Hokies ranked No. 22 in preseason coaches poll, fifth in ACC

Virginia Tech finished last season as the No. 16 team in the land, according to the coaches poll, and will try to improve on that for 2017. They'll have to climb back to that level, with a preseason ranking of No. 22 according to the coaches poll.

VT is the largest dropper among teams that were ranked at the end of 2016 and remain in the poll today, losing six spots. There will be several opportunities to climb back up, though: three upcoming opponents are not only ranked, but ranked ahead of the Hokies.

That starts with the season-opening game against West Virginia, which will see the No. 20 Mountaineers meet VT at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. No. 5 Clemson heads up to Blacksburg Sept. 30 in what should be the most exciting game - at least in terms of the caliber of the combatants - in Lane Stadium during the 2017 season. Miami is No. 18 in the poll, and VT will travel down to the Sunshine State to face the Canes in a Coastal Division showdown Nov. 4.

A few more teams rank in the "others receiving votes" category. Pitt (unofficially No. 32), Georgia Tech (43rd), and North Carolina (48th) make for an interesting slate of conference games over the course of the Fall. Although Florida State and Louisville are not on the schedule this season, the Atlantic Division powers are ranked Nos. 3 and 17 respectively, with the Cardinals surging behind reigning Heisman winner Lamar Jackson.