With the division system being demolished in the ACC, Virginia Tech no longer has to battle all of the Coastal teams for a shot at the Championship game, all that the Hokies would need to do is finish top two in the conference based on their conference record, which basically means that Virginia Tech should consider how they played in their first four games, but throw that out of the window for now because a new season will start on Friday for the Hokies.

The woes for the Virginia Tech team have been apparent and unchanged, but they’d only need to sneak an upset win or two and take all of the toss-up games on the schedule.

Now, I’m not saying that Virginia Tech needs to or will upset Miami, but I will consider paths to the Championship Game, with and without a loss to Miami.

Starting with the most realistic scenario, which would be Virginia Tech losing to Miami. In that situation, Miami would likely be a lock to be the highest ranked team in the conference, but it would be between SMU, Clemson, Louisville, and Virginia Tech to all vie for the last spot. With that, Virginia Tech would simply have to win out, with the number of teams now in the ACC a two-loss team just wont make the Championship Game, that’s why programs like Georgia Tech are essentially out of the race.

That schedule looks daunting, but outside of Clemson most of those games are toss-ups. They play Stanford, Boston College, Syracuse, and Georgia Tech after the Miami game, all of which could go either way. Against Clemson they could be double-digit underdogs, but still a game they need to win, so anything can happen. Then, the Hokies will end the season against Duke and Virginia, two teams I think they will be favored against.

Now the other path for Virginia Tech depends entirely on a win against Miami this Friday. The Hokies would have to pull off likely one of the bigger upsets in the history of the ACC. If they can do that though, the path gets much easier. Because the Hokies knocked off Miami, there’s no undebatable number one team in the conference, so the Hokies could lose one or even two games considering that they would have a tie-breaker over Miami.

This is the lesser likely of the two scenarios, but who knows? It’s Friday Night Football, and we’ve seen that be a problem for favorites this season.

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — A Maryland judge on Wednesday indefinitely postponed a resentencing hearing for convicted sniper Lee Boyd Malvo, after Virginia rejected a request to temporarily let him out of prison to attend a court session in Maryland.

Malvo and his partner, John Allen Muhammad, shot and killed 10 people and wounded three others over a three-week span in October 2002 that terrorized the Washington, D.C., area. Multiple other victims were shot and killed across the country in the prior months as the duo made their way to the area around the nation’s capital from Washington state.

Malvo, who was 17 years old at the time of the shootings, was convicted of multiple counts of murder in Virginia and Maryland and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He has been serving his sentence in Virginia.

Muhammad, who was older than Malvo and was accused of manipulating him to to serve as a partner in the shootings, was executed in Virginia in 2009.

Since Malvo was initially sentenced, though, a series of Supreme Court rulings and changes in Maryland and Virginia law have severely limited or even abolished the ability to sentence minors to life in prison without parole.

In 2022, Maryland’s highest court ruled 4-3 that Malvo is entitled to a new sentencing hearing.

That hearing was scheduled to occur in December in Montgomery County, Maryland. But Malvo has insisted that he be allowed to attend that sentencing hearing in person, and his court-appointed lawyer argued that if isn’t allowed to do so, his guilty pleas in Maryland should be vacated and he should be given a new trial.

“He has a right to be here in person, and he’s not waiving it,” his lawyer, Michael Beach, said at Wednesday’s hearing.

Prosecutors said they made efforts to have Malvo transferred from a Virginia prison to attend a hearing, but those efforts were rejected.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s spokesman, Christian Martinez, confirmed after Wednesday’s hearing in a written statement that “(d)ue to his violent criminal history, Governor Youngkin’s position is that Mr. Malvo should complete his Virginia sentence before being transferred to Maryland for resentencing.”

With Malvo unavailable to attend in person, prosecutors said Malvo could either attend a hearing virtually or wait until he is released from custody in Virginia.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Sharon Burrell sided with prosecutors, She said that since Malvo insists on attending in person, and Virginia won’t release him, she had no choice but to indefinitely postpone the resentencing until he finishes serving his time in Virginia.

Malvo is serving a life sentence in Virginia, but is eligible for parole. A parole board rejected his most recent parole request in 2022.

Beach said after the hearing that he expects to pursue any appeal options available to him. He said during the proceedings that if the sentencing hearing is delayed for an extended period of time, he believes it raises due process issues that could require the Maryland charges against Malvo to be dismissed.

Malvo, who is 39, attended Wednesday’s hearing virtually, wearing a yellow prison uniform. He looked youthful, similar to his appearance at the time of his arrest.

Perhaps underscoring the difficulties of conducting a hearing over video, Wednesday’s hearing was delayed three times when the video hookup between the prison and courthouse disconnected.

Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said after the hearing that it’s too early to say what kind of prison term he would seek once Malvo is sentenced in Maryland. He said, though, that any prison term imposed on him in Maryland should be in addition to the time he served in Virginia, rather than giving Malvo credit for time served.

As fall weather sets in, Virginia Beach — which welcomes more than 13 million visitors annually — reveals its quieter, more relaxed side. Gone are the crowded beaches and long lines, replaced by serene shorelines and golden sunsets.

Visitors are treated to perfect weather for outdoor adventures like hiking through scenic trails, biking along coastal paths, and camping under the stars at places like First Landing State Park, winner of the 2024 Travelers’ Choice Award from Tripadvisor.

Fall festivals offer visitors a variety of experiences, including wine tastings, live music performances, and boardwalk art shows. The annual VA Beach Jeep Fest expands to four days this year. The Virginia Beach Neptune Festival celebrates its 50th year with parades, free concerts, craft shows, and local vendors. An annual highlight, the International Sand Sculpting Championship, kicks off this weekend.

