The USA TODAY Early Top 25 Includes the Virginia Tech Hokies

Shortly after the new year USA TODAY Sports provided a “Super Early Preseason Top 25”, predicting the initial rankings for the 2017-2018 College Football season. Every week, since the unveiling, USA TODAY has taken a detailed look at the squads, starting at No. 25 and working up the list.

This week, clocking in at No. 13, are the Virginia Tech Hokies!

Author, Paul Myerberg, steps through his reasoning for placing VT where he did and provides an opinion on some challenges facing the team next year. Specifically, he states that the Hokies were already playing near the top of the ACC and there is no stark reason to expect them to fall. Myerberg also sites that VPI should be more comfortable within Fuente’s system, but notes that having no proven quarterback is a significant concern for the Fighting Gobblers.

Mr. Myerberg lists the Hokies’ biggest games as Clemson, Miami (FL), and Pittsburgh. Interestingly he left the season opener against the West Virginia Mountaineers off that list. Perhaps because the game is a non-conference matchup, and a loss to WVU would have less impact than one to a conference rival.

The USA TODAY article also provides “three players to pay attention to,” listing Andrew Motuapuaka (LB), Terrell Edmunds (DB), and Chris Cunningham (TE). While all three will certainly be contributors, wide receiver, Cam Phillips, should certainly be on that list.

Overall the ACC did well in the Super Early Preseason Top 25.

- No. 1 Florida State Seminoles

- No. 9 Clemson Tigers

- No. 13 Virginia Tech Hokies

- No. 19 Louisville Cardinals

Beyond the Top 25, ten teams under consideration were also listed. The Miami Hurricanes, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Pittsburgh Panthers were all included in that group.

Let’s go Hokies!

See the entire rankings offered by USA TODAY here.

Read the Paul Myerberg opinion on Virginia Tech here.