American college football season
The 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Hokies were led by second-year head coach Justin Fuente and played their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia . Virginia Tech competed as members of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in ACC play to finish in second place in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Camping World Bowl where they lost to Oklahoma State .
Name Title Joined Staff Justin Fuente Head Coach 2016 Bud Foster Associate head coach, Defensive coordinator & Linbeackers 1987 Galen Scott Assistant Head Coach & Safeties 2016 Zohn Burden Running Backs 2015 Brad Cornelsen Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks 2016 Brian Mitchell Cornerbacks 2016 James Shibest Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends 2016 Vance Vice Offensive Line 2016 Holmon Wiggins Wide Receivers 2016 Charley Wiles Defensive Line 1996
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance 7:30 p.m. vs. No. 22 West Virginia * No. 21 ABC W 31–2467,489 September 9 3:30 p.m. Delaware * No. 18 ACCN Extra W 27–062,526 September 16 3:30 p.m. at East Carolina * No. 16 CBSSN W 64–1743,776 September 23 2:00 p.m. Old Dominion * No. 13 Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA ACCN Extra W 38–065,632 September 30 8:00 p.m. No. 2 Clemson No. 12 ABC L 17–3165,632 October 7 7:15 p.m. at Boston College No. 16 ESPN2 W 23–1032,057 October 21 3:30 p.m. North Carolina No. 14 Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA ESPN2 W 59–765,632 October 28 7:20 p.m. Duke No. 13 Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA ACCN W 24–360,914 November 4 8:00 p.m. at No. 10 Miami (FL) No. 13 ABC L 10–2863,932 November 11 12:20 p.m. at Georgia Tech No. 17 ACCN L 22–2847,909 November 18 12:20 p.m. Pittsburgh Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA ACCN W 20–1458,948 8:00 p.m. at Virginia No. 25 ESPN W 10–048,609 December 28 5:15 p.m. vs. No. 19 Oklahoma State * No. 22 ESPN L 21–3039,610
Schedule source[ 1]
Virginia Tech vs West Virginia 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 21 Virginia Tech 3 7 14 7 31 No. 22 West Virginia 0 7 10 7 24
Date: September 4Location: FedEx Field Washington, D.C.Game start: 7:40pm Elapsed time: 3:46Game attendance: 67,489Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Wind: 5 MPH N, ClearReferee: Jerry McGinnTV announcers (ABC ): Steve Levy (Play-by-Play), Brian Griese (Analyst) Scoring summary Q1 6:10 VT Joey Slye 25-yard field goal3–0 VT Q2 5:37 WV David Sills 11-yard pass from Will Grier (Mike Molina kick)7–3 WV Q2 0:27 VT Josh Jackson 5-yard run (Joey Slye kick) 10–7 VT Q3 11:25 WV Mike Molina 34-yard field goal 10–10 Q3 9:51 VT Deshawn McClease 12-yard run (Joey Slye kick) 17–10 VT Q3 2:18 WV David Sills 10-yard pass from Will Grier (Mike Molina kick) 17–17 Q3 2:02 VT Cam Phillips 32-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick)24–17 VT Q4 12:37 WV Gary Jennings Jr. 60-yard pass from Will Grier (Mike Molina kick)24–24 Q4 6:30 VT Travon McMillian 3-yard run (Joey Slye kick) 31–24 VT
In the first game of the season at FedExField in Landover, Maryland , Hokies quarterback Josh Jackson ran for a touchdown and threw another as the Hokies held off No. 22-ranked West Virginia 31–24. In the 52nd meeting between the two schools, a back-and-forth matchup was decided in the fourth quarter when Jackson rushed for a 46-yard gain to set up Travon McMillion's three-yard touchdown run with 6:30 left in the game. The Hokie defense, which gave up 592 total yards to the Mountaineers, came up big at the end, keeping West Virginia out of the endzone after two attempts from the 15-yard line as time expired. The win moved the Hokies to 1–0 on the season.[ 2]
Delaware at Virginia Tech 1 2 3 4 Total Delaware 0 0 0 0 0 • No. 18 Virginia Tech 7 10 0 10 27
Date: September 9Location: Lane Stadium Blacksburg, Virginia Game start: 3:35 pm Elapsed time: 2:52Game attendance: 62,526Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), Wind: 3 MPH NE, Mostly cloudyReferee: Duane HeydtTelevision network: ACCN Extra Scoring summary Q1 2:45 VT Greg Stroman 61-yard punt return (Joey Slye kick)7–0 VT Q2 7:48 VT Joey Slye 50-yard field goal 10–0 VT Q2 2:01 VT Travon McMillian 4-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 17–0 VT Q4 11:50 VT Cam Phillips 28-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 24–0 VT Q4 8:59 VT Joey Slye 24-yard field goal 27–0 VT