In this season, local breweries begin crafting fall favorites, such as rich, malty Oktoberfest lagers, pumpkin-flavored beers, and refreshing hard ciders. It’s the perfect time to explore the Virginia Beach Beer Trail with family, friends, and even Fido!

During these months, seafood lovers are in for a treat as oyster harvesting season begins. Virginia, often called the “Oyster Capital of the East Coast,” sources a significant portion of its oysters from the waters surrounding Virginia Beach, including the Atlantic Ocean, Lynnhaven River, and Chesapeake Bay.

Want something scary? With its rich and storied past, Virginia Beach has many spooky spots to get you in the Halloween spirit. Virginia Beach is full of eerie tales and ghostly encounters, from colonial and Civil War-era sites to haunted historic hotels.

Outdoor Autumn Adventures

Virginia Beach offers many trails perfect for hiking and biking, especially during the cooler fall season when the leaves turn beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow.

First Landing State Park features a variety of paths that wind past lakes, cypress swamps, and salt marshes, while False Cape State Park provides a gateway into Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Both state parks also offer camping opportunities. First Landing accommodates tents and RVs and includes amenities like bathhouses, laundry facilities, a camp store, and beach access. For a little more comfort, rent a yurt or cabin.

False Cape State Park, only accessible by foot, bike, or boat, offers a more primitive experience with tent-only camping.

The city’s vast network of waterways makes kayaking an excellent way to experience the city’s coastal scenery. Among the best places for kayaking in Virginia Beach is the 64th Street entrance to First Landing State Park, or “The Narrows” to locals.

The generally calm waters make it the perfect spot for families with children. Other great options include Back Bay, the Chesapeake Bay, or the open waters of the Atlantic, where lucky sightseers often spot dolphins.

While fishing is always in season in Virginia Beach, the fall months are great for reeling in bluefish, king mackerel, striped bass, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna.

Popular spots for saltwater fishing include the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, offshore fishing charters from Rudee Inlet, the Lynnhaven River, and the Chesapeake Bay. Freshwater anglers can test their luck at spots like Stumpy Lake Natural Area, Lake Trashmore, and Lake Lawson/Lake Smith Natural Area.

Fall Festivals and Events

The annual Virginia Beach Neptune Festival features parades, live performances, sand sculpting competitions, Neptune’s 8K Race, volleyball tournaments, and more for an all-around beach life celebration.

Art lovers can look forward to the annual Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show, held over three days and featuring more than 175 artists from across the country. Meanwhile, the ViBe Art District will hold its annual Mural Festival, featuring 10 new murals over ten days.

Jeep enthusiasts can enjoy a dedicated long weekend during VA Beach Jeep Fest. More than 1,400 vehicles from 15 states gather to celebrate the brand with beach cruises, sand courses, and evening gatherings.

The Africana Arts & Music Festival is a lively celebration of African culture, showcasing art, music, and performances. This three-day event includes LIVE Poetry, Indie Soul artists, wine tastings, and community conversations.

Pumpkins & Pirates is a family-friendly Oceanfront event blending fall festivities with pirate-themed fun, including face painting, carnival games, and costume contests. Part of the “Wicked Weekend,” the festival coincides with the Old Point National Bank Wicked 10K race.

Seasonal Sips

Celebrate Virginia Spirits Month in September by exploring the Virginia Distillery Trail, where you can sample spirits from local distilleries, including smooth bourbons, handcrafted vodkas, and innovative gins.

Don’t forget to use the complimentary Virginia Spirits Mobile Passport to track your adventure and collect stamps at participating distilleries, like Chesapeake Bay Distillery and Tarnished Truth.

This October, indulge in Virginia Wine Month by visiting local wineries like Mermaid Winery and Love Song, where you can taste exquisite wines from the region’s finest vineyards.

Join the Virginia Bourbon Invitational in November at the Historic Cavalier Hotel to taste rare and limited-edition bourbons from top local distilleries. Enjoy a day of bourbon tastings, gourmet food pairings, and live music while learning from master distillers.

Spooky Experiences

The Cavalier Hotel is a rumored hotspot for ghostly encounters, including a phantom piano player and the apparition of Adolph Coors, who died on the property under mysterious circumstances in 1929. Guests have also reported seeing a vanished bellman and the sound of a ghostly cat scratching at doors. Book a stay this fall and find out for yourself!

The Ferry Plantation House, dating back to 1642, also purportedly houses ghostly residents, including colonial-era figures and a mourning woman named Sally Rebecca Walke. Be sure to book your tour in advance.

Similarly, the Thoroughgood House holds playful spirits known to move objects around the property. Visitors often report seeing a red-haired woman in colonial attire and a man in a brown suit. Book a Ghosts of Thoroughgood Past tour and explore by candlelight.

Many believe the spirit of a bride and other less-friendly male ghosts haunt Princess Anne Country Club. Reports of ghostly 1920s music and unexplained sounds of shuffling dinner table settings heighten the spooky atmosphere.

Fall in Love with Virginia Beach this Autumn

Fall is the perfect season for a Virginia Beach getaway, offering lively festivals, outdoor adventures, seasonal flavors, and spooky experiences. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit and fall in love with the city’s coastal charm and creative vibes.

Alexandrea Sumuel Groves is a nationally syndicated travel writer who collaborates with destinations, hotels, and hospitality firms to provide fellow travelers with exclusive insights and information.