Virginia Tech Football: Where the Hokies stand in Athlon's 2024 ACC Predictions

As we get closer to July, there are going to be more and more predictions are going to be released for the 2024 college football season. As far as Virginia Tech goes, the Hokies are starting to get more and more recognition around the country for the upcoming season after a strong finish to the 2023 campaign that saw them finish 7-6, 5-3 in the ACC and a Military Bowl win over Tulane after a 1-3 start.

Athlon Sports released their predictions for the upcoming ACC season and they have Virginia Tech in the No. 6 spot behind Florida State, Clemson, Miami, Louisville, and North Carolina State. Steven Lassan did say this "after FSU and Clemson, but Miami, NC State, Virginia Tech, Louisville, and SMU aren't too far behind."

Virginia Tech did have a ton of retainment following last season with some key players coming back including quarterback Kyron Drones, running back Bhayshul Tuten, wide receivers Ali Jennings, Stephen Gosnell, Jaylin Lane, and Da'Quan Felton on offense, while Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Dorian Strong, Kelli Lawson and Mansoor Delane highlight the retainment on the defensive side of the ball. Add some key transfers along the defensive line and at linebacker, Brent Pry has built a talented roster with a ton of talent on it.

One reason besides the retainment why a lot of people are high on the Hokies this upcoming season is because of their schedule, mainly in the ACC. They have non-conference games with Vanderbilt, Marshall, Old Dominion and Rutgers, with the final game against the Scarlet Knights being the toughest, at least on paper, but the conference schedule only includes Miami and Clemson as the only two teams ranked higher than them by Athlon.

There is no FSU, NC State, or Louisville, three teams that beat them last season in the ACC on the schedule, but a trip to New York to play Syracuse should not be overlooked, as well as a home game with Georgia Tech. Overall, this is a rather big season for the Hokies as recruiting is up and going well and the foundation being built is a big reason for the retainment and recruiting success. If they take care of business in the games they should, it should be a fun fall in Blacksburg.