College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 8
By Zach Bigalke
After joining the ACC with Miami in 2004, the Hokies rather than the Hurricanes became the class of the Coastal — winning the division title five of its first seven years in the league and claiming three conference crowns. On Thursday, the Hokies crushed any last hopes in Coral Gables with a three-touchdown demolition. Quarterback Jerod Evans had 357 combined yards and three scores, while tailback Travon McMillan added 131 yards on the ground. The Hurricanes were stymied on the ground, netting 42 yards all game.
As a result Virginia Tech is threatening to win its first division title since 2011, and doing so in Justin Fuente’s first year at the helm no less. The Hokies will likely jump back into the Top 25 this week after the Syracuse upset knocked them out in Week 7. Tech has another Thursday night game next week at Pittsburgh, then opens November at Duke. The only other road game is at Notre Dame on November 19. Sandwiched around the trip to South Bend are home games against Georgia Tech and Virginia that open the door for a rebirth of dominance in Blacksburg.