A smile finally peaked through, the first of Justin Fuente's post-ACC championship game media session lasting 15 minutes. Isaiah Ford had essentially repeated an answer Fuente had just given, and perhaps a second opinion would end the narrative that Virginia Tech was playing against Clemson with house money and should be content with just a division title.

"To be honest, I can’t really think about that right now," Ford answered when asked to sum up the progress the Hokies made in Fuente’s first season. "It’s a tough loss and I really wanted to win this game, especially for our seniors, so I’m sorry. I can’t really answer that one."

Minutes before, a similar question was posed to Fuente. The day before the Dec. 4 championship game, he appeared to almost take offense at a question suggesting Clemson was the only team that had something to lose in Orlando, Florida. The questions suggested Virginia Tech had done enough in 2016 to declare the season a success regardless of the postseason results.

"You’re asking me after we just lost a conference championship game by seven points if I’m happy with our season," Fuente lectured.

The point the Hokies were trying to make is their season did not end with a Coastal Division championship. A conference title and bowl game remained, and the Hokies want to end the season with 10 wins and ranked in the final AP poll for the first time since 2011. At 9-4 and No. 18 in the AP poll, a win against Arkansas in the Belk Bowl (5:30 p.m. ESPN) secures both.

From 1995-2011, the Hokies had 13 seasons that ended with at least 10 wins and a final ranking. It happened eight straight times beginning in 2004, the program’s first season in the ACC. That run ended in 2011, the year before the redshirt seniors like Ken Ekanem arrived.

"Coming in and getting recruited, 10-win seasons were a regular here at Virginia Tech," Ekanem said. "Getting us back on the map and playing in these tough games and having a really great season is special. I think we did our job as seniors of getting Tech back on the map."

If the Hokies beat the Razorbacks, it will be without starting defensive end Vinny Mihota, who is fourth on the team in tackles for a loss. A lingering shoulder injury will sideline Mihota against an offense that is among three Power 5 teams with a 3,100-yard passer and 1,300-yard rusher.

Alabama has conceded only 15 touchdowns this season, but Arkansas scored four of them. Austin Allen is second in the SEC with 3,152 yards passing, and Rawleigh Williams led the SEC entering bowl season with 1,326 yards on the ground. In the Hokies' nine wins, they have allowed an average of only 116 rushing yards. That number jumps to 222 yards in their four losses.

"They do so many things well when you look at them on offense. They can run the ball. Their quarterback is playing really well," Fuente said. "It’s going to be a heckuva challenge for us to hopefully limit the run game and try to eliminate big plays down the field."

Beat Arkansas, win 10 games and lock down a place in the AP Top 25, and then Fuente might be willing to reflect on a job well done in his first season.