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Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech: Game Preview

Saturday, October 17, 2026 • 3:30 PM ET • Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA • ACC Network

Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech

Two weeks ago, Virginia Tech was 4-0, riding the momentum of an undefeated September, and Hokie fans were beginning to entertain the possibility that James Franklin might have this program ahead of schedule.

Two weeks and two heartbreaking losses later, the Hokies are 4-2, sitting at 1-2 in ACC play, and desperately searching for answers.

The 35-33 loss to Pittsburgh was frustrating enough. Virginia Tech had opportunities to win that game and couldn’t finish. But last Saturday’s 25-20 loss at California was arguably worse. The Hokies traveled across the country, struggled to establish any consistency, and somehow managed to take the lead with just over a minute remaining before watching Cal march down the field for the game-winning touchdown.

For the second consecutive week, Virginia Tech found a way to lose a game it had every opportunity to win.

Now comes Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets enter Saturday’s Homecoming matchup with a 2-3 record, but they’re coming off a dramatic 28-25 victory over Duke. Brent Key’s team has struggled through the first half of the season, but there’s enough talent on the roster to make the Hokies uncomfortable.

And if recent history has taught us anything, it’s that Virginia Tech doesn’t need much help making itself uncomfortable.

The good news? The Hokies return to Lane Stadium, where they’ll play in front of their fourth consecutive sellout crowd.

The bad news? Georgia Tech has won four of its last five trips to Blacksburg.

Saturday represents an opportunity to stop the bleeding, regain some confidence, and prevent a promising season from spiraling into another exercise in frustration.

Because with a trip to Clemson looming next weekend, a third consecutive loss would change the entire conversation surrounding James Franklin’s first season.

What Happened to the 4-0 Hokies?

The most frustrating part of Virginia Tech’s two-game losing streak isn’t necessarily that the Hokies have lost. It’s how they’ve lost.

Against Pittsburgh, the Hokies scored 33 points and still couldn’t escape with a victory. Against California, they held a 20-19 lead with 1:15 remaining before surrendering a touchdown with 18 seconds left.

That’s two conference losses by a combined seven points.

And while there’s a temptation to dismiss close losses as bad luck, Virginia Tech has repeatedly made the kinds of mistakes that turn potential victories into defeats.

Penalties. Missed kicks. Defensive breakdowns. Inability to execute in critical moments.

The encouraging part is that this team isn’t getting blown off the field. The concerning part is that it hasn’t demonstrated an ability to consistently close games against competent ACC competition.

The Offense: Grunkemeyer Continues to Produce

For all the frustration surrounding the past two weeks, Virginia Tech’s offense has been one of the more encouraging developments of the James Franklin era.

Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer leads the ACC with 1,734 passing yards through six games and has thrown 12 touchdowns against just two interceptions.

The Hokies are averaging 37.7 points per game, the third-highest total in the conference.

Those numbers suggest an offense capable of competing with just about anyone on Virginia Tech’s schedule.

But the California game exposed an important distinction between accumulating statistics and consistently executing.

Virginia Tech scored just 20 points against the Golden Bears, and the offense struggled to maintain rhythm throughout the afternoon.

Grunkemeyer eventually delivered what should have been the decisive score, a one-yard touchdown run that gave the Hokies the lead late in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, the defense couldn’t finish the job.

Against Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech should have opportunities to move the football. The Yellow Jackets are allowing nearly 389 yards per game, placing them among the ACC’s weaker defenses.

The challenge will be converting those opportunities into touchdowns rather than settling for field-goal attempts.

Which brings us to…

The Special Teams: A Growing Concern

John Love entered the season as one of Virginia Tech’s most dependable players.

Now the kicking game has become a legitimate concern.

Love missed a potential game-winning field goal against Pittsburgh and followed that performance with two more misses against California.

That’s three consecutive missed field goals in two games decided by a combined seven points.

James Franklin has publicly supported Love while acknowledging that competition at the position remains open, with Will Love and Cole Byrd among the alternatives.

Punter Nathan Totten has also struggled, averaging approximately 41 yards per punt.

Virginia Tech simply cannot continue giving away points and field position in close games.

Special teams are supposed to be an advantage for a well-coached football team. Right now, they’re creating additional obstacles for a program that already has enough of them.

Meet the Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech entered the season hoping to build on the success Brent Key established over the past several years.

Instead, the Yellow Jackets have spent much of the first half trying to figure out what kind of football team they actually are.

