BCS Rankings: Why Virginia Tech Deserves National Title Shot

At this time last week, the Virginia Tech Hokies were a bottom-half top-10 team in the BCS standings.

Now, coach Frank Beamer and company have an outside shot at a ticket to the BCS national championship game.

Virginia Tech is currently ranked No. 5 in the BCS standings and is poised to move into the picture should the four teams above it falter.

When discussing the release of the latest rankings, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said this about the Hokies.

“I love Frank Beamer and his staff and his team, but who have they beaten to deserve to be up at No. 4 in the coaches’ poll?” 

Herbstreit is not alone. Many skeptics point to the schedule as a reason Virginia Tech is undeserving of its stature.

Here is why that viewpoint is misguided. 

1. Virginia Tech Will Win the Atlantic Coast Conference

How can a team be considered a national champion without winning its own conference?

That is a distinct possibility if Alabama, Arkansas or Stanford were to get a shot.

Provided the Hokies can win out, Virginia Tech will have the unique distinction of winning its own conference. Virginia Tech has to beat rival Virginia before taking on Clemson in the ACC championship game. 

Only one of the three SEC West teams can win its division, much less the SEC. Stanford lost the Pac-12 in its loss to the Oregon Ducks.

As a result, Virginia Tech is the only one-loss contender with a conference title on its resume.

If conference championships mean anything at all, the Hokies should get a large boost from that accomplishment. 

2. The Hokies Will Avenge Only Loss

Virginia Tech is fortunate to have another unique distinction: It can avenge its only loss.

The Hokies will have a chance in the ACC championship game to get revenge against a Clemson team that defeated them 23-3 earlier in the season.

The Tigers and Hokies are two teams headed in opposite directions.

Clemson is coming off an embarrassing defeat to North Carolina State that plummeted the Tigers from No. 7 to No. 17 in the BCS rankings.

Virginia Tech has won six games in a row since losing to Clemson. The Hokies are looking for their fifth ACC title.

By beating Clemson the second time around, the Hokies would be able to claim the first meeting as somewhat of a fluke and help their case for getting a trip to New Orleans for the national championship. 

3. Schedule Strength

I implore all readers to take a closer look at schedule strengths before taking the word of ESPN experts who tend to favor the SEC. Certainly the SEC is the strongest conference, but the picture isn't as clear as you might think

Mull over this food for thought.

Arkansas has defeated two teams currently ranked in the BCS Top 25. Those teams are No. 12 South Carolina and No. 24 Auburn. Its schedule strength is No. 49 in the country.

Alabama has beaten two teams currently ranked in the Top 25 in No. 3 Arkansas and No. 19 Penn State. 

Oklahoma State has three wins over Top 25 teams in Baylor, Kansas State and Texas.

Stanford has zero wins over teams from the BCS Top 25. However, the Cardinal did defeat USC in overtime, a team that would likely be ranked if eligible.

Meanwhile, Virginia Tech also has one win over a team in the Top 25 in Georgia Tech.

It's strength of schedule is No. 57, just eight spots behind Arkansas. The Hokies will likely add two more with wins over Virginia and Clemson.

In other words, the gap isn't as giant of a chasm as some experts may claim. 

4. Who Wants a Rematch?

Many fans and voters simply do not want an SEC West rematch in the BCS national championship game. Each of the top three teams had their shot against each other, and thus should not get a second chance.

Consider this: If Alabama beats LSU the second time around, who is the actual national champion? If the two teams split their games, how can one accurately claim being the best over the other?

The reasoning is flawed and makes a rematch an unsatisfactory ending to the college football season.

Oklahoma State will lose to Oklahoma, making way for Virginia Tech to move into the national championship game picture. The result will be a game fans will look forward to.

Why?

Because it will be a game fans haven't already seen this year.