Belk Bowl 2016 Set: Virginia Tech Hokies And Arkansas Razorbacks Set To Play In Charlotte

“I think just going from single digits to double digits is a big thing, especially around here,” wide receiver Cam Phillips said. “A lot of people weren’t expecting us to be right here in this position — win the Coastal, play for an ACC championship.

“I think 10 wins will be like the big thing to how successful our season was.”

The Hokies could have won Saturday’s game, but their potential game-winning drive stalled out at the Clemson 23-yard line in the final minutes.

Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente said he “absolutely” would have gone for a two-point conversion had the Hokies reached the end zone.

However, Virginia Tech knows they can’t dwell on that loss and have to look ahead.

“There aren’t many moral victories,” running back Sam Rogers said. “A loss is a loss. We felt like we had a chance to win the game and we didn’t. But just the way our team responded is really encouraging.”

Defensive tackle Woody Baron is one of the Hokies’ key players. His 17.6 tackles for loss rank fifth in the ACC.

Arkansas, meanwhile, is tied for fifth in the SEC West.

Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen had a strong first season as the team’s starter, finishing second in the SEC in passing yards (3,152) and touchdown passes (23), although his interception total (12) was tied for the league lead with Tennessee’s Josh Dobbs. Allen was also the most-sacked QB in the SEC (28).

Arkansas ended their season with brutal losses in two of their final three games, including a 28-24 loss to Missouri when the Razorbacks led 24-7.

Hokies players didn’t know much about the Razorbacks before the Belk Bowl announcement came Sunday night, but they’ve heard some things.

“They’re in the SEC and they’ve got a lot of big bodies,” Phillips said. “I believe their coach came from Wisconsin, so those guys have some size on them. Being from the SEC, I know they have some athletes, so it should be a really good challenge.”

That coach is Bret Bielema, who in four years is 25-25 with Arkansas and has a tendency to get himself in some kind of flap with opponents and/or their coaches. This time, it was leaving VIrginia Tech off his final regular-season ballot in the USA Today coaches poll.

The Hokies finished 19th in the poll, regardless, just one spot below where they were before the Clemson loss.

ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 03: Jerod Evans #4 of the Virginia Tech Hokies calls a play during the ACC Championship against the Clemson Tigers on December 3, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)