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
South Carolina (in Atlanta)
Vanderbilt
Old Dominion
Wofford
at NC State
Wake Forest
at Georgia Tech
California
Louisville
at Florida State
Miami
at Virginia
Virginia Tech Game by Game Predictions
Final Regular Season Record: 6-6 (3-5 in the ACC) Expected finish: 9th in the ACC
Let’s look at this season in a glass half full, glass half empty perspective. If you’re looking at it half-empty, then Virginia Tech took a very talented team that only went 6-6 this year. The half-full view is that Brent Pry keeps reloading talent and producing a much more talented and deeper team than Virginia Tech has had in many years. Keep loading up on talent and eventually that will turn into a good season. The question is how much more time does Brent Pry get to do that?
Let’s get something out of the way first. This is essentially a first look at Virginia Tech’s 2025 team. Transfers have gone. NFL prospects are sitting out. We’re basically getting Virginia Tech’s second string against whatever Minnesota decides to trot out. Watch with low expectations and keep an eye on which young guys stand out for Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech isn’t Pinstripe Bowl levels of bad. I think they will be trotting enough talent to be able to be competitive and maybe even possibly win. But I wouldn’t count on it. My guess is this game looks more like the Military Bowl last year but Tech is playing the role of Tulane. They can keep it close for most of the game with Minnesota pulling away late.
I don’t have a lot of analysis here because the teams are so different than their regular season forms but I will say I don’t like the look of our OL. Expect Pop Watson to be under duress early and often in this one. This is a game where Tech will need to scheme a lot of roll-outs, screen passes and draws against what should be an aggressive defensive line.
If I was the Hokies’ coaching staff, I’d go out and play with house money and put on a show. Trick plays galore and let the young guys have fun. I know folks who paid a lot of money to travel to Charlotte don’t want to hear that but that’s the best we’re likely to offer. Just have fun and treat it like a more fun version of the Spring Game.
This game is likely to end in a lopsided win for Minnesota. What Tech should focus on is having fun and getting tape on their young players. Bowl games have turned into glorified exhibitions (whispers: they’ve always been). Tech should max-out the fun element in a game whose outcome is a bath in mayonnaise. Don’t worry so much about the scoreboard and take heart the philosophy “f*** it, we ball.” Nothing really to lose, everything to gain. Play with house money in this one.
Last year, I went 9-3 with my Game Week predictions and once again this year I went 9-3 with my Game Week predictions. It’s definitely easier to get a read on a team once they’ve played a few games, not to mention the help of advanced stats and Vegas lines. Virginia Tech underperformed this year but I generally had a good read on them week-to-week. What I couldn’t predict were coaching gaffes and late-game defensive meltdowns.
Things have really started to fall apart on Brent Pry. This season kicked off with so much promise. And now we’re finishing in only what could be considered a worst-case scenario for the season. It’s not unusual for Virginia Tech to find themselves needing a win in the last game of the season to make a bowl. What makes it so unusual this season is that the expectations were so much higher. This season can only be categorized as a massive flop. There is going to have to be a lot of soul searching going on at Merryman this offseason.
SP+ Rankings
Virginia Tech
Overall: 31st Offense: 41st Defense: 40th Special Teams: 41st
Virginia
Overall: 81st Offense: 88th Defense: 80th Special Teams: 66th
Virginia has a decent passing offense when they have time to throw. They are one of the worst teams in the country at protecting the quarterback. This is a game where APR and the defensive line should shine. QB Anthony Colandrea has been going through a rough stretch lately and he took 9 sacks in his last game vs SMU. If Tech can keep pressure on him, they should be able to rattle him and maybe force him into a couple of mistakes. His play early on is something to keep an eye on.
Virginia gives up a lot of yards through the air. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they will likely be playing Pop Watson who does not appear to be a seasoned passer. This may be a game where Tech needs to get creative in ways they run the football. Run the ball as many different ways as you can come up with. Virginia Tech really struggled to run the ball against Duke. This week, their best gameplan will be to establish the run early and often since the pass game doesn’t seem like it’s an option with Pop Watson behind center.
