For the 2024 season, Virginia Tech’s football team is considered an underdog in the ACC and even in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The Hokies return almost all of their performance from last season on both sides and should have one of the better defensive lines in the conference with the new additions from the transfer portal.

Offensively, Virginia Tech returns quarterback Kyron Drones, along with game-winning wide receivers and running back Bhayshul Tuten, and the Hokies should be able to score some points. Surprisingly, the Hokies were passed over when the preseason coaches poll was released this week, coming in at third place among the next teams. But that didn’t stop one college football writer from including them in a group of teams considered dark horses for the College Football Playoff.

Brad Crawford of 247Sports named eight schools that could be considered dark horses for the CFP this season, and Virginia Tech was listed along with fellow ACC teams North Carolina State and Miami.

“There is no coach in the ACC who is more confident about the season than Brent Pry, given how many experienced leaders the Hokies have back. Virginia Tech has the most starters in the ACC, including all of the key playmakers on offense and several key players on the other side of the football, most notably Antwuan Powell-Ryland and Cole Nelson. Virginia Tech plays only two top-ranked opponents – Miami and Clemson – and should be favored through 10 games.”

– Brad Crawford

There’s no doubt that Virginia Tech will be favored through 10 games assuming they stay healthy, and head coach Brent Pry can be happy with his two players as the Hokies are currently much further ahead than they were this time last season. It’s amazing how Virginia Tech is knocking on the door with the expansion of the CFP field to include eight more teams and a slew of new signings entering Pry’s third year as head coach.