National CFB writer moves Virginia Tech football up in ACC summer power rankings

We are less than three months away from the 2024 college football season. For Virginia Tech, the Hokies will kick off the season on Aug. 31 with a non-conference game out of the SEC at Vanderbilt.

There has been a lot of excitement surrounding Virginia Tech following the Hokies finishing the 2023 season winning five out of their eight ACC games to become bowl-eligible. They put an exclamation point on their season with a 41-20 Military Bowl win over Tulane. 

The ACC is adding California, Stanford, and SMU this fall. The Hokies will be playing out in California against Stanford on Oct. 5, one week after opening conference play at Miami on Sept. 27. Slowly, Virginia Tech has been moving up the ranks of different power rankings going into the 2024 season and that was once again the case.

National CFB writer has Virginia Tech in his Top 5 of ACC Power Rankings

Cody Nagel of 247Sports released his summer ACC power rankings and like most rankings, the Hokies are making a move toward the top. He had them ranked fifth, behind Florida State, Miami, Clemson, and North Carolina State.

"There is a lot to like about Virginia Tech heading into the 2024 campaign, which is why the Hokies grabbed a spot in the post-spring top 25 rankings back in late April. No power conference team returns more starters from last season than Virginia Tech. That experience combined with the momentum built from winning six of its last nine games in 2023 has the Hokies positioned as a dark-horse contender in the ACC under third-year head coach Brent Pry. Quarterback Kyron Drones is the key returnee for Virginia Tech, but wide receiver Da'Quan Felton and top tackler Keli Lawson are also major pieces. The Hokies expect to have one of the best defensive lines in the ACC led by standout edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland."

- Cody Nagel

Nagel is right, a lot of the hype around the Hokies for 2024 is because of the retainment that head coach Brent Pry got, as well as some key transfer portal additions. They are a dark horse in the ACC this season and with Miami and Clemson ahead of them in the rankings, it just gives more of an opportunity to show that they can be a contender for a spot in the ACC Championship Game in December if things go well.