Who each Virginia Tech non-conference opponents play week before playing the Hokies

The Virginia Tech football team will begin the 2024 season the same way they began the 2023 season, playing their four non-conference games before they begin ACC play. This season the Hokies will play three of the four same teams they faced last fall in the opening month.

They will begin the season with SEC foe Vanderbilt who is a rebuild, but that didn't stop the media from giving them two votes to win the SEC this season. The Hokies will travel to Nashville for the season-opener on Aug. 31 against the Commodores in what will be a road test against one of the four teams they didn't play last year.

Last season the Hokies opened the season at home against Old Dominion and this season, they will play at Vanderbilt, as mentioned above. Currently, the Hokies are -13.5 favorites according to FanDuel and this should be a season-opening win against an SEC opponent. But of course, games are played on the field and anything is possible. With the Commodores being Virginia Tch's opener, let's see who their final three non-conference opponents have before facing the Hokies.

Week 2: vs. Marshall, Sept. 7

The Hokies will host the Thundering Hurd in Week 2 at Lane Stadium in their home opener looking to make up for last season's 24-17 loss on the road. The week before Marshall comes to town, they will kick off their season at home against Stony Brook. This game will be played at 4:30 in an unusual start time.

Week 3: at Old Dominion, Sept. 14

Playing at ODU is never easy and the Hokies will be facing a Monarchs team looking to get some revenge for a season-opening 36-17 loss in Blacksburg last September. It will be a Homecoming for Virginia Tech wide receiver Ali Jennings against his former school. This will be the third game for both teams as Old Dominion will host East Carolina the weekend before they play the Hokies in a 6 p.m. game. ODU will begin the season on Aug. 31 at South Carolina.

Week 4: vs. Rutgers, Sept. 21

This is going to be a very big game for several reasons. Virginia Tech fans have had this game circled on the schedule since the Scarlet Knights beat the Hokies, 35-16, last season at home. Rutgers is considered a team on the rise in the Big Ten while Tech is considered a dark horse in the ACC this season.

The Hokies will come into this game with three games under their belt and with ACC play beginning the following Friday night at Miami, this is a game that they can't overlook. Rutgers, however, will have an advantage going into this game, coming off an early-season bye week after opening the season with games against Howard and Akron at home. Greg Schiano will have two weeks to prepare for Virginia Tech, which could be considered an advantage in going on the road for the first time in 2024.