Virginia Tech will be without the services of senior starting cornerback Stephan Virgil against Tennessee in the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.

Virgil won't play in the game because he's been ruled academically ineligible under NCAA guidelines.

It's a tough finish to a difficult season for Virgil. The senior from Rocky Mount, N.C., missed two games this season for a bruised left knee, an injury that he sustained making a tackle on the final play of Tech's 34-24 loss to Alabama in the Sept. 5 season opener in Atlanta.