Losing Haynes King and Jamal Haynes was always going to create challenges. Georgia Tech also replaced both coordinators, bringing in George Godsey to run the offense and Jason Semore to coordinate the defense.

The result has been a 2-3 start and an inconsistent team that has struggled to replace the production and leadership of its departed stars.

But last weekend offered some encouragement.

After falling to 1-3, Georgia Tech responded by knocking off previously unbeaten Duke, 28-25. The Yellow Jackets scored the go-ahead touchdown with 54 seconds remaining and survived a missed Duke field goal in the closing seconds.

Sound familiar?

Apparently, Georgia Tech has figured out how to win the exact kind of football game Virginia Tech keeps losing.

Alberto Mendoza and the Georgia Tech Offense

The Yellow Jackets have turned to Alberto Mendoza at quarterback, and he’s coming off one of the most important performances of his young Georgia Tech career.

Mendoza helped engineer the late touchdown drive against Duke and demonstrated the kind of composure that could make Georgia Tech dangerous as the season progresses.

But the real concern for Virginia Tech might be running back Justice Haynes.

Haynes has been one of Georgia Tech’s most productive offensive players, forcing 28 missed tackles through five games. He’s capable of creating yards even when the offensive line doesn’t give him much help.

That matters because Virginia Tech has struggled to consistently get off the field in critical situations.

Georgia Tech’s offensive line hasn’t been particularly impressive this season, but it has shown signs of improvement. If the Yellow Jackets can establish Haynes early, they can keep Virginia Tech’s offense on the sideline and shorten the game.

The Hokies need to make Mendoza beat them through the air.

That doesn’t mean Georgia Tech can’t throw the football. It means Virginia Tech should be more comfortable defending a relatively inexperienced quarterback than allowing Haynes to control the game on the ground.

Of course, this requires Virginia Tech’s secondary to avoid giving up explosive plays and committing unnecessary penalties.

Georgia Tech’s Defense Is a Problem

If there’s one reason to feel optimistic about Saturday, it’s Georgia Tech’s defense.

The Yellow Jackets have struggled across nearly every meaningful defensive category.

Zero turnovers forced against FBS competition. That’s remarkable.

Georgia Tech has struggled to stop the run, struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks, and struggled to force mistakes.

Now the Yellow Jackets have lost one of their most important defensive players.

Linebacker Kyle Efford announced his medical retirement Tuesday following repeated injuries. Efford led Georgia Tech in tackles in each of the previous three seasons and was one of the team’s most experienced defenders.

His absence leaves an already vulnerable defense with another significant problem.

Virginia Tech should be able to move the football against this group.

And if the Hokies can’t, the offensive concerns are considerably larger than anything we’ve seen over the past two weeks.

Feed Jeffrey Overton

This feels like a game where Virginia Tech should lean heavily on Jeffrey Overton.

Georgia Tech has been vulnerable against the run, allowing nearly 182 rushing yards per game against FBS opponents.

Overton has already demonstrated his ability to take over a football game. His 209-yard performance against Boston College was arguably the biggest reason Virginia Tech escaped Chestnut Hill with a victory.

The Hokies don’t need Grunkemeyer throwing 45 passes Saturday.

They need to establish the running game, create manageable third downs, and force Georgia Tech to bring additional defenders into the box.

That should open opportunities for Luke Reynolds, Que’Sean Brown and Ayden Greene.

There is one complication.

Virginia Tech’s offensive line has been dealing with injuries and significant personnel changes. Layth Ghannam moved to left tackle against Cal, leaving a relatively inexperienced interior group.

Georgia Tech defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas has seven tackles for loss and two sacks through five games. He’s one of the few Yellow Jackets defenders who has consistently disrupted opposing offenses.

That’s a matchup Virginia Tech needs to account for.

But the broader point remains: Georgia Tech’s defense has been bad enough that Virginia Tech should be able to dictate the game offensively.

Run the football. Protect Grunkemeyer. Finish drives.

Can Virginia Tech’s Defense Finally Finish a Game?

This is the biggest question entering Saturday.

Virginia Tech has allowed 60 points over its past two games. More importantly, the defense has surrendered decisive late scoring drives in consecutive weeks.

Against California, the Hokies committed two 15-yard penalties on the Golden Bears’ final touchdown drive.

One was a pass interference penalty. The other was another costly defensive mistake.

James Franklin has acknowledged the recurring issues with defensive penalties and playing the football in the air.

That’s encouraging, but identifying the problem and fixing it are two different things.

