Ayden Greene had his best game to date in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, with six catches, 115 yards and this impressive leap in the first half. (Ivan Morozov)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Let’s be honest: The Hokies weren’t winning that one.

You’re not supposed to say that in the “next-man-up” culture that permeates college football. Backups are ostensibly extensions of the starters, expected to go in and perform adequately at a moment’s notice.

But let’s be real: That doesn’t always happen. There’s usually a dropoff. And it’s certainly a task made tougher when you’re replacing not one or two starters, but 14, as the Hokies were Friday night in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

So color me not shocked that Virginia Tech came up short in a 24-10 loss to Minnesota that sent the Hokies to their second losing season in three years under Brent Pry and was the program’s 13th straight defeat against a non-conference Power 4 program, dating back to 2017.

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