ACC Football Power Rankings Post-Portal: Virginia Tech’s Surprising Fall and Who’s Rising
With spring practices wrapped up and the spring transfer portal window officially closed, the landscape of ACC football is starting to take shape ahead of the 2025 season. Coaches now shift focus to recruiting, with the next two months set to be crucial for roster building. But one burning question looms—where does Virginia Tech stand after a whirlwind offseason?
This time last year, optimism was sky-high in Blacksburg. The Hokies, led by Brent Pry, were viewed as potential contenders under the new 12-team College Football Playoff format. Fast forward to today, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. A disappointing 6-6 regular season capped by a Duke’s Mayo Bowl loss to Minnesota, followed by key departures to the NFL and the transfer portal, has left many wondering if Virginia Tech can rebound. To make matters worse, concerns around quarterback Kyron Drones’ health cast a shadow over Tech’s offensive hopes.
Elsewhere in the ACC, change is also in the air. Wake Forest brought in former Washington State head coach Jack Dickert to revitalize the program, while Cal—set to visit Virginia Tech in October—added nearly 1,000-yard rusher RJ Johnson Jr. from SMU, flipping him from Rice. This gives Cal a significant offensive weapon as they prep for their first season in the conference.
Boston College, now under new head coach Bill O’Brien, has some major gaps to fill on both sides of the line, but a favorable early schedule could set the Eagles up for a fast start.
Meanwhile, things are just as volatile at NC State and Pitt. The Wolfpack took a huge hit with star receiver KC Concepcion leaving via the portal, while Pitt will try to recover from a dramatic 2024 campaign that began 7-0 but ended on a six-game losing skid.
Virginia’s Tony Elliott is entering what many see as a make-or-break season. Bowl eligibility may be the bare minimum to cool off his seat in Charlottesville. The same pressure is likely brewing in several other programs.
One thing’s certain: the ACC is full of uncertainty heading into 2025, and Virginia Tech’s place in the power rankings is anything but guaranteed.