In Part 1, we looked at Nos. 12 through 7. These are all opponents the Hokies will be able to handle with relative ease. As we move on to the final teams on this list, we see that the Hokies have much less room for error in the second half of the season.
#6 – Georgia Institute of Technology
The Yellow Jackets have been steadily improving since head coach and fan favorite Brent Key took over the helm for the 2022 season. Key compiled an 11-10 record during his time with Atlanta, including keeping the Hokies out of a bowl game two years ago in Brent Pry’s first season as head coach when both Brents were trying to find their footing with their respective programs.
The Hokies are scheduled to host the Jackets in late October for an emotional Homecoming Day celebration that will likely provide even more energy for the hometown Hokies.
#5 – Boston College
In case you missed it, Jeff Hafley, who led a very successful rebuild with the Eagles, has moved to Green Bay to become the Packers’ defensive coordinator. The Eagles didn’t back down, and instead brought in Bill O’Brien, who has one of the best resumes in football. O’Brien brings a ton of coaching changes from head to toe, and of course the team will have to make some adjustments, but O’Brien should be a tough test for any team, even if it’s Thursday night in Blacksburg.
#4 – Syracuse
Fran Brown is the latest head coach for the Orange. After eight years of moderate success under coach Dino Babers, Brown will lead a new era with former Ohio State starter Kyle McCord under center and five teammates on head coach Phil Steele’s preseason All-ACC team. Brown hails from Georgia, where he was the defensive backs coach the past two seasons. Making matters worse is that the Hokies are coming off an abysmal 2-8 record on the road against the Orange. That means a game against Syracuse, one of the most anticipated games in recent years and one week before the Hokies face Clemson, could be a trap to halt Tech’s momentum.
3rd place – Duke
The Blue Devils team is a revamped one. Since Mike Elko left for Texas A&M, Duke has targeted former Miami head coach and former Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Diaz endured a tumultuous time at Miami, ultimately finishing with a 21-15 record. Diaz brings in 18 transfers, including former Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy, while saying goodbye to 17 others. I don’t necessarily expect Wallace Wade Stadium to be a fortress, but third-year coach Brent Pry’s road record is 3-9 so far, and I have doubts about his management on the road.
#2 – Miami
The Hokies and Miami have a tough, drawn-out rivalry, with the Ducks usually coming out strong when they lead the overall series 25-15, including their most recent 38-26 win at the Hard Rock in 2021. Virginia Tech has always felt like an underdog going into this matchup before it even begins, and Mario Cristobal’s project has yet to take off, even in the dark ages, but they usually find a way to barely dodge the Hokies, winning eight of the past 11 meetings at home or away.
#1 – Clemson
It was clear who would take the top spot. The Tigers and Hokies hadn’t played each other much since 2000, the last time the Tigers won, 45-10, during a pandemic that left the Hokies licking their wounds. But that Tech team was much different than the one we saw on that eerie Saturday night nearly four years ago. This team would find confidence and faith in their process and genuinely believe they could beat a highly talented Tigers squad that was just coming off the 15th-best freshman class in the nation.