The Hokies announced they would wear new "white Hokie stone" helmets for their first home game of the year against FCS Delaware.[ 3] [ 4] After allowing nearly 600 yards to West Virginia, Virginia Tech's defense rebounded nicely to record Bud Foster's 32nd shutout as the Hokies' defensive coordinator. The Blue Hens only got into Virginia Tech territory three times. Another Hokie hallmark, special teams, played an important role as Greg Stroman returned a punt for a touchdown late in the first quarter to give the Hokies a 7–0 lead. Quarterback Josh Jackson threw two scoring passes in the game as the Hokies were held to only 303 yards of total offense. However, it was enough as the Hokies moved to 2–0 on the season with a 27–0 win.[ 5]
Virginia Tech at East Carolina 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 16 Virginia Tech 7 16 34 7 64 East Carolina 17 0 0 0 17
Scoring summary Q1 12:53 ECU Davon Grayson 9-yard pass from Gardiner Minshew (Jake Verity kick) 7–0 ECU Q1 8:44 VT Steven Peoples 1-yard Run (Joey Slye Kick) 7–7 Q1 7:55 ECU Trevon Brown 76-yard pass from Gardner Minshew (Jake Verity Kick) 14–7 ECU Q1 2:34 ECU Jake Verity 35-yard field goal17–7 ECU Q2 13:11 VT Cam Phillips 10 Yd pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye Kick) 17–14 ECU Q2 8:36 VT Joey Slye 25-yard field goal 17–17 Q2 2:07 VT Joey Slye 34-yard field goal 20–17 VT Q2 0:43 VT Joey Slye 37-yard field goal 23–17 VT Q3 12:53 VT Cam Phillips 31-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) 29–17 VT Q3 11:54 VT Travon McMillian 70-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye Kick) 36–17 VT Q3 7:46 VT Cam Phillips 45-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye Kick) 43–17 VT Q3 5:54 VT Sean Savoy 9-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye Kick) 50–17 VT Q3 0:40 VT Jalen Holston 1-yard Run (Joey Slye Kick) 57–17 VT Q4 6:50 VT Coleman Fox 5-yard Run (Brian Johnson Kick) 64–17 VT
Virginia Tech traveled to Greenville, North Carolina to take on East Carolina in a non-conference game. Things did not start well for the Hokies as the Pirates took an early 7–0 and then 17–7 lead as the first quarter ended. VT responded quickly thereafter, getting a touchdown catch from Cam Phillips and three Joey Slye field goals in the second quarter to take the lead at the half 23–17. In the second half the Hokies ran away with the game scoring five touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 57–17 lead. Four of the third quarter touchdowns were passes from quarterback Josh Jackson. Another touchdown in the fourth quarter gave the Hokies a 64–17 win over East Carolina.[ 6]
The Hokies rushed for 287 yards and Jackson passed for 388 yards and five touchdowns in the blowout. Phillips set a school record with 14 catches for 189 yards in the game.[ 6] Meanwhile, the Hokie defense held the Pirates to only 281 total yards. The win moved the Hokies to 3–0 on the season.
Old Dominion at Virginia Tech 1 2 3 4 Total Old Dominion 0 0 0 0 0 • No. 13 Virginia Tech 3 14 14 7 38
Date: September 23Location: Lane Stadium Blacksburg, Virginia Game start: 2:05 pm Elapsed time: 3:01Game attendance: 65,632Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), Wind: 6 MPH SSE, ClearReferee: Tra Blake Scoring summary Q1 5:29 VT Joey Slye 31-yard field goal 3–0 VT Q2 6:07 VT Steven Peoples 17-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 10–0 VT Q2 0:40 VT Steven Peoples 1-yard run (Joey Slye kick) 17–0 VT Q3 13:48 VT Steven Peoples 43-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 24–0 VT Q3 8:06 VT C.J. Carroll 5-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 31–0 VT Q4 13:31 VT Deshawn McClease 5-yard run (Joey Slye kick) 38–0 VT
Clemson at Virginia Tech 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 2 Clemson 10 7 7 7 31 No. 12 Virginia Tech 0 3 0 14 17
Date: September 30Location: Lane Stadium Blacksburg, Virginia Game start: 8:21 pm Elapsed time: 3:15Game attendance: 65,632Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), Wind: 10 MPH ENE, ClearReferee: Jeff Heaser Scoring summary Q1 9:54 CU Alex Spence 23-yard field goal 0–3 CU Q1 6:48 CU Tavien Feaster 60-yard pass from Kelly Bryant (Alex Spence kick)0–10 CU Q2 3:10 VT Joey Slye 43-yard field goal 3–10 VT Q2 1:19 CU C.J. Fuller 1-yard run (Alex Spence kick) 3–17 CU Q3 7:12 CU Tavien Feaster 1-yard run (Alex Spence kick) 3–24 CU Q4 14:00 VT Sean Savoy 2-yard run (Joey Slye kick) 10–24 VT Q4 11:08 CU Dorian O'Daniel 22-yard Interception Return (Alex Spence kick) 10–31 CU Q4 1:32 VT Sean Savoy 30-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 17–31 VT
