We are five days away from Week 0 and the official start to the 2025 college football season. As far as Virginia Tech goes, there are 13 days before the Hokies kick off the season against South Carolina in Atlanta on Aug. 31.
Just how good Virginia Tech ends up being this season remains to be seen. After substantial roster turnover and coaching staff turnover, there are more questions than answers facing Brent Pry's team in Year 4 of his tenure in Blacksburg. Some would say it's a big one for the head coach.
Virginia Tech is seeking its third straight bowl under Pry, but it would like to have it locked up before Thanksgiving Weekend in Charlottesville. The last two seasons, the Hokies need wins over their heated in-state rivals to reach bowl eligibility. Preseason bowl projections are being released, and ESPN had the Hokies playing in two different bowl games. CBS Sports, however, has the Hokies bowling and facing a very familiar foe.
CBS Sports has Virginia Tech facing a familiar opponent in bowl game in 2025
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports released his 2025 bowl projections, including the 12-team College Football Playoff, and he has Virginia Tech going to the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium against Minnesota from the Big Ten. Yes, that's right, the same Minnesota program that just beat the Hokies, 24-10, in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte in January.
Outside of the playoffs, it would be very strange for two teams to hook up in a different bowl just a year later. I'm sure the Hokies would welcome another matchup with the Golden Gophers for two reasons: 1. They won at least six games, and 2. They get another shot at Minnesota. Regardless, you get the feeling that this Virginia Tech team would love to just become bowl-eligible in 2025 and play somewhere beyond Thanksgiving Weekend.