Hokies Back in Top Five

After just the second full weekend of college football,
the Virginia Tech Hokies find themselves ranked in the top five in both major
football polls. The Hokies are ranked fourth in the AP Poll and are tied with
Tennessee for fourth in the Coaches’ Poll.

This marks the earliest point in the season that Tech has
ever been ranked in the top five. It is also the sixth time in the last seven
years that the Hokies have been ranked in the top five at some point during the
season. Ironically, the only Tech team since 1999 to never crack the top five
was the 2004 team, which rose as high as ninth after their victory over Miami in
the Orange Bowl.

There were some exciting games over the weekend that
helped Virginia Tech jump into the top five. First, #3 Michigan fell at home to
Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon 17-10. The Fighting Irish stymied the Wolverine
offense, and a late Michigan fumble at Notre Dame’s goal line all but sealed
the victory for new Irish head coach Charlie Weiss. With the loss, Michigan fell
all the way back to #14. Notre Dame vaulted up to #10 in the AP Poll and #12 in
the Coaches’ Poll.

In what was the game of the year thus far, #2 Texas
knocked off Ohio State on the road 25-22. Ohio State was ranked ahead of the
Hokies in the AP Poll at #4, but behind Tech in the Coaches’ Poll at #7.

The Hokies almost found themselves ranked third, but LSU
rallied to knock off Arizona State 35-31 in Tempe. LSU was ranked #5 at the
time, and have since moved up to #3 in both polls.

Virginia Tech was also able to gain a spot in both polls
by jumping Tennessee. The Volunteers were ranked ahead of the Hokies in both
polls last week at #6 in the AP and #4 in the Coaches’, but VT jumped them in
the AP and are tied with them in the Coaches’.

It doesn’t look like the Hokies have a chance to gain
any positions this coming weekend, as #1 USC hosts Arkansas and #2 Texas gets
Rice at home. However Tech does have a chance to gain sole possession of #4 in
the Coaches’ Poll, as Tennessee must travel to The Swamp to take on the
Florida Gators, who are ranked #6 in the AP and #7 in the Coaches’.

Complete
AP Poll
Complete
Coaches’ Poll

Virginia Tech is currently the highest ranked of seven ACC
teams in the top 25, which means that over half of the conference is ranked in
the national polls. NC State is also receiving votes in both polls and resides
in the top 40. The only ACC teams that are not ranked and not receiving votes
are UNC, Duke, Maryland and Wake Forest.

Florida State is ranked #8 in both polls. The Seminoles
got off to a shaky start against The Citadel over the weekend, trailing 10-3 in
the second quarter. But they quickly righted the ship and recorded a 62-10
victory.

Georgia Tech, ranked #16 in the AP and #18 by the coaches,
had to fight off a pesky UNC squad in Atlanta to earn a 27-21 victory. UNC had a
chance to win at the end, but Tar Heel quarterback Matt Baker, making his first
collegiate start, threw an interception to ice the game for the Yellow Jackets.

Boston College is ranked #17 by the AP and #16 by the
coaches. The Eagles easily dispatched Army 44-7. BC quarterback Quinton Porter,
who has completed over 75% of his passes this season, threw for 206 yards in the
win.

Clemson pulled off a fourth quarter comeback in College
Park to defeat the Maryland Terrapins 28-24. With the win, Clemson moves to #20
in the AP Poll and #23 in the Coaches’ Poll. Trailing 24-14 heading into the
fourth quarter, Charlie Whitehurst threw a 51 yard touchdown pass, and Reggie
Merriweather followed that up with a 38 yard touchdown run to take home the
victory for the Tigers.

#13 Miami had a bye week, as did Virginia, who is ranked
#25 in the AP and #20 in the Coaches’.

There are two big ACC games coming up on September 17 that
will have a big impact on the ACC race. Miami plays at Clemson at 3:30 on ABC.
The Tigers beat the Hurricanes last season in the Orange Bowl. At 7:45 on ESPN,
Boston College will play their first ever ACC conference game when they host
Atlantic Division foe Florida State.