17-point comeback win on the road at Notre Dame last Saturday, neither poll was ready to bring the Hokies back into the fold following their 30-20 home upset loss to Georgia Tech on November 12th.

Nov 26, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Sam Rogers (25) runs the ball against Virginia Cavaliers linebacker Zach Bradshaw (51) and defensive back Chris Moore (39) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Sam Rogers (25) runs the ball against Virginia Cavaliers linebacker Zach Bradshaw (51) and defensive back Chris Moore (39) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

However, after the victory against ND and a win on Saturday against Virginia that saw the Hokies score 52 points and accumulate 579 yards of total offense, it was not difficult to inset the team back into the Top 25 for the final polls of the regular season.

Of course, the real question when it comes to bowl slotting for ever-improving Hokies team will be answered in the College Football Playoff Poll, which is slated to be released for the final time in the regular season on Tuesday night.

It is on to the ACC Championship game in Orlando for the Hokies this Saturday against consensus Top-4, Clemson, a game which will easily be the toughest test of the season for Virginia Tech.

With a win, the Hokies would land in the Capital One Orange Bowl, which is the spot the ACC Champion would be slotted if the winning team was a non-factor in the College Football Playoff.

With three losses on the resume, the Hokies of course would qualify for this distinction.

It would be the first time since the 2010 season that the team played in the Orange Bowl, a game which resulted in a loss to the Andrew Luck-led Stanford Cardinal.

If the team falls to Clemson, a range of bowls have been discussed, with the most likely landing spot being the Russell Athletic Bowl, which would also ironically be played in Orlando on December 28th.

This will all be decided in the ACC Championship, which will be played this weekend at Camping World Stadium and will be broadcast on ABC.

Kickoff is slated for 8 PM ET on Saturday night.

Home/Virginia Tech Football