Virginia Tech needs to demonstrate that it can play disciplined defense when the game is on the line.

Georgia Tech isn’t an offensive juggernaut, but Haynes and Mendoza are capable of exploiting mistakes.

The Hokies need to avoid allowing explosive plays, limit unnecessary penalties and force Georgia Tech to sustain long drives.

If the Yellow Jackets have to execute 10 or 12 plays to score, Virginia Tech should have opportunities to create negative plays and get off the field.

If the Hokies continue giving opponents free yards and first downs, it won’t matter how favorable the matchup looks on paper.

SP+ and the Analytics

The underlying matchup still favors Virginia Tech.

The Hokies entered the California game around No. 28 nationally in SP+, while the Golden Bears were ranked in the 80s. Despite that analytical advantage, Virginia Tech lost.

That should serve as a useful reminder that advanced metrics measure team quality, not a team’s ability to avoid catastrophic fourth-quarter mistakes.

I couldn’t verify updated October 14 SP+ or FPI ratings for both teams, so I’m not going to invent exact rankings or model projections.

But the statistical matchup provides a pretty clear picture.

Virginia Tech has the more productive passing offense, the better overall offensive production, and the advantage of playing at home.

Georgia Tech has struggled defensively, particularly against the run, and hasn’t consistently pressured opposing quarterbacks.

The Yellow Jackets’ best opportunity is to control the football with Haynes, limit Virginia Tech’s possessions, and take advantage of mistakes.

The Hokies’ best opportunity is to do what they should have done against California: establish the running game, create explosive plays through the air, and stop giving the other team opportunities to steal the game.

Analytically, Virginia Tech looks like the better team.

But the Hokies have already demonstrated that being better on paper doesn’t guarantee anything.

Betting Analysis

The betting market views Virginia Tech as a fairly substantial favorite, which makes sense when comparing the teams’ overall performances.

Virginia Tech has enough offensive firepower to cover this spread. Georgia Tech’s defense has been vulnerable enough that a 35-point performance from the Hokies wouldn’t be particularly surprising.

The problem is Virginia Tech’s defense.

The Hokies have struggled to close games, and Georgia Tech is coming off a performance in which it scored 28 points against Duke.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Yellow Jackets scored into the 20s, which would require Virginia Tech to produce another strong offensive performance to cover.

The total of 56.5 is interesting.

Virginia Tech averages 37.7 points per game, while Georgia Tech’s defense has allowed nearly 30 points per game against FBS opponents.

That suggests the Hokies should have opportunities to score.

But if Georgia Tech can establish the running game and control possession, the Yellow Jackets could keep the total lower than expected.

My betting lean: Virginia Tech -10.

Keys to the Game

There are five things I’m watching Saturday.

1. Establish Jeffrey Overton early. Georgia Tech has struggled against the run. Virginia Tech needs to make the Yellow Jackets prove they can stop Overton before putting the entire offense on Grunkemeyer’s shoulders.

2. Protect Ethan Grunkemeyer. The offensive line has been dealing with injuries, and Tawfiq Thomas presents a legitimate challenge. Georgia Tech hasn’t generated much pressure overall, so Virginia Tech should have opportunities if it can neutralize Thomas.

3. Eliminate defensive penalties. Virginia Tech has repeatedly extended opposing drives with unnecessary penalties. That can’t continue.

4. Fix the kicking game. John Love has missed three consecutive field goals. Whether Franklin sticks with Love or makes a change, Virginia Tech needs to start converting scoring opportunities.

5. Finish the game. This is the most important one. Virginia Tech has played well enough to win each of its past two games and still managed to lose both. At some point, the Hokies need to demonstrate that they can execute in the fourth quarter.

Final Prediction

I don’t love this matchup as much as I would have two weeks ago.

Georgia Tech is coming off its best win of the season. Virginia Tech is coming off two of its most frustrating losses.

The Yellow Jackets have momentum. The Hokies have questions.

But Virginia Tech is still the more talented team offensively, and Georgia Tech’s defensive weaknesses are difficult to ignore.

I expect Overton to have a productive afternoon against a vulnerable run defense. Grunkemeyer should find opportunities through the air, particularly if Georgia Tech is forced to commit additional defenders to stopping the run.

The concern is whether Virginia Tech can play a complete game.

I don’t expect the Hokies to suddenly fix every defensive problem in one week. Georgia Tech will move the football, Haynes will make some plays, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this game is closer than the spread suggests entering the fourth quarter.

