Virginia Tech Baseball: First preseason poll shows how tough the ACC will be in 2024

The Virginia Tech baseball team will be entering 2024 looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing it in 2023. In 2022, the Hokies went to the Super Regionals before falling short against Oklahoma in getting to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

Recently the first Top 25 preseason poll was released for the 2024 season no, the Hokies were not in it, however, one look should be a telling sign of just how tough the ACC is going to be this spring each weekend series.

Six ACC schools crack first Top 25 poll

Perfect Game USA released their Top 25 preseason poll and six schools that are in the ACC made it onto the poll.

1. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
2. Arkansas Razorbacks
3. LSU Tigers
4. Florida Gators
5. TCU Horned Frogs
6. Vanderbilt Commodores
7. Texas A&M Aggies
8. Texas Longhorns
9. Oregon State Beavers
10. Virginia Cavaliers
11. Tennessee Volunteers
12. Stanford Cardinal
13. South Carolina Gamecocks
14. North Carolina Tar Heels
15. Auburn Tigers
16. Iowa Hawkeyes
17. East Carolina Pirates
18. UCLA Bruins
19. NC State Wolfpack
20. Kansas State Wildcats
21. Clemson Tigers
22. Oklahoma State Cowboys
23. Duke Blue Devils
24. UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
25. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

One quick look shows how tough things are going to be. Wake Forest is at the top of the list and they are coming off a trip to the College World Series, while year in and year out Virginia is always a strong program. North Carolina and North Carolina State are two solid programs that usually find themselves in the postseason, while Clemson and Duke are programs that are traditionally good.

If there is a key takeaway, it's that the Hokies are going to need to start the season on a good note with their non-conference games to get ready for conference play. Returning to the NCAA Tournament is not going to be easy, but the ACC schedule will offer them some chances at getting some good wins to help their resume.