Virginia Tech Football: 5 Games That Could Ruin the Hokies' 2015 Season

The Virginia Tech Hokies open the 2015 college football season on Labor Day night in Blacksburg against defending national champion Ohio State. Facing an opponent like the Buckeyes in the opener could ruin your season, but losing to the top team in the country on opening night is something that would happen to the majority of teams.

So, losing to OSU wouldn't necessarily ruin the Hokies' 2015 season. Most analysts and fans expect them to lose; however, it is important to note that Tech did defeat the Buckeyes in Columbus last season. 

Can that happen again? Tech's chances certainly increased this week when it was announced that four OSU players, including All-American Joey Bosa, were suspended for the season opener against the Hokies, per ESPN.com's Austin Ward. 

Even with Bosa and three important offensive contributors missing, defeating the Buckeyes will be extremely difficult. But what about the rest of Virginia Tech's schedule? Could the Hokies run the table in the season's final 11 games? After all, Tech doesn't have to play Florida State or Clemson in league play. 

Running the table won't be easy, either. Several opponents on Tech's 2015 schedule have given them problems at times over the years. Here are five potential games that could ruin Virginia Tech's 2015 season. 

Sept. 19 at Purdue

Nati Harnik/Associated Press/Associated Press

Purdue Boilermakers

Virginia Tech heads on the road for the first time in the 2015 season to Indiana to face Purdue on Sept. 19.

If you haven't heard much about the Boilermakers in recent years, it's probably because they haven't been good. Purdue has won just a total of four games over the last two seasons combined. The Boilermakers did improve last season in Darrell Hazell's second year as head coach, winning two more games than they did in his debut campaign.

Hazell will be looking for a signature win, and defeating the Hokies at home early in the season could be just that. Don't expect Frank Beamer and the Hokies to take Purdue lightly. After all, this is the same team that lost to Wake Forest in 2014. 

If the Hokies lose to Purdue in September, the 2015 season could look a lot like the last few in Blacksburg. 

Sept. 26 at East Carolina

Don Petersen/Associated Press/Associated Press

East Carolina celebrating a win over the Hokies in 2014

One week after traveling to Purdue, Tech gets back on the road to play East Carolina. Remember what happened the last time these two teams played?

Yep, the Pirates defeated the Hokies last season in Blacksburg. Historically, ECU has given VT trouble over the last 10 years. The Pirates have beaten the Hokies twice and played them tough on several other occasions. 

This East Carolina team will look a bit differently than last year's version. Quarterback Shane Carden and wide receiver Justin Hardy are gone. Also, innovative offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley is now at Oklahoma.

The Hokies may be catching the Pirates at the right time. Otherwise, back-to-back losses to ECU would be devastating to Tech. 

Oct. 3: Pittsburgh

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press/Associated Press

Several Hokies trying to bring James Conner down in last season's Pitt win

The Pitt Panthers have given Virginia Tech a lot of trouble dating back to their days in the Big East. Pittsburgh has won five of the last six meetings between the schools, including a 21-16 win in 2014. 

For the Hokies to get back on track and win the Coastal Division again, they must defeat Pitt. Getting the Panthers in Blacksburg is a good thing. Tech just can't seem to win in the Steel City, with its last victory there coming in 1999.

James Conner and Chad Voytik will make it difficult on the Hokies this fall, and both ran wild on the Hokies last season. 

Another loss to Pittsburgh could doom the Hokies' potential ACC title hopes yet again. 

Nov. 12 at Georgia Tech

Michael Shroyer/Getty Images

BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Paul Johnson gives instruction to quarterback Justin Thomas #5 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first half against Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium on September 20, 2014 in Blacksburg, Virginia. Georgia Te

Since the ACC was split into two divisions back in 2005, either Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech have represented the Coastal Division except for one time. That's an impressive run at the top of a division that many figured to be dominated by Miami when the Hurricanes entered the league with the Hokies in 2004.

So, when the Hokies and Yellow Jackets meet, a lot is usually on the line. This season, the teams meet in November on a Thursday night. The Jackets will host the Hokies in a game that could determine the Coastal Division champion. 

The Hokies have fared well against GT since entering the ACC. Tech is 8-3 against Georgia Tech as ACC opponents, but the Yellow Jackets won last season in a game that went down to the wire.

If the Hokies lose to Georgia Tech in 2015, missing the ACC championship game for a fourth year in a row is almost a lock.  

Nov. 28 at Virginia

Steve Helber/Associated Press/Associated Press

Frank Beamer celebrating another win over Virginia

Every year, folks in the state of Virginia wonder if this is the year that Virginia finally beats Virginia Tech in football. 

It never happens.

So, the question must be asked: Is this the year Virginia takes back the Commonwealth Cup?

The Hokies have dominated the Cavaliers over the last 15 years, losing only once back in 2003. However, the last three meetings have been particularly close with the Hokies needing a last-second score to win it. In two of the past three seasons, Tech needed to defeat Virginia just to become bowl eligible. 

In any scenario you imagine, losing to Virginia would ruin Virginia Tech's season. Whether the Hokies were looking for an appearance in the ACC title game or trying to lock up another bowl game, a loss to the Cavaliers would cause Hokie Nation extreme heartache.