But Virginia Tech is at home, it’s Homecoming, and the Hokies desperately need a win.

James Franklin has spent the past two weeks watching his team lose games it should have won.

I don’t think it happens a third time.

Virginia Tech moves to 5-2 and gets its season back on track before heading to Clemson.

It won’t be perfect. And given what we’ve watched over the past two weeks, there’s a decent chance we’ll spend at least part of Saturday wondering how Virginia Tech is managing to make another winnable game unnecessarily difficult.

But the Hokies should win.

And right now, that’s all that matters.

Final Score: Virginia Tech 35, Georgia Tech 24

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Virginia Tech vs. California Preview: Time to Bounce Back in Berkeley

Virginia Tech had every opportunity to beat Pitt Friday night. The Hokies outgained the Panthers by more than 200 yards, Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 434 yards and Virginia Tech had a chance to win the game with a field goal on the final play.

Instead, Pitt left Blacksburg with a 35-33 win and Virginia Tech left with its first loss of the James Franklin era. That’s college football.Now we find out how this team responds.

Virginia Tech at California
Saturday, October 10 — 3:30 PM ET
Databricks Field at California Memorial Stadium — Berkeley, CA
TV: ACC Network
Records: Virginia Tech 4-1 (1-1 ACC), California 2-3 (1-1 ACC)
Betting Line: Virginia Tech roughly -9.5 | O/U 53.5

This is Virginia Tech’s longest regular-season trip of the year and Cal’s Homecoming weekend. It’s also exactly the kind of game Virginia Tech has spent the last decade finding increasingly creative ways to lose.

Cross-country flight. Noon Pacific kickoff. Weird stadium. Opponent on a losing streak. Virginia Tech coming off an emotional Friday night loss. Wonderful. The difference is Virginia Tech should be considerably better than Cal.

Moving On From Pitt

There are two ways to look at what happened Friday night. The first is that Virginia Tech lost at home, turned the ball over, gave up 35 points and wasted an opportunity to start 5-0.

The other is that Virginia Tech produced 578 yards of offense against an undefeated Pitt team, Grunkemeyer threw for 434 yards and three touchdowns, and the Hokies were one kick away from winning despite making enough mistakes to lose approximately four different football games.

Virginia Tech is averaging 41.2 points and 469.8 yards per game through five games. Grunkemeyer has completed roughly 74% of his passes for 1,446 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. The Hokies are averaging more than 314 passing yards per game.

The Pitt game actually reinforced that more than anything. After struggling to throw the football in a monsoon at Boston College, Grunkemeyer immediately responded with the best statistical passing performance of his Virginia Tech career.

The problem was everything around it. Turnovers. Defensive breakdowns. Missed opportunities. A missed field goal. Virginia Tech doesn’t need to dramatically change what it is doing offensively. It needs to stop helping the other team.

Meet the Golden Bears

Cal is 2-3, and things are not going particularly well in Berkeley. The Bears opened the season with a 45-24 loss to UCLA, rebounded by beating Syracuse and Wagner, then lost 24-10 to Clemson before falling 39-31 at UNLV last weekend. That’s two straight losses and 63 points allowed over those two games.

Cal is averaging 27 points per game while allowing 26.6. The Bears are throwing for roughly 301 yards per game but rushing for only 95 yards per game, one of the worst marks in the country.

Cal has been pretty good defending the pass on a down-to-down basis but has been terrible against explosive plays and vulnerable against the run. Opponents are averaging more than five yards per rushing attempt.

That should get Jeffrey Overton’s attention.

This is also a Cal team that committed 16 penalties against UNLV. Sixteen.

Virginia Tech has certainly demonstrated an ability to make life unnecessarily difficult for itself, but Cal appears willing to participate in that competition.

Who Is Playing Quarterback for Cal?

This is the biggest question entering Saturday.

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele left the UNLV game late in the second quarter after taking a hard hit and hitting his head on the turf. He was medically cleared to return, but Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi kept him out as a precaution.

Before leaving, Sagapolutele was 19-of-27 for 195 yards and a touchdown. Backup Jackson Brousseau came in and was actually pretty good. He completed 19-of-32 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns as Cal rallied from a 24-7 halftime deficit. So Virginia Tech has to prepare for both.

Sagapolutele has thrown for 1,180 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He’s talented and capable of creating explosive plays — his 91-yard touchdown pass to Taimane Purcell against UNLV was the second-longest pass play in Cal history.

