The start of the James Franklin era at Virginia Tech has been as good as Hokies fans hoped it would be. Two games and two convincing wins over VMI and Old Dominion.
Two lesser opponents and two blowout wins in a fashion that they needed to. Statements made. However, Virginia Tech has not yet caught the eye of the Associated Press Top 25 voters. Which is fine, as the Hokies are lying in the weeds, ready to pounce beginning this weekend.
Virginia Tech is waiting in the weeds for the Top 25
Look, the AP Top 25 voters were not going to go crazy in giving Virginia Tech many votes for blasting two inferior opponents. Nobody should be surprised. Virginia Tech came in at No. 34 in this week's poll released on Sunday, with 11 votes.
Some teams ahead of them are not ranked, but more votes are for Oklahoma State (36 votes), Western Michigan (35), Mississippi State (17), and South Carolina (15). As far as ACC teams in the Top 25, Miami is No. 5, SMU is No. 16, Louisville is No. 23, and Virginia is No. 25.
So where does Virginia Tech stand? They can certainly start making up ground in the voters' eyes with Power Conference opponents remaining on their schedule for the rest of the season. That starts this upcoming weekend at Maryland, before ACC play begins at Boston College.
Sure, win those games, and you might get a few more votes, but those games can only hurt you in voters' eyes if you lose them, and they don't really help you much. After the BC game, things get much more difficult with games against Pittsburgh, California, Georgia Tech, Clemson, SMU, Stanford, Miami, and Virginia. There are three of the four ACC teams ranked on the Hokies schedule awaiting them late in the season, sitting in the Top 25.
Not much stock should be put into the AP Top 25 poll in early September. Wins over VMI and ODU are not going to do anything in voters' eyes. However, pick up a couple of wins in your first two road games and then knock off a very good Pitt team at home, and then we're talking in early October. Until then, win the games on your schedule, and everything else will fall into place.
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