These rivalry games with Virginia are always weird. They are very difficult to predict. The uncommon becomes common in these games. All things being equal, I think Virginia Tech has more talent. However, Tech has a head coach who can’t coach his way out of a wet paper bag. So who knows what happens? I pick these games by looking at what the teams look like on paper. And on paper, it looks like a 11- point victory for the Hokies. That doesn’t mean it’ll happen though.
This week we are joined by HoosFootball for our second annual HATE WEEK Q&A. He has been a long-time follower of UVA football. If you take a look at this website, HoosFootball.com, you’ll see a ton of great information on the history of UVA football. In addition to that, he’s a talented podcaster himself, as one of the hosts of the Message Board Geniuses podcast. Enjoy!
The Hokies missed a big opportunity to get their season back on track against Clemson. The defense played pretty well but the offense couldn’t do anything. To salvage the rest of this season, the Hokies have to go 2-0 in their last two games. Even then, this season would still be considered a pretty big disappointment. But it would likely keep Brent Pry and maybe his coordinators off the hot seat going into the offseason.
SP+ Rankings
Virginia Tech
Overall: 29th Offense: 37th Defense: 33rd Special Teams: 37th
Duke
Overall: 43rd Offense: 70th Defense: 25th Special Teams: 89th
Duke has a pretty strong passing offense led by QB Maalik Murphy. He’s been consistent about putting up good numbers in just about every game this season. The good news for the Hokies is that he is not a running quarterback. If Tech’s talented secondary can slow down Duke’s passing attack, that would go a long way toward the Hokies getting a win in this game.
Duke’s defense is the strength of their team. Particularly by stopping the pass game. They have a talented secondary that is only giving up 191 yards through the air per game. This is a game where Tech needs to stick to the run game. If Tech can run the ball consistently, they should have good results against this defense. This is a game where Tech should be able to move the ball on the ground regardless of who is available at running back.
Duke is 7-3 against a pretty soft schedule. They are certainly better than a lot of people expected this year but it looks like they are over-performing against a weak schedule. That’s not to say Duke isn’t a good team because I think they are. But they might be getting more credit than they deserve. If the Hokies can run the ball and stop the pass, they should be able to get out of Durham with a win. The Hokies are 7-1 in Durham since joining the ACC. This is a good opportunity for Brent Pry to get his first one-score victory this season.
A couple of things before we move on to Clemson. First, it is completely unacceptable to blow a 21 to 3 lead halfway through the third quarter. Doesn’t matter if you’re playing an FCS team or the #1 team in the country. Secondly, no one will take this coaching staff seriously until they can win a one-score game. They are 1-11 in one-score games and that one win wasn’t REALLY a one score game. If you remember, Virginia Tech kneeled the ball against Liberty on the goal line for the win. They could’ve easily score to win by two touchdowns. These coaches need to prove they can win a one-score game or they’ll be gone from Virginia Tech sooner than later.
SP+ Rankings
Virginia Tech
Overall: 27th Offense: 31st Defense: 37th Special Teams: 24th
Clemson
Overall: 15th Offense: 11th Defense: 25th Special Teams: 124th
ClemsonRB Phil Mafah is a beast and the Hokies will have a tough time tackling him. He is a big back with good speed. He’s Clemson’s version of Derrick Henry. And for a team that has trouble tackling at times, he should look like a nightmare for the Hokies. This offense looks a lot like the Syracuse offense that torched the Hokies defense last week. This is a good opportunity for the Hokies to show that they’ve improved on that performance from last week. The biggest task this week is stopping the run.
This isn’t the Clemson defense of old. In fact, it looks like they’ve taken multiple steps back from the Brent Venables days. At this point, I’d call them an average ACC defense but that doesn’t mean they don’t still have a couple of All-ACC talents. If Tuten and Drones are healthy, I definitely think they can move the ball against this defense. The biggest thing is don’t get behind big or early on the scoreboard. If Tech is able to run the ball and doesn’t have to chase the game from behind. They’ve got a good shot in this game.
