Hokies No. 21 in preseason AP Poll
HokieSports.com
Virginia Tech will begin the 2017 season ranked in both major college football polls. A couple weeks after receiving their No. 22 ranking from the coaches, VT was ranked No. 21 by the Associated Press.
The Hokies are the fifth-highest ACC team, behind No. 3 Florida State, No. 5 Clemson, No. 16 Louisville, and No. 18 Miami. The Tigers and Hurricanes are on the schedule Sept. 30 and Nov. 4, respectively. No. 22 West Virginia out of the Big 12 will also face VT this year, in the season-opener Sept. 3 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
VT finished last season No. 16 in the nation, but lost several key players - including quarterback Jerod Evans and two of his top three receivers, all of whom could have returned for one more year of eligibility - to the next level. The Hokies should be led by a defense that returns six of the starters in the back seven, and needs to replace three starters on the defensive line (though all were limited by injury in 2016, building depth for this year's first group).
Alabama tops the AP Poll after a national runner-up finish in 2016.
