One ACC beat writer not fully buying the Virginia Tech football hype entering 2024

As the 2024 college football season gets closer and closer, some teams around the country are generating some buzz. One of those teams is Virginia Tech, who is entering their third season under Brent Pry since he took over for Justin Fuente.

In his first two seasons in Blacksburg, Pry has gone from 3-8 to 7-6, but it's how his team got to 7-6 is that is creating some excitement. After starting 1-3 with their non-conference schedule, the Hokies won five of their eight conference games to get to 6-6 and become bowl-eligible. They capped off their strong final two-thirds of the season with a 41-20 Military Bowl win over Tulane.

In between their bowl-eligible win over Virginia Thanksgiving Weekend and their bowl win a month later, Pry and his staff got a ton of retainment from their 2023 roster, including some very key pieces on both sides of the ball. All of that along with some key transfer portal additions have created some buzz around the program. A lot of the national media is catching on, but one ACC writer, Manny Navarro who covers the University of Miami for The Athletic, is not fully buying the Virginia Tech hype.

Miami beat writer has questions about Virginia Tech in 2024

Navarro answered a question in The Athletic's ACC Mailbag, "Is the Virginia Tech hype legitimate or overblown?" Stuart Mandel ranked the Hokies 25th in his preseason Top 25 poll and Navarro wrote that he wouldn't have. Fair enough. Navarro is also correct in the article saying that Virginia Tech's toughest games are against Rutgers, at Miami, Georgia Tech, at Syracuse, and Clemson. We would agree with that take as well. He is also right that quarterback Kyron Drones is a top-five QB in the conference and his weapons that are coming back are going to make them a group that is built to put up some points during the season.

Navaro's key for Virginia Tech is an area that Pry addressed in the transfer portal.

"The key for the Hokies is how well they stop the run. In six games against FBS winning teams last season, they gave up an average of 5.59 yards per carry (13th among 14 ACC teams) and 202 per game. That’s the difference between being a seven- to eight-win team with a good quarterback or having a chance to win the conference title. Virginia Tech will be improved, but I’m not ready to bet the house on them to win the league. "

- Manny Navarro

Pry once again attacked the transfer portal and brought in some defensive linemen, Aeneas Peebles from Duke, Kelvin Gilliam from Oklahoma, Kemari Copeland from Iowa Western Community College, and Khurtiss Perry from Alabama. Along with Antwaun Powell-Ryland and Josh Fuga returning along with linebacker Keli Lawson and Middle Tennessee State transfer Sam Brumfield, the Hokies on paper are built to defend the run better.

Virginia Tech's average over/under win total is between 7.5-8 depending on which betting site you use and taking the over on both of those are good bets. Virginia Tech's ACC fate will come down to three games, at Miami, at Syracuse, and at home against Clemson. They need to win two of those games (at least) to be in the mix to get to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game. Whether or not they do remains to be seen, but one way to make Navarro a believer is to beat the Hurricanes in South Florida on Sept. 27. I know, easier said than done.