Clemson is the best team the Hokies will play this year despite their issues this year. If I felt good about a 100% healthy Kyron Drones and Bhayshul Tuten, I might feel better about thinking Tech could win in a shootout. But with lingering injury concerns and even questions about if they will actually play, I’m leaning Clemson here. I’m also leaning Clemson because I don’t think the Hokies defense will be able to stop Phil Mafah. I think he will have 100+ yards on the ground this week. That should make life easier on QB Cade Klubnick. The Hokies will hang around in this game and it’ll be close. But ultimately I think Phil Mafah and the Clemson running game will be able to wear out the Hokies defense late in the game. I also have ZERO faith in this coaching staff to win a one-score game.
Virginia Tech proved on Saturday they can win a game even when the offense isn’t producing. Georgia Tech did a nice job of stopping the run but the Hokies need to prove they can move the ball with the passing game. This week’s game against Syracuse is a good opportunity to show that the passing game can make plays.
SP+ Rankings
Virginia Tech
Overall: 24th Offense: 34th Defense: 29th Special Teams: 21st
Syracuse
Overall: 61st Offense: 47th Defense: 63rd Special Teams: 106th
Syracuse’s offense was BAD last time out. QB Kyle McCord threw five interceptions against Pitt. I wouldn’t call that a normal performance for this offense. They got down 31-0 in the first half and McCord had to throw the ball 64 times! Syracuse usually likes to throw the ball a lot and they have a very good passing offense. This is a game where Tech’s secondary will need to be able to make plays against Syracuse’s receivers. They like to spread the ball to a lot of receivers including tight ends and running backs. Tech has to be ready for an air raid offense that they haven’t seen thus far this year. The good news is that McCord is not a running QB. So Tech will face a more traditional pro style offense this week in what feels like the first time this year.
Syracuse has a solid defense. Good against the run. Not great against the pass. Tech should not abandon the running game — especially not with Bhayshul Tuten available. But this is a game where Kyron Drones is going to have to hit some passes downfield. The running game alone will not win this game. Tech needs to be able to find balance offensively. A stout running game is a great thing to have but they cannot be one-dimensional. Tech needs to bring Jaylin Lane, Da’Quan Felton and Ali Jennings out of the witness protection program. Tech has weapons and they need to use them in this game.
The Carrier Dome gives me nightmares. There are always weird vibes up there. Last time out in 2016, Virginia Tech took a ranked team there and lost by 14. It’s a strange environment to play in but the players need to be focused on football and nothing else. No cockiness. Just show up ready to play from the opening whistle. A workman-like effort like they had against Stanford. Tech is the better team. I actually think the matchup works in Tech’s favor. The biggest thing is not to let the ghosts of the Carrier Dome take them down. Avoid a turnover fest or a major special teams meltdown and this should be a win.
Virginia Tech looks like the team we expected in the preseason. Bhayshul Tuten is a special player and will be playing on Sundays next year. APR is the best pass rusher since Daryl Tapp. This team is still only 4-3 but they look like they’ve turned the corner. They are playing good football even if they still can’t string together four quarters of quality football.
SP+ Rankings
Virginia Tech
Overall: 25th Offense: 30th Defense: 40th Special Teams: 26th
Georgia Tech
Overall: 48th Offense: 28th Defense: 67th Special Teams: 121st
Georgia Tech has a good, balanced offense this season. GT’s regular starting QB, Haynes King, is likely out for this game. Meaning his backup, Zach Pyron, will probably get the start. Pyron is a solid QB. He started the game in Blacksburg in 2022 and got a win. The Tech defense he will be playing this weekend doesn’t look much like the defense two years ago. Expect the GT offense to take a slight step back with Pyron under center instead of King.
Georgia Tech’s defense reminds me a lot of BC’s. Generally stout against the run and susceptible to passes downfield. The Hokies should follow the same game plan as the BC game. Establish Bhayshul Tuten early and often which will open up plays downfield. This offense is at it’s best when they are running the ball with Tuten and Drones. The threat of the run game from both of those guys opens opportunities for others to get involved in the offense. When Tech is running the ball, that’s when this offense is clicking.
Georgia Tech is a solid team. The Hokies need to be ready to play in this one. Even at full strength, I still think I’d pick the Hokies in this game. But going against Georgia Tech without Haynes King, I like VT even more. The most important thing is to keep the momentum going from the last two games. The Hokies still have all their goals in front of them if they can keep winning but that involves not taking any weeks off. They gotta keep this good momentum going.
treadmillhorse 
