West Virginia and Virginia Tech will renew their rivalry

The West Virginia Mountaineers and Virginia Tech Hokies haven't met on the gridiron since 2005. The schools were once Big East football rivals, but the Hokies departed for the ACC in 2004 and the Mountaineers left for the Big 12 in 2012.

The two schools have decided to renew the battle for the Black Diamond Trophy in 2021. The Mountaineers will host the Hokies that season before returning to Blacksburg in 2022.

"During my three years as Athletic Director at West Virginia University, I have heard from legions of Mountaineer fans, particularly those in the Southern part of the state, who have expressed their strong sentiments to renew the football rivalry with Virginia Tech," West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck said in an official release. "This game is great for college football. We all know that the two schools have extraordinary fan bases, and both schools will be counting down the days until the Hokies and the Mountaineers meet again.

"I want to thank Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver and Coach Frank Beamer for their efforts in helping to get the two teams back on the football field. It will be a great day for all involved when the rivalry is renewed."

Right now the only way the teams will meet is in a bowl game. The series has been played 51 times, beginning in 1912 with West Virginia holding a 28-22-1 advantage. When the series ceased in 2005, the Hokies and Mountaineers had played every year since 1973.

This is a good East coast football rivalry, but since rampant realignment has kicked in a lot of rivalries are going bye-bye.