The Hokies won their next eight games, finishing the season with a 10–2 record.[11] With late-season wins over perennial rival, 16th-ranked Virginia,[12] and fellow ACC newcomer, ninth-ranked Miami,[13] Virginia Tech clinched the ACC football championship (the last year in which it would be decided without a conference championship game) and a bid to a Bowl Championship Series game.[4] Because the ACC's normal bowl destination, the Orange Bowl, was hosting the national championship game, Virginia Tech was selected to attend the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, instead.