Last year at this time, Virginia Tech was a trendy pick to crash the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. But those hopes unraveled quickly with a season-opening overtime loss at Vanderbilt, setting the tone for a 6–7 finish.
Now, with more uncertainty than answers heading into the new season, the Hokies enter what could be a pivotal fourth year for Brent Pry. A CFP berth in 2025 may be a long shot, but at least one national writer believes Tech could be in for a surprising run.
ESPN sees potential for Virginia Tech in 2025
In his preseason rankings of all 136 FBS teams, ESPN’s David Hale placed Virginia Tech in Tier 9 alongside Florida State, NC State, and Auburn. This group, labeled the “Regression to the mean (the good kind)” tier, is projected to rebound from recent setbacks and trend upward in 2025.
For that to happen, the Hokies must reverse last season’s struggles in close games—five of their six regular-season losses came by a single score, with the only double-digit defeat against eventual ACC champion Clemson in a game that stayed competitive deep into the second half.
While a roster overhaul—with departures to the NFL and transfer portal—might raise concerns, Pry’s staff also brought in three new coaches and added potentially game-changing transfers.
If this upward “regression to the mean” materializes, and if the team plays with the chip it claims to carry, Virginia Tech could be far more dangerous than many expect. Opponents, consider yourselves warned.
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