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Virginia Tech Jumps to #12 in Polls Before Clemson

Justin Fuente 2 1
After beating Old Dominion 38-0 this past weekend, the Virginia Tech Hokies moved up one spot from #13 to #12 in the AP and Coaches Polls. The Hokies host #2 Clemson this upcoming weekend on September 30, and ESPN’s College GameDay will be in attendance. The Hokies came into the weekend at 3-0 ranked 13th in the nation, and Bud Foster’s lunch pail defense played tremendously as they shut out the Monarchs. Florida State was #12 previously, but North Carolina State knocked off the Seminoles in Tallahassee 27-21, which knocked Florida State out of the AP Poll and back to 25 in the Coaches Poll. Clemson still stands as the highest ACC team in the polls at #2, and they defeated Boston College 34-7 after being tied with the Eagles at 7 in the third quarter. Oklahoma State was the only other team above the Hokies to lose, as the #6 ranked Cowboys lost at home to #16 TCU, who jumped to #11 in the Coaches Poll and #9 in the AP Poll. The Horned Frogs defeated the Cowboys 44-31, and their 13-point win was one of the reasons why the Hokies did not jump higher in the polls. Freshman quarterback Josh Jackson played very well once again, as he haD 20 completions out of his 30 pass attempts for three touchdowns and one interception to lead the Hokies to victory. The interception was Jackson’s first of the season, and his stats to date are 75 completions in 119 passes for 1156 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one interception. Wide receiver Cam Phillips still leads the nation in receiving yards with 523 yards while having 7 receptions for 106 yards this past week. Steven Peoples, who was our Offensive Hokie of the Game, had 62 yards rushing on 13 for one touchdown, while catching three passes for 73 yards and 2 touchdowns. The defense also played extremely well, as Tremaine Edmunds led the team with 6 tackles, with Mook Reynolds and Ricky Walker following closely behind with 5 tackles each. Miami is the next highest ranked ACC team after Virginia Tech at #14 in the AP Poll and #13 in the Coaches, as the Hurricanes moved up one in the Coaches but did not move in the AP Poll after their 52-30 win over Toledo. Louisville is right behind Miami at #17 and #18 in the AP and Coaches Polls, after the Cardinals trounced Kent State 42-3. Heisman candidate Lamar Jackson was 18 of 22 for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns in their victory. Florida State is the only ACC team behind Louisville in the top 25, as they stayed at #25 in the Coaches Poll. As the Hokies move up to #12 in the polls, the team turns their focus to the second ranked Clemson Tigers, who come to Lane Stadium on Saturday in a top 12 matchup with College GameDay in town. Since College GameDay started travelling in 1993, the Hokies have been on the show 15 times, with GameDay coming to Blacksburg 6 times. This will be the 11th time the Hokies have been on the show, and the 6th time Virginia Tech has hosted from Blacksburg, the first since 2007. In 2007, in the wake of the April 16th tragedy, College GameDay came to Blacksburg as the Hokies opened the season against East Carolina. Chris Fowler gave a heartwarming speech to the crowd, and Frank Beamer came onto the show and spoke with the crew before the game. The Hokies won that matchup 17-7, and the Hokies have been the show's featured game three times since then at LSU in 2007, against Alabama in Atlanta in 2009, and in Bristol last year. The Hokies have not hosted College GameDay in 10 years, and the school, along with the town of Blacksburg, cannot wait to welcome the show back to campus. Virginia Tech has hosted College GameDay 6 times throughout the show’s history, and are 4-1 in those matchups. The Hokies have defeated Syracuse, Miami, Georgia Tech, and East Carolina in front of GameDay, with their only loss hosting GameDay coming in 2005 against Miami. In 2000, Virginia Tech hosted Georgia Tech, but the game way cancelled due to lightning; Lee Corso’s car also was struck during this visit to Blacksburg. Lee Corso put the Hokie head on both times during the 1999 regular season, in addition to picking the Hokies in 2005 against Georgia Tech, as well as picking Tech in 2007 against East Carolina. Corso has put on the Hokie head 4 times and has been right every time, and has picked the opposing headgear against the Hokies 9 times, and also been right every time. Lee Corso has picked a game the Hokies were in 44 times, with this weekend’s matchup being the 45th game, and he has been 57% right with his picks. Corso has picked the Hokies 17 times and against Tech 27 times. 18 games into Justin Fuente’s tenure and Virginia Tech is ranked #12 with College GameDay coming to Blacksburg.

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