24. Virginia Tech
2016 record: 10-4, 6-2 ACC
Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams
Key losses: QB Jerod Evans, WR Isaiah Ford, WR Bucky Hodges, G Augie Conte, OT Jonathan McLaughlin, DE Ken Ekanem, DT Woody Baron, DT Nigel Williams, FS Chuck Clark
Outlook: The Hokies were one of the biggest surprises in the FBS in 2016, winning 10 games with first-year coach Justin Fuente and first-year quarterback Jerod Evans. The Hokies seemed poised for even bigger things in 2017, but Evans and receivers Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges are turning pro a year early. Most of the defense is coming back, although Tech will have to replace three key linemen. The Hokies open the season against West Virginia in Landover, Maryland, and they'll play ACC road games at Georgia Tech and Miami.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18395211/alabama-crimson...
Take from it what you will, at least we're in there.
Comments
This seems fair. Athlon didn't even have us in their top 25 which seemed ridiculous. The defense will be good enough to keep us in games until the offense starts hitting their stride.
I've seen like five or six other early rankings and they all have us ranked.
Given our losses, I think you can argue anywhere in the top 20-30. I like us at 25.
Seems legit, we don't know who the QB will be though at some point Fuente will get him clicking and the D will be nasty like always to keep us competitive.
Sam Rogers would like to have a word with the writer of this article.
And Miami is at #16! Looks like the U is back!! \s
When you see Miami is STILL ranked ahead of the good guys.
Miami will be back every year until FSU and VT give them the 1-2 and then they aren't BAK.
They'll still have those DUDES though.
Miami will be bak every year until VT wins 3 or 4 championships (national, not ACC)
Morgantown?
That's his fire crotch. Satan is a redhead
We just gotta win our games. We will have opportunities to knock off probable top 5 Clemson and a probably ranked WVU, and I'm sure there will be some other ranked teams on our schedule when we play them. We will rise up to an appropriate rank if we win those games.
Lots of losses in the offense...mainly lose the linemen on defense, but I have a lot of confidence in the d-tackle depth. Someone's gotta step up to replace Ken though. I think the secondary will be great though and the linebackers maintain continuity which, correct me if I'm wrong, is the first time in a long time.
6 ACC, 5 Texas 8, 5 SEC, 4 BIG, 4 PAC. Love for the real preseason rankings to look like that.
Washington only has one preseason ranked team scheduled, at home with WSU, and their hardest OOC is Rutgers? Miami would be BAK with that kind of schedule.