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1986 Virginia Tech

9–⁠2–⁠1, coached by Bill Dooley, finished No. 20 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Virginia Tech in 1986, game by game: lost vs. Cincinnati 20–24; won at Clemson 20–14; won at Syracuse 26–17; won vs. East Tennessee State 37–10; won vs. West Virginia 13–7; tied vs. South Carolina 27–27; lost vs. Temple 13–29; won vs. Virginia 42–10; won vs. Kentucky 17–15; won at Richmond 17–10; won vs. Vanderbilt 29–21; won vs. No. 18 NC State 25–24+32−16Lost 20–24 vs. Cincinnati-4CincinnatiWon 20–14 at Clemson+6ClemsonWon 26–17 at Syracuse+9SyracuseWon 37–10 vs. East Tennessee State+27East Tennessee …Won 13–7 vs. West Virginia+6West VirginiaTied 27–27 vs. South Carolina0South CarolinaLost 13–29 vs. Temple-16TempleWon 42–10 vs. Virginia+32VirginiaWon 17–15 vs. Kentucky+2KentuckyWon 17–10 at Richmond+7RichmondWon 29–21 vs. Vanderbilt+8VanderbiltWon 25–24 vs. No. 18 NC State+1No. 18 NC State
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 6vsCincinnatiL 20–⁠2472%
Sep 13atClemsonW 20–⁠1440%
Sep 20atSyracuseW 26–⁠1748%
Sep 27vsEast Tennessee StateW 37–⁠1087%
Oct 4vsWest VirginiaW 13–⁠764%
Oct 11vsSouth CarolinaT 27–⁠2775%
Oct 18vsTempleL 13–⁠2956%
Oct 25vsVirginiaW 42–⁠1069%
Nov 1vsKentuckyW 17–⁠1569%
Nov 8atRichmondW 17–⁠1079%
Nov 15vsVanderbiltW 29–⁠2186%
Dec 31Bowls & playoffvs18NC StatePeach BowlW 25–⁠2459%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat NC State 25–⁠24 in the Peach Bowl; No. 20 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 28th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 123 on file).

AP poll, week by week

  1. Final: 20
Record
9–⁠2–⁠1
Conference
—
AP final
No. 20 peak No. 20
Points
286–⁠208
Coach
Bill Dooley
Elo
1596 +53 this season
SP+ rating
2.4 No. 52 of 101; offense No. 56, defense No. 39
SRS
4.9 No. 37 of 105 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Defensive coordinator
Bob Brush