Virginia Tech debuts inside the Top 20 in the USA Today Coaches poll, which was released for the first time during the 2012 season earlier Thursday.
The Hokies are No. 20 and are one of three Atlantic Coast Conference programs ranked. The other two ranked ACC teams- Florida State (No. 7) and Clemson (No. 14)- both are on Virginia Tech’s 2012 schedule. The Hokies play the Tigers in Clemson, S.C. on Oct. 20 and play host to Florida State in a Thursday night contest in Blacksburg, Va., on Nov. 8.
Season-opening opponent Georgia Tech, Cincinnati (Sept. 20 at FedEx Field) and in-state rival Virginia also received votes.
The Hokies, who went 11-3 in 2011, play the Yellow Jackets to open the 2012 season at 8 p.m. Labor Day night at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.
Poll
1-LSU
2- Alabama
3- USC
4- Oklahoma
5- Oregon
6- Georgia
7- Florida State
8- Michigan
9- South Carolina
10- Arkansas
11- West Virginia
12- Wisconsin
13- Michigan State
14- Clemson
15- Texas
16- Nebraska
17- TCU
18- Stanford
19- Oklahoma State
20- Virginia Tech
21- Kansas State
22- Boise State
23- Florida
24- Notre Dame
25- Auburn
Link: 2012 Virginia Tech Schedule
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