But he has also been inconsistent. That’s where Virginia Tech needs to take advantage. The Hokies have struggled at times with explosive passing plays and coverage breakdowns. We saw it against Maryland. We saw it again against Pitt.

Cal’s inability to consistently run the football should allow Virginia Tech to make whichever quarterback starts prove he can sustain drives through the air. Don’t give up the 70-yard touchdown. Make Cal go 12 plays. Eventually, this offense tends to make a mistake.

Feed Jeffrey Overton

Cal is allowing 187 rushing yards per game and more than five yards per carry. Virginia Tech has Jeffrey Overton.

Overton has 455 rushing yards this season while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. We already watched him completely take over the Boston College game with 209 yards and the 76-yard touchdown that rescued Virginia Tech in the fourth quarter.

Pitt did a much better job preventing Virginia Tech from controlling the game on the ground. Cal isn’t Pitt. Virginia Tech should make the Bears prove they can stop Overton before asking Grunkemeyer to throw the football 40 times again.

That doesn’t mean being conservative.It means forcing Cal to devote resources to stopping Overton, then letting Grunkemeyer attack a secondary that suddenly has to worry about Luke Reynolds, Que’Sean Brown and Ayden Greene in space.

Virginia Tech has enough offensive weapons that Cal shouldn’t be able to take everything away. Make them pick their poison.

Ethan Grunkemeyer Should Have Opportunities

Grunkemeyer now has 1,446 passing yards through five games. Virginia Tech has spent years begging for a functional passing game. Now the Hokies have a quarterback completing approximately three-quarters of his passes while averaging nearly 290 passing yards per game. Against Pitt, he threw for 434.

There were mistakes — including two interceptions — but the larger takeaway should be pretty obvious. Virginia Tech can throw the football. Luke Reynolds continues to be one of the most important pieces of the offense with 37 catches for 373 yards and four touchdowns. Que’Sean Brown, Ayden Greene and Overton give Grunkemeyer multiple other options.

Cal’s pass defense has produced good efficiency numbers, so I don’t expect another effortless 400-yard performance. But if the Bears have to bring an extra defender into the box to stop Overton, Virginia Tech should get favorable matchups outside.

The Cross-Country Factor

Here’s the part that makes me nervous. Virginia Tech is traveling approximately 2,500 miles across three time zones to play a 12:30 PM local kickoff.

Virginia Tech also played Friday night, which gives the Hokies an extra day to prepare, but this is still the furthest they will travel during the regular season.

Virginia Tech has already gone to Maryland and Boston College and won. The Hokies have demonstrated that they can function away from Lane Stadium.

Cal, meanwhile, has lost three of five games and is 1-2 at home. If Virginia Tech wants to be taken seriously as an ACC contender, the travel excuse doesn’t work here.

SP+ Likes Virginia Tech

This is one of the more interesting parts of the matchup. Virginia Tech is currently around No. 28 nationally in SP+, while Cal has fallen into the 80s.

An SP+-based projection makes Virginia Tech approximately a 12.5-point favorite even after accounting for Cal’s home-field advantage, with roughly a 78% win probability.

That’s a pretty significant gap. For comparison, SP+ viewed the Pitt game as essentially a toss-up. This one isn’t. The model sees Virginia Tech as substantially better offensively, better defensively and slightly better on special teams. Obviously models don’t have to sit on an airplane for five hours. But analytically, Virginia Tech should win this football game.

Betting Analysis

The betting market isn’t quite as bullish on Virginia Tech as SP+. Virginia Tech opened around a 10.5-point favorite at some sportsbooks, with the line settling around Tech -9.5 at several books as of Tuesday morning. The total is around 53.5.

Cal struggles to run the football. Virginia Tech should be able to run the football. The Hokies have a significant offensive advantage and Cal is coming off consecutive losses in which it allowed 24 and 39 points.

The obvious concern is the travel. But over four quarters, I think Virginia Tech’s offense creates too many problems.

Three Keys to the Game

1. Run the football

This doesn’t need to be complicated. Cal has struggled against the run. Virginia Tech has Jeffrey Overton. Give him the football. If Cal commits extra defenders to stopping him, let Grunkemeyer punish them.

2. Eliminate the stupid mistakes

Virginia Tech was good enough to beat Pitt. Virginia Tech also did enough stupid things to lose to Pitt. Both can be true.

Turnovers, coverage busts and special-teams mistakes turn games you should win comfortably into fourth-quarter coin flips. Don’t give Cal free possessions and don’t give up cheap touchdowns.

