2025 Virginia Tech Season Preview

Last season left a lot to be desired. Brent Pry’s team showed flashes of progress but stumbled in close games, finishing with more questions than answers. Now, Year 3 feels like a crossroads. With new coordinators in place (OC Philip Montgomery and DC Sam Siefkes) and a retooled roster, Pry must prove that his rebuild has real momentum—or risk being remembered as another false start in Blacksburg. The good news? Many of Tech’s losses were by a single score. The margin between pretenders and contenders might be slimmer than it appears.

Coaching Staff:

This season is all about Brent Pry. Can he win close games? Can he inspire confidence with his late game decision-making? How will his offseason moves look on the field? If Brent Pry can’t win with these new coordinators, his time might be up in Blacksburg.

Offense:

Kyron Drones remains the engine of this offense, and his health will determine how far the Hokies can go. At his best last season, he showed flashes of being a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, but nagging injuries limited his consistency. If he can stay on the field and get reliable support from the playmakers around him, his ceiling is as high as any QB in the ACC. But if he goes down again, Virginia Tech’s hopes for the season could unravel quickly.

With Bhayshul Tuten off to the NFL, Virginia Tech turned to the transfer portal to reload its backfield—and the newcomers bring plenty of intrigue. Terion Stewart headlines the group, a powerful runner with the potential to make a Tuten-level impact right away. Behind him, Braydon Bennett and Marcellous Hawkins add depth and versatility, giving the Hokies a rotation that should keep defenses honest and the ground game productive.

The wide receiver room gets a major boost from the additions of Donovan Greene and Cameron Seldon, two proven veterans who can make an immediate impact. Their presence should stabilize the passing game and take pressure off the younger receivers, who are still developing and largely unproven. With this mix of experience and upside, Kyron Drones has a balanced group of weapons to lean on—something that could make the difference in close games.

The offensive line should take a clear step forward this season—bank on it. With veteran coach Matt Moore now leading the group, the Hokies expect a return to the kind of physical, disciplined line play that defined the Vance Vice era. Fans should be encouraged: this unit looks ready to provide the stability and toughness the offense has been missing.

Defense:

The defense will feature plenty of new faces this season, which brings both risk and opportunity. With a new coordinator in charge, it may take time for the unit to gel, but considering last year’s struggles, a fresh start could be exactly what this group needs. The bar isn’t high, and with the right leadership, there’s significant room for growth on this side of the ball.

Up front, the defensive line looks steady, if not star-powered. There may not be an All-ACC caliber disruptor like APR this year, but the group has four dependable contributors who should keep the pressure consistent. Expect sack production to be more evenly spread across the unit. The transfer additions at defensive end bring needed juice off the edge and should help elevate the pass rush.

Linebacker play, on the other hand, has been a glaring weakness. Under Chris Marve, the group consistently underperformed, struggling with both assignments and tackling. The hope is that a new defensive coordinator can breathe life into the unit. If the linebackers find their footing, this could be a much improved defense.

The secondary might quietly be the strength of this team. There’s a healthy blend of veteran presence and emerging talent, plus enough depth to rotate without major drop-off. While it may not be an elite group on the ACC level, it projects as solidly above average and should show noticeable improvement from last year.

Ultimately, the linebackers will decide how far this defense can go. If Sam Siefkes can unlock their potential, the Hokies could once again field the kind of tough, reliable defense fans have come to expect. If not, this unit risks another year of middling results.

Key Players to Watch

Quarterback Kyron Drones: If Drones returns to his 2023 form, this offense can go places.

Running Back Terion Stewart: Bhayshul Tuten left a big hole on this roster. We need Stewart to be the bowling ball running back that Tuten was.

Defensive Ends Ben Bell and James Djonkam: APR’s production needs to be replaced by these two transfer additions. We need to see big results from both of these guys.

Non-Conference Matchups:

Virginia Tech’s non-conference slate is manageable but not without challenges. The showdown with South Carolina looms large, offering a chance at a statement win against a Top 25 opponent. Vanderbilt’s visit to Blacksburg should be competitive, especially with dynamic quarterback Diego Pavia under center. Beyond that, Old Dominion and Wofford at home are must-win games the Hokies can’t afford to slip on.

ACC Outlook:

Virginia Tech is picked to finish 11th in the ACC preseason poll. That sounds about right given the schedule. Tech should finish in the middle of the pack in the ACC.

Conclusion:

This season feels like a defining moment for Brent Pry and Virginia Tech football. The Hokies have the pieces to take a meaningful step forward: a dual-threat quarterback with untapped potential, fresh playmakers from the transfer portal, and a defense hungry for redemption. But the schedule won’t offer many freebies, and bowl eligibility may once again come down to the final weeks.

If Pry can guide this team to 7 or 8 wins, he’ll buy himself real momentum and silence the whispers about his future. If the Hokies stumble to another 6–6—or worse—it may be time for some changes in Blacksburg.

Tough games (<40% chance to win)

South Carolina and Miami. Both games should have the Hokies as two-score underdogs.

Toss-up games (50-50 games)

Vanderbilt. NC State. Georgia Tech. Louisville. Florida State. These games are the difference between 10-2 and 5-7.

Should win games (>60% to win)

Old Dominion. Wofford. Wake Forest. California. Virginia. If the Hokies can win these five games, they only need to win one more to be bowl eligible.

Key games for the Hokies: South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Miami

Upset Alert: at NC State

Game By Game Predictions