The 2024 season for Virginia Tech football began with a sense of optimism and high expectations. With hopes of competing for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff and aspirations of making the ACC Championship Game, the Hokies seemed poised to take a significant step forward. However, the reality of the season proved far more difficult. Despite their early promise, the Hokies were plagued by inconsistency, ending the season with a 6-6 record. This disappointing finish left fans and analysts alike questioning what went wrong.
The Hokies’ season was marked by a series of frustrating one-score losses, with five such defeats over the course of the year. These tight games, many of which came at critical moments, demonstrated Virginia Tech’s inability to close out opponents in key situations. Despite retaining key players from the previous year and adding impactful transfers, the team never fully lived up to the preseason hype. Early on, there were whispers that Virginia Tech could be a dark horse contender in the ACC, but those hopes quickly faded as the season unfolded, with the Hokies unable to secure key victories.
One of the season’s most painful moments came in Week 1, when the Hokies suffered an overtime loss to Vanderbilt. That defeat seemed to set the tone for the season, as Virginia Tech would struggle in tight games against stronger opponents. By the midpoint of the conference schedule, the dream of an ACC Championship berth had slipped away, and the Hokies were left fighting to secure a bowl game, which they eventually achieved with a Thanksgiving weekend win over Virginia.
Chip Patterson of CBS Sports assessed Virginia Tech’s season, offering a grade of “C-” for their performance in 2024. Patterson’s evaluation highlighted the disappointment of the season, noting that while the Hokies had a strong finish in 2023 and retained key contributors, they failed to take the next step. Despite expectations of being in the mix for a conference title, Virginia Tech’s inability to compete consistently against top teams was a major letdown. Patterson pointed out that five of the Hokies’ losses were by just one score, but he also emphasized the internal shortcomings that led to such a lackluster outcome.
This grade seems fair given the circumstances. Virginia Tech’s 6-6 record, while not disastrous, fell well short of the goals set for the team at the start of the season. The Hokies were fortunate to avoid a worse fate, such as missing out on a bowl game entirely with a 5-7 finish. The struggles of the season also led to several key players entering the transfer portal, further complicating the team’s outlook for 2025.
Despite these setbacks, there is some optimism for the future. On Friday, the Hokies received a significant boost with the confirmation that quarterbacks Kyron Drones and Pop Watson will return for the 2025 season. Their return provides a foundation for Virginia Tech to build upon, and the team will look to regroup in the offseason to improve their performance in critical games. Although the 2024 season was a disappointment, the hope is that with key players staying put and a renewed focus on development, Virginia Tech can bounce back and compete at a higher level next year.
Looking ahead, the Hokies will need to make significant strides to meet the expectations that were set for them entering the 2024 season. With a young roster and key players returning, there’s still potential for growth. However, the lessons learned from this year’s struggles—particularly in close games—will need to be addressed if Virginia Tech hopes to turn things around and compete for a higher bowl game or even a spot in the ACC Championship.