3. Start fast

The easiest way to eliminate the weirdness of a cross-country road game is to immediately make it a football game. Score early. Force a three-and-out. Get Overton going. Don’t let Cal hang around for two hours.

The Pick

I don’t think Cal is terrible. Sagapolutele is talented if he plays. Brousseau showed against UNLV that he can move the offense. Cal has enough skill talent to create some explosive plays, and traveling across the country is always going to add some uncertainty.

But Virginia Tech is better. More importantly, I think the Pitt loss actually gives us another reason to believe that.

Virginia Tech played poorly in several important areas Friday night and still put up 578 yards against an undefeated Power 4 opponent. Grunkemeyer threw for 434 yards. The Hokies had the ball with an opportunity to win the game at the end.

That isn’t the Virginia Tech team we’ve been watching for the last several years. Now comes the next step. Good teams lose games. Good teams don’t allow one loss to become two.

I think Virginia Tech establishes Overton early, Grunkemeyer hits enough explosive plays to push the game into the 30s and the defense forces Cal into a couple of mistakes.

It might be uncomfortable for a quarter. Maybe even a half. Then the talent difference takes over.

Virginia Tech 38, California 24

Hokies bounce back and move to 5-1.

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2026 Virginia Tech Season Preview

Virginia Tech football has spent most of the last decade trying to figure out how to get back to being Virginia Tech football. Justin Fuente couldn’t do it. Brent Pry couldn’t do it. Now Virginia Tech has gone out and hired a coach who has actually built a winning Power 4 program before.

James Franklin is the head coach at Virginia Tech. That still feels a little weird to type. Franklin has completely overhauled the roster and coaching staff in one offseason. This is going to be one of the most interesting Virginia Tech teams we’ve seen in a long time because I genuinely don’t know what to expect.

The ceiling is pretty high. The floor could be pretty low. Welcome to Year 1.

Coaching Staff

This season is all about James Franklin.

Virginia Tech didn’t hire Franklin to go 7-5 every year and play in the Military Bowl. They hired him because they believe Virginia Tech can compete at the top of the ACC again.

The biggest thing Franklin brings is credibility. He’s won a lot of football games. He knows how to recruit. He knows how to build a staff. He knows what a major college football operation is supposed to look like.

That doesn’t mean Virginia Tech is immediately going to win 10 games. The roster needed a lot of work after last season and Franklin basically had to rebuild the team in one offseason. There are going to be growing pains.

The most interesting coaching decision was bringing Brent Pry back as defensive coordinator. I don’t think many Virginia Tech fans had “Brent Pry returns to Blacksburg three months after being fired” on their offseason bingo card. But I actually like it. Pry wasn’t a good head coach at Virginia Tech. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad defensive coordinator. Those are two very different jobs. Pry built his reputation coaching defense and now he can go back to doing that without worrying about timeouts, fourth-down decisions, roster management, fundraising, recruiting and everything else that comes with being the head coach.

Maybe this works. Maybe it’s incredibly awkward. Either way, it’s going to be interesting.

Offense

The biggest question on offense is quarterback. And the answer appears to be Ethan Grunkemeyer. Franklin brought Grunkemeyer with him from Penn State, which gives him a major advantage in learning the offense and understanding what Franklin expects from his quarterback. Virginia Tech doesn’t need Grunkemeyer to be Michael Vick. They need him to be good. That’s really it.

For years, Virginia Tech has had offenses where it felt like everything needed to go perfectly to score points. One penalty killed a drive. One sack killed a drive. One dropped pass killed a drive. Good football teams don’t operate that way. Grunkemeyer needs to consistently move the offense, protect the football and get the ball to Virginia Tech’s playmakers. The good news is there should be some talent around him.

Ayden Greene is back at receiver along with Keylen Adams, Chanz Wiggins and Takye Heath. Franklin also added experience through the portal. There are enough pieces here for Virginia Tech to have a respectable passing game. I expect Luke Reynolds to lead this team in receiving from the tight end spot.

The offensive line is probably the bigger concern. Franklin has spent a lot of resources rebuilding that room, including signing a huge group of offensive linemen in his first recruiting class. That’s encouraging long term.

It doesn’t necessarily help you against Miami in November. If Virginia Tech can get average-to-good offensive line play this season, I think the offense can surprise people. If the offensive line struggles, everything gets considerably more difficult.

Defense

This might be where Virginia Tech has its best chance to outperform expectations. Brent Pry knows defense. Now he gets to spend all of his time coaching it.

