If you ask any Virginia Tech football fan, they’ll tell you the Hokies enter the 2025 season surrounded by uncertainty — a stark contrast to the optimism that existed just a year ago.
After being labeled a preseason sleeper for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024, the Hokies failed to live up to expectations. A season-opening loss to Vanderbilt set the tone, and Virginia Tech limped to a 6-6 finish, just barely securing bowl eligibility.
Now, with significant roster turnover and notable changes on the coaching staff, it’s understandable that doubts loom large heading into the new season. Still, that hasn’t stopped EPPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) from projecting a potentially breakthrough year for the Hokies — a surprising prediction given the team’s recent struggles.
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) is giving Virginia Tech fans a reason to hope heading into the 2025 season — even if it’s cautiously. According to the FPI’s preseason projections, the Hokies are expected to finish fourth in the ACC, trailing only Miami, Clemson, and SMU.
For most Hokies fans, that kind of outcome would feel like a dream season, especially after the disappointing 6-6 finish in 2024. Sure, a fourth-place finish means Virginia Tech would once again miss the ACC Championship Game, but given the current state of the roster and coaching staff, is competing for a conference title even a realistic expectation this year? Probably not.
Still, college football has a way of surprising people — especially when teams enter the year with modest expectations. That’s exactly where Virginia Tech finds itself now. With significant turnover via the transfer portal and NFL Draft departures, head coach Brent Pry faces a pivotal year. He’s brought in new talent that could make an impact quickly, and the team has just enough potential to serve as a wild card in the ACC.
The Hokies do face a tougher conference schedule than they did last season, which means margin for error is slim. If they want to outperform expectations — or at least meet them — they’ll need to start winning close games, something they struggled with in 2024. Success in those tight contests could go a long way in cooling the seat under Pry and restoring momentum in Blacksburg.
Bottom line: finishing fourth in the ACC isn’t far-fetched — at least according to the data — but for it to happen, a lot more will have to click this fall than it did last year.
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