JMU and Liberty ended the 2023 regular season with a legitimate claim to the title of “Best College Football Team in Virginia.”

The Flames’ blowout loss to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl and JMU’s offseason roster and coaching turnover left questions about whether those teams are the best in the state entering this fall. Thanks to a strong finish to 2023 and major recruiting successes, the team in Blacksburg enters 2024 with a strong claim that its the best.

As for Virginia and Old Dominion? Well, those programs still play football.

Will they push any of the other three this season for state supremacy? On paper, that looks unlikely. Fortunately for everyone who enjoys entertainment, they don’t play the games on paper.

Here’s a look at our Virginia FBS Power Ranking ahead of Week 1 of the 2024 season. We’ll aim to update this ranking periodically through the year.

1. Virginia Tech

The Hokies enter 2024 with legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations in the new 12-team format. Virginia Tech returns its starting quarterback, Kyron Drones, who gained confidence through the 2023 season and flashed the ability to be an All-ACC caliber performer. Drones can run, and his wide receivers are among the most dynamic in the ACC.

Defensively, Virginia Tech should be formidable. The defensive line, led by preseason First Team All-ACC member Aeneas Peebles, should be one of the top in the ACC.

Additionally, the schedule sets up well for the Hokies. The nonconference schedule of Vanderbilt, Marshall, Old Dominion, and Rutgers isn’t scary, and the ACC schedule doesn’t include Florida State or N.C. State. Reaching 10 wins is possible.

Preseason ESPN SP+ ranking (8/23): 36th
Preseason ESPN FPI ranking (8/23): 50th
Preseason Sagarin ranking (8/23): 40th

2. Liberty

Look, Liberty’s schedule in 2023 was soft, and the 2024 schedule doesn’t include a Power Four team. It’s soft again.

Don’t let the schedule fool you, though. Liberty has a good football team.

Would Liberty have run the table last year in the Sun Belt? Probably not, but the Flames beat the living heck out of Old Dominion. They absolutely would’ve contended for the league title. They also return their head coach, starting quarterback, and starting running back from a team that won 12 games last season.

Liberty is an overwhelming favorite to win CUSA, and a road win over App State on Sept. 28 could be enough to push Liberty into the College Football Playoff in 2024 if they don’t slip up elsewhere.

ESPN SP+ ranking: 48th
ESPN FPI ranking: 79th
Sagarin ranking: 59th

3. JMU

The Dukes lost most of their coaching staff and key contributors from a special 2023 team. Still, bringing in head coach Bob Chesney from Holy Cross and a strong transfer portal class means JMU can “reload” rather than “rebuild.”

A favorable schedule gives JMU high expectations once again. Road games with UNC and App State stand out as major tests, but winning 8, 9, or 10 games looks possible given a slate that includes games with Charlotte, Gardner-Webb, Ball State, ULM, and Southern Miss.

If JMU finishes the season first or second in this power ranking, it’ll be because the offensive and defensive lines live up to their potential. JMU looks great in the trenches on paper, and if those units stay healthy and reach their ceiling, the Dukes could win the Sun Belt. A one-loss or undefeated JMU could find itself in the CFP.

Due to the sheer volume of changes, however, the Dukes start 2024 one spot behind Liberty in our power ranking. We need to see the Dukes on the field before they break into the top two.

ESPN SP+ ranking: 56th
ESPN FPI ranking: 51st
Sagarin ranking: 71st

4. Virginia

It’s Year 3 of Tony Elliott, and Virginia fans are hopeful that might mean the Cavaliers are ready to make a bowl game. If they can’t, Elliott will likely enter Year 4 firmly on the hot seat. A disastrous Year 3 could even lead to his termination.

A lack of elite depth could doom UVA this fall, although the team’s projected starting unit looks competitive. The wide receivers are solid, with Chris Tyree and Malachi Fields both being mismatches. At quarterback, Anthony Colandrea could be the future of the program. Defensively, safety Jonas Sanker is one of the best players in the country. The starting defensive line should also compete at an above-average level in the ACC.

There are reasons for optimism in Charlottesville, but betting markets anticipate Virginia falling short of a bowl game. Virginia needs to win consistently before it breaks into the top 3 of the power ranking.

ESPN SP+ ranking: 78th
ESPN FPI ranking: 72nd
Sagarin ranking: 79th

5. Old Dominion

Ricky Rahne always seems to help Old Dominion outperform preseason expectations. He’ll need to do that again if the Monarchs want to make a bowl game.

Fortunately, ODU returns linebacker Jason Henderson, one of the nation’s best tacklers. There are a few really nice individual players on this team, but depth and questions along the offensive front might ruin the team’s bowl dreams.

A brutal opening schedule against South Carolina, East Carolina, and Virginia Tech could put the team in a major hole before the calendar flips to October.

ESPN SP+: 111th
ESPN FPI: 108th
Sagarin ranking: 108th

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications