Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Need to Get Offensive to Make Serious BCS Run

Virginia Tech takes on Arkansas State this Saturday. The Hokies will need to leave their mindless play at home.

For a serious BCS run, the Hokies simply need to be better. 

Last week, the then-No. 11 Hokies took on East Carolina. They took the victory, but still managed to slip in the rankings to No. 13—and for good reason. 

Virginia Tech certainly played well on both sides of the ball, stuffing a budding offense for just 112 yards. The Hokies also moved the ball well, nearly tripling their opponent's output with 332 yards. 

But where the Hokies got into trouble was between the ears. Twelve penalties equaling 92 yards pushed the Hokies well back, causing the Pirates to sniff a major upset. 

Virginia Tech was good, but sloppy—and the latter is exactly what will get you booted from the Top 25.

This is about more than a BCS bid, this is about the program and the conference proving their worth. 

As the SEC picks off teams left and right, the ACC needs their stalwarts now more than ever. The prolific Hokies offense won't mean a thing if they let mental errors put a pall on the season. 

Next up is Arkansas State, a team that just waxed Memphis. The Hokies should waltz on by if they don't beat themselves with sloppy play first. 

The journey begins and ends with quarterback Logan Thomas. He has the arsenal to make a dramatic run to the top of the ACC and beyond. 

An inconsistent effort and 8-of-20 outing is not going to cut it. This team escaped a tough game with a win, which should be greeted with cautious applause. 

There are still some stepping stones that could knock Virginia Tech off the path they have carved for themselves. At some point, their offense is going to have to be as consistent as their defensive measures. 

It would be easy for them to rest on their laurels. The Hokies don't have a ranked opponent on the schedule, making it vital that they win ballgames and win them convincingly. Virginia Tech still has Clemson and a Miami team that is still good despite off-the-field issues. 

It is time to put some numbers on the board. For the Hokies, that is as easy as limiting the sloppy play.

The rest will come for what is still a very talented squad.