Entering the 2024 season, it was the first season with the new 12-team College Football Playoff, something that increased by eight from the previous years. One team that was a national darling as a dark horse for the new 12-team CFP going into last season was Virginia Tech.
It was a very doable thing for Brent Pry's team with a favorable schedule and a ton of retention from the 2023 season. In the end, Virginia Tech had things go south in Week 1 at Vanderbilt, and it spiraled into a 6-6 season, which ended with a Duke's Mayo Bowl loss to Minnesota.
In April, the disappointing season was a confirmed swing and a miss when the Hokies had five players drafted in the NFL Draft in Green Bay, then a handful more signed undrafted free agent contracts with teams. Now entering a season with a ton of questions after some major roster turnover and coaching changes, anything is possible when the dust settles. However, with so many questions entering the season, the Hokies' 2025 CFP chances from ESPN's FPI are somewhat eye-opening.
Virginia Tech football's 2025 College Football Playoff odds are surprisingly high
ESPN released its preseason Football Power Index (FPI), and Virginia Tech's odds are higher than you would think. The Hokies' odds to make the CFP are 12.5%, which, for a team with a lot more questions than answers, is high.
There is no question that the Hokies have some talent returning on both sides of the ball, but if they are going to come anywhere close to these odds, they will need quarterback Kyron Drones to return to the form he had in 2023, and he must remain healthy. Then, as Greg McElroy said, winning one-score games under Pry is a must.
If all of that happens, Virginia Tech could be a very interesting team this season, and unlike last season, they could sneak up on some teams. The CFP might be a reach, but a bowl game is not out of the question. Raise your hand if you saw them having a 12.5% chance of playing in the CFP?