Going into a pivotal 2025 season, there is no question that the Virginia Tech football team has a tough first two weeks. They open the season on Aug. 31 against the first of two SEC opponents against South Carolina. Six nights later, they will host Vanderbilt at Lane Stadium in a game where they will be looking for revenge for last season's loss on opening weekend in Nashville.
When you look at the Hokies' schedule this fall, there are some chances to get some feel-good wins both in the non-conference and ACC games, but according to Chip Patterson of CBS Sports, the schedule isn't as hard as you might think.
Virginia Tech football's 2025 schedule is ranked as the 11th hardest in the ACC
Patterson ranked the ACC football schedule from hardest to easiest, and the Hokies came in at No. 11 out of 17 teams in terms of the hardest schedule, which could be considered good news.
"A pressure-packed season for Brent Pry and the Hokies opens with back-to-back dates against SEC foes, first playing South Carolina in Atlanta in Week 1 then hosting Vanderbilt back in Blacksburg in Week 2. But then the schedule lightens up a bit, and the Hokies will have a chance to really build the season up before some of the toughest games in ACC play. "Enter Sandman" could be the X-factor in Virginia Tech's ACC record in 2025, because there's no Clemson or SMU on the schedule and both of the tougher challenges (Louisville and SMU) will be making the trip to Blacksburg."
After South Carolina and Vanderbilt, things ease up a bit with home games against Wofford and Old Dominion. Then ACC play begins at North Carolina State and home against Wake Forest, followed by a trip to Georgia Tech and a home game with California before a gauntlet in November begins.
Louisville and Miami at home in the final month with road games at Florida State, and Virginia will not be easy by any stretch, but if Virginia Tech takes care of business in the middle portion of the schedule, then November could be a very interesting month in Blacksburg. Regardless, no Clemson or SMU is big in 2025 for Brent Pry's team. They don't have it as easy as some other schools, but it could be worse.