Virginia Tech's 2011 football schedule has been released. The Hokies will play six games at home and six on the road. The schedule features two huge games in Lane Stadium in early October, and the usual November Thursday night contests.

For the first time in quite awhile, the Hokies do not have a high-profile opponent in the month of September. However, the months of October and November will be interesting, as usual.

The September schedule features two home games the Hokies shouldn't have any trouble winning, against Appalachian State and Arkansas State. Road trips to East Carolina and Marshall could be traps, but Tech does outclass both of those teams in terms of talent. Overall, it's a good schedule to break in a new starting quarterback.

By September 1, Logan Thomas better be ready, because the Hokies will host Clemson and Miami on back-to-back Saturdays to open the month. Road trips to Wake Forest and Duke will sandwich a home game against Boston College to close the month.

The Hokies will get their bye week in the first week of November. They'll close the season with a Thursday night road game at Georgia Tech, a Thursday night home game against UNC, and the trip to UVA. If Tech is fortunate enough to win the Coastal Division, they will play for the ACC Championship in Charlotte on December 3.

After playing four non-conference teams to open the 2011 season, the Hokies will close the year playing eight straight ACC opponents. Their last four games of the season come against Coastal Division teams, so expect the Coastal to be decided sometime between October 29 and November 26. Their biggest competition in the Coastal Division will be Miami, and that will be Tech's second ACC game, on October 8.

TSL will have more in-depth coverage of Virginia Tech's 2011 football schedule throughout the week.

To discuss the schedule with other Hokie football fans, please visit our TSL Football Message Board.