Virginia Tech has added a lot of experience in the secondary through the portal. Jordan Bass, Sherrod Covil Jr., Tyson Flowers and Isaiah Brown-Murray give Pry some experienced pieces to work with. Quentin Reddish also returns. The secondary should be pretty good.

The question is the front seven. Virginia Tech needs to get back to being disruptive defensively. I’m not expecting Bud Foster 1999 here. But Virginia Tech needs to pressure quarterbacks. They need to tackle better. They need to create negative plays. And they need to stop giving up the kind of ridiculous explosive plays that have killed them over the last several seasons.

This doesn’t need to be a Top 10 defense. If Pry can get this defense somewhere around the Top 30-40 nationally, Virginia Tech should win some football games.

The Roster

Franklin basically hit the reset button. This is going to look like a completely different football team. That makes Virginia Tech extremely difficult to predict. There is clearly more talent on the roster than there was at the end of last season. Franklin attacked the transfer portal and also signed a Top 30 recruiting class. The problem is that collecting talent and building a football team aren’t exactly the same thing. These guys have to play together. There are new quarterbacks, new linemen, new defensive backs and new coaches. That’s a lot of moving pieces. I would expect Virginia Tech to look considerably better in November than they do in September.

The good news is the schedule gives them some time to figure things out.

Non-Conference Schedule

Virginia Tech finally did something smart. They gave a new coach a reasonable non-conference schedule. The Hokies open against VMI in Lane Stadium at night. Virginia Tech should win that game comfortably.

Old Dominion comes to Blacksburg the following week. Virginia Tech should win that game too. We’ve seen enough weird things happen against ODU over the years that I’m never going to completely dismiss them, but Virginia Tech should have a significant talent advantage.

Then comes Maryland. This is the first game where we’ll actually learn something about this team. Going into College Park for a 7:30 game is a legitimate Power 4 road test. If Virginia Tech beats Maryland, there’s a pretty good chance the Hokies start 4-0. If they lose, it’s not the end of the world. But Maryland is the kind of team Virginia Tech needs to start beating again if they want to become nationally relevant.

ACC Outlook

The ACC schedule is interesting.

Virginia Tech opens conference play at Boston College before getting Pitt at home on a Friday night. Then things get tougher.

Tech travels across the country to play Cal, gets Georgia Tech at home and then goes to Clemson. After the bye, the Hokies travel to SMU, get Stanford at home, travel to Miami and finish with Virginia in Lane Stadium.

There aren’t many automatic wins in there. There also aren’t many games where I look at the schedule and think Virginia Tech has absolutely no chance. Clemson and Miami are obviously going to be difficult. SMU on the road won’t be easy.

But Pitt, Boston College, Cal, Georgia Tech, Stanford and Virginia all look like games Virginia Tech can win if the Hokies are competent.

That’s basically the story of this season. Be competent. For years Virginia Tech has found ways to lose games against teams with similar talent. Franklin was hired to stop that.

Key Players to Watch

QB Ethan Grunkemeyer

This is the obvious one. If Grunkemeyer is good, Virginia Tech could have a pretty good season. If he’s bad, it’s difficult to see Tech winning eight games.

WR Ayden Greene

Virginia Tech needs a legitimate No. 1 receiver. Greene has the talent to become that guy.

S Quentin Reddish

One of the most important returning players on the roster. Virginia Tech added a lot of pieces to the secondary but having an experienced returning player back there is huge.

The Entire Offensive Line

This might be the most important position group on the team. Virginia Tech hasn’t consistently controlled the line of scrimmage offensively in years. That needs to change.

What I’m Looking For

I’m not judging James Franklin’s first season exclusively by wins and losses. Obviously wins matter. But I want Virginia Tech to look like a well-coached football team again. I want fewer stupid penalties. I want better clock management. I want players to know where they’re supposed to be. I want Virginia Tech to stop finding increasingly creative ways to lose one-score football games. I want the Hokies to beat teams they’re supposed to beat. That sounds like a low bar. After the last few seasons, it isn’t. Franklin doesn’t need to win the ACC this year. He needs to make it obvious that Virginia Tech is heading in the right direction.

Tough Games (<40% chance to win)

at Clemson

This is probably the toughest game on the schedule. Winning in Death Valley is hard for everybody. Virginia Tech would need to play its best game of the season.

at Miami

Miami has been recruiting at a much higher level than Virginia Tech. Going to Hard Rock Stadium late in the season is going to be difficult.

at SMU

Friday night. On the road. Against one of the better programs in the ACC. Not ideal.

