WOAY – The Associated Press released its preseason college football poll for 2020, with Virginia Tech narrowly missing out on the top 25.
The Hokies received 85 votes, 48 less than #25 Tennessee. Only Memphis (86) received more but was also outside the top 25.
The preseason top 25 includes all FBS teams, even though the Big Ten, Pac-12, Mid-American and Mountain West conferences have all announced they won’t be playing football this fall. Nine teams from those four conferences are in the preseason poll, but once the 2020 season begins, only teams that play a game will be considered for the weekly poll.
Clemson is the preseason #1, receiving 38 first-place votes, with Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma rounding out the top five. The Big 12 has four teams (#5 Oklahoma, #14 Texas, #15 Oklahoma State, #23 Iowa State), while the ACC has two (#1 Clemson, #18 North Carolina).
Virginia Tech’s season opener is scheduled for September 12 vs. NC State. West Virginia is slated to host Eastern Kentucky that same day, while Marshall hosts EKU September 5.