Virginia Tech at Boston College 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 16 Virginia Tech 7 10 3 3 23 Boston College 3 0 0 7 10
Date: October 7Location: Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA Game start: 7:15 Elapsed time: 3:17Game attendance: 32,057Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), Wind: 14s, ClearReferee: J Magallanes Scoring summary Q1 8:26 VT Sean Savoy 53-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 0–7 VT Q1 5:24 BC C.Lichtenberg 37-yard field goal 3–7 BC Q2 11:38 VT Joey Slye 34-yard field goal 3–10 VT Q2 6:19 VT Travon McMillian 23-yard run (Joey Slye kick) 3–17 VT Q3 10:44 VT Joey Slye 29-yard field goal 3–20 VT Q4 6:40 VT Joey Slye 26-yard field goal 3–23 VT Q4 5:38 BC Anthony Brown 25-yard pass from J.Smith (C. Lichtenberg kick)10–23 BC
North Carolina at Virginia Tech 1 2 3 4 Total North Carolina 0 0 0 7 7 • No. 14 Virginia Tech 14 21 17 7 59
Date: October 21Location: Lane Stadium Blacksburg, Virginia Game start: 3:35 Elapsed time: 3:18Game attendance: 65,632Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C), Wind: 4 MPH S, ClearReferee: Garry Patterson Scoring summary Q1 4:53 VT Ricky Walker 12-yard fumble return (Joey Slye kick)7–0 VT Q1 2:32 VT Greg Stroman 91-yard punt return (Joey Slye kick) 14–0 VT Q2 5:33 VT Travon McMillian 4-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 21–0 VT Q2 1:49 VT Reggie Floyd 69-yard interception return (Joey Slye kick) 28–0 VT Q2 0:05 VT Eric Kumah 8-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 35–0 VT Q3 12:40 VT Cam Phillips 8-yard pass from Josh Jackson (Joey Slye kick) 42–0 VT Q3 10:01 VT Joey Slye 37-yard field goal 45–0 VT Q3 3:01 VT Samuel Denmark 16-yard pass from AJ Bush (Joey Slye kick) 52–0 VT Q4 14:05 NC Anthony Ratliff 43-yard pass from Chazz Surratt (Freeman Jones kick) 52–7 VT Q4 7:01 VT Jalen Holston 1-yard run (Brian Johnson kick) 59–7 BC
1 2 3 4 Total Blue Devils 0 3 0 0 3 No. 13 Hokies 7 10 7 0 24
1 2 3 4 Total No. 13 Hokies 0 3 7 0 10 No. 9 Hurricanes 0 14 7 7 28
1 2 3 4 Total No. 17 Hokies 3 6 7 6 22 Yellow Jackets 7 7 7 7 28
1 2 3 4 Total Panthers 7 0 0 7 14 Hokies 7 3 0 10 20
1 2 3 4 Total No. 24 Hokies 0 3 7 0 10 Cavaliers 0 0 0 0 0
Vs. Oklahoma State-Camping World Bowl [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total No. 22 Hokies 7 0 7 7 21 No. 19 Cowboys 3 10 14 3 30
Honorary #25 Beamer Jersey[ edit ] Since the start of the 2016 season, two days prior to each game, Head Coach Justin Fuente has selected an outstanding special teams player to wear the #25 jersey in honor of former head coach, Frank Beamer , who wore #25 as a player for Virginia Tech.
The players honored in the 2017 season are:
Game Opponent Player Game 1 West Virginia Anthony Shegog (2) Game 2 Delaware Colton Taylor Game 3 East Carolina Greg Stroman (2) Game 4 Old Dominion Deon Newsome Game 5 Clemson Terrell Edmunds (2) Game 6 Boston College Greg Stroman (3) Game 7 North Carolina Oscar Bradburn (Fr) Game 8 Duke Ricky Walker Game 9 Miami Sean Huelskamp (2) Game 10 Georgia Tech Tremaine Edmunds Game 11 Pittsburgh Andrew Motuapuaka Game 12 Virginia Jovonn Quillen Camping World Bowl Oklahoma State Andrew Motuapuaka (2)
The Hokies had five players selected in the 2018 NFL draft. The Edmunds brothers were both selected in the first round.
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP 21 18 16 13 12 16 15 14 13 13 17 RV 24 22 22 24 Coaches 22 18 16 13 12 19 17 14 13 13 17 RV 25 21 22 25 CFP Not released 13 17 — 25 22 22 Not released
^ 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football schedule . FBSchedules.com . Accessed April 14, 2017. ^ "West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech - Game Recap - September 3, 2017 - ESPN" . ESPN.com . Retrieved September 5, 2017 . ^ LaBlue, Ricky. "Virginia Tech Football Releases Photos of New Helmet" . TechSideline.com . Retrieved September 7, 2017 . ^ "Hokies to Debut Icy Hokie Stone Lids Against Delaware" . The Key Play . Retrieved September 7, 2017 . ^ "Delaware vs. Virginia Tech - Game Recap - September 9, 2017 - ESPN" . ESPN.com . Retrieved September 11, 2017 . ^ a b "Virginia Tech vs. East Carolina - Game Recap - September 16, 2017 - ESPN" . ESPN.com . Retrieved September 18, 2017 . Media related to 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football team at Wikimedia Commons
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore Media People Seasons