We are one day away from the start of the 2024 Virginia Tech Football Season which means it’s time for our staff to make our season predictions. Could the Hokies have their first 10-win regular season since 2011? Will the Hokies win the ACC like some national media figures like Pat McAfee are predicting?
With all that in mind, here are our predictions for the Hokies this fall. Note that all records are based on the regular season.
Tim Thomas: 10-2
When you return as much quality production as the Hokies do, you should absolutely be getting the hype that they are receiving. Add in a manageable schedule where they would be favored in 10 of 12 games if they played them today and it’s a recipe for a big season.
This is a team that turned a corner down the stretch dominating teams they were favored to beat and struggling against the upper tier. The big question is whether they can make the jump to being right there with those top tier and at least beating one of the two they face?
I think they can do that but even if they fail to do so, they could still get to 10 wins via a bowl game.
The offensive line remains a concern of mine and will need to step up. While Tech should still have plenty of success with their RPOs and misdirection that covered over those issues in the trenches, they’ll need better line play this fall to take the next steps. Linebacker and safety play falls in this same category as the struggles along the spine of the defense held Tech back. I think a healthy Jalen Stroman and transfer addition Sam Brumfield should be able to rectify those issues.
In the end, I think Tech does get to 10 wins in the regular season for the first time since 2012 picking off one of either Clemson or Miami while dropping an upset loss somewhere that will keep them out of the CFB Playoff.
Ryan Duvall: 9-3
Alright, I understand the expanded College Football Playoff field is intriguing, and with No. 10 Florida State dropping their opener to Georgia Tech in Dublin last weekend, the ACC is wide open.
I’m not quite ready to jump the gun yet though. Sure, the Hokies have a dual-threat offense that returns countless playmakers, and a defense headlined by future pros in Dorian Strong, Mansoor Delane, Antuwan Powell-Ryland, and Aeneas Peebles - but this was still a seven-win team a season ago. One that secured a bowl berth in the last week of the regular season against a three win Virginia Team.
However, I do think the plethora of returning starters, and an increased role for several new starters (Benji Gosnell, Layth Ghannam) could propel the Hokies to heights they haven’t reached in nearly a decade - a ten-win season. I’ll go ahead and say they win nine games in the regular season, with losses in Miami (preseason No. 19), at Stanford, as well as at home against Georgia Tech.
Following a 9-3 campaign in the ACC, in which I would hope Tech would be ranked, I’ll take them in the Pop Tarts Bowl. Do I know who they’ll play? No. I just really want to see the Hokie bird interact with the Pop Tart mascot.
Tucker Terry: 9-3
Virginia Tech improved from 3-8 to 7-6 in Brent Pry’s second season as head coach, and I expect the Hokies to make great strides in his third campaign at the helm as well.
There are only two teams on a relatively easy Hokies schedule that project to be better than Virginia Tech in Clemson and Miami. While I believe both are winnable games, I predict the Hokies will drop those games against ranked opponents, while losing one more game against either Rutgers, Stanford, or Syracuse.
With this in mind, this experienced Hokies squad will take care of business and start their season 4-0, setting the stage for a season where they remain between 15 and 25 in the rankings all season long.
The Hokies will cap off their 9-3 regular season with a bowl game win, in what will be their first 10-win season since 2016.
