# 2012 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

The 2012 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by 26th year head coach Frank Beamer and played their home games at Lane Stadium. They were a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in ACC play to finish in fourth place in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Russell Athletic Bowl where they defeated Rutgers in overtime.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 8:00 p.m. | Georgia Tech | No. 15 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA (Battle of the Techs) | ESPN | W 20–17 $^{OT}$ | 65,632 |
| September 8 | 1:30 p.m. | Austin Peay* | No. 15 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ESPN3 | W 42–7 | 65,632 |
| September 15 | 12:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh* | No. 13 | Heinz FieldPittsburgh, PA | ESPNU | L 17–35 | 48,032 |
| September 22 | 12:00 p.m. | Bowling Green* | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ESPNU | W 37–0 | 65,632 |
| September 29 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Cincinnati* | | FedExFieldLandover, MD | ESPNU | L 24–27 | 46,026 |
| October 6 | 12:30 p.m. | at North Carolina | | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ACCN | L 34–48 | 54,000 |
| October 13 | 12:30 p.m. | Duke | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN | W 41–20 | 65,632 |
| October 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Clemson | | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC | ABC/ESPN2 | L 17–38 | 83,338 |
| November 1 | 7:30 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | | Sun Life StadiumMiami Gardens, FL (rivalry) | ESPN | L 12–30 | 37,219 |
| November 8 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 8 Florida State | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ESPN | L 22–28 | 65,632 |
| November 17 | 12:30 p.m. | at Boston College | | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA (rivalry) | ACCN | W 30–23 $^{OT}$ | 34,266 |
| November 24 | 12:00 p.m. | Virginia | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA (Commonwealth Cup) | ESPNU | W 17–14 | 65,632 |
| December 28 | 5:30 p.m. | vs. Rutgers* | | Florida Citrus Bowl StadiumOrlando, FL (Russell Athletic Bowl) | ESPN | W 13–10 $^{OT}$ | 48,127 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Entering the 2012 season, Virginia Tech was ranked No. 16 in the AP and No. 20 Coaches' Preseason Polls. The Hokies rose all the way to No. 13 by Week 3, before dropping out of the polls completely after a 35-17 loss to Pitt.
Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 16 | 15 | 13 | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | 20 | 18 | 13 | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |