They were champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference after winning the Coastal Division and defeating Florida State 44–33 in the 2010 ACC Championship Game.

The 2010 Hokies were only the second-ever team ranked in the AP Poll to lose to a FCS opponent (James Madison).

The loss was the team's second in six days, as it also lost to then #3 ranked Boise State at FedExField in Landover, MD in a nationally televised Monday night contest.

After the JMU loss, Tech reeled off ten straight wins and became the first team to go undefeated in ACC play since Florida State in 2000.

Tech played Stanford in the Discover Orange Bowl after they beat Florida State 44–33 in the 2010 ACC Championship Game.