Toss-Up Games

at Maryland

This is our first real look at the Hokies.

Pitt

Friday night in Lane Stadium. This feels like exactly the kind of game Virginia Tech should win if Franklin has things moving in the right direction.

at Cal

Travel is weird. Cal is weird. ACC football is weird.

Georgia Tech

This could end up being one of the biggest games of the season.

Stanford

Virginia Tech should have the talent advantage, but I’m not ready to automatically put any ACC game in the win column.

Virginia

It’s Virginia. Virginia Tech could be 1-10 and I’d still convince myself they’re going to win this game.

Should Win Games (>60% chance to win)

VMI

If this isn’t a win, we have significantly bigger problems.

Old Dominion

No trips to Norfolk this time. Thank God.

at Boston College

Road conference games are never automatic, but this is one Virginia Tech needs to win.

Key Games

Maryland

This tells us how quickly Franklin has this thing moving.

Pitt

Friday night in Lane. Win this game.

Georgia Tech

This could be the difference between a six-win season and an eight-win season.

Virginia

Always.

Upset Alert

at Cal

Cal has a great QB and it’s a cross-country trip right in the thick of the schedule. I call these type of games a scheduled loss.

Game-by-Game Predictions

VMI — Win

Old Dominion — Win

at Maryland — Win

at Boston College — Win

Pitt — Win

at Cal — Loss

Georgia Tech — Win

at Clemson — Loss

at SMU — Loss

Stanford — Win

at Miami — Loss

Virginia — Win

Final Prediction

Virginia Tech: 8-4

That’s probably a little optimistic.

Virginia Tech has a real football coach again. There are enough winnable games on this schedule for Franklin to have a successful first season. The Hokies don’t have Clemson or Miami’s roster yet, but they shouldn’t need it to beat VMI, Old Dominion, Boston College, Pitt, Stanford and Virginia Get those six. Then beat two of Maryland, Cal, Georgia Tech and SMU. That’s eight wins. More importantly, I think Virginia Tech will actually look better at the end of the season than it does at the beginning.

That hasn’t always been the case around here. The long-term goal is obviously much bigger than 8-4. Virginia Tech didn’t make this investment to become a slightly better bowl team. The goal is to get back to Charlotte. Then get back into the Top 25. Then get back into the College Football Playoff conversation. That’s going to take some time. But for the first time in a while, I actually believe Virginia Tech has the head coach capable of getting them there.

Final Regular Season Record: 8-4

Expected ACC Finish: 5th-7th

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How I Did With My Predictions This Year and ACC Final Thoughts

Here’s a link to my preseason predictions: https://treadmillhorse.com/2025/08/20/2025-virginia-tech-season-preview/

A historically bad year with my predictions, where I went 7-5 in the preseason and 8-4 with my week-to-week predictions. But I did go 6-0 with my week-to-week predictions in the second half of the season. It took me a bit to get a feel for who this team actually was. Hopefully, in the future I can predict more wins and fewer losses.

GamePreseason PredictionGame Week PredictionResult
South Carolina
Vanderbilt
Old Dominion
Wofford
at NC State
Wake Forest
at Georgia Tech
California
Louisville
at Florida State
Miami
at Virginia
Prediction Record7-58-4
Virginia Tech Game by Game Predictions

Here’s a link to my preseason ACC Predictions: https://treadmillhorse.com/2025/08/23/preseason-acc-predictions/

Final thoughts on the ACC Standings:

Final ACC Standings Comments

7-1 (10-3)		Virginia found their footing this year and looked like a legit team. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find their best game in the ACC Championship Game.

6-2 (8-4)		This is a team (like Virginia) that benefited from a soft ACC schedule. Massive disappointment the last week of the season with a chance to go to Charlotte.

6-2 (10-2)		Miami needs to stop dropping games they shouldn’t. Other than that, they represented the ACC very well in non-conference games.

6-2 (9-3)		This could’ve been a CFP team before they lost 3 of their last 4 games.

6-2 (9-3)		Overall, a pretty good year but that loss to WVU looks pretty bad in hindsight.

6-2 (8-5)		The ACC champs. Probably the most unlikely ACC champs since Wake won the league in ’06. Manny Diaz continues to impress.

6-2 (7-5)		One of the most up and down seasons in the league. At least they have a quarterback.

4-4 (7-5)		Disappointing year by Clemson’s standards but at least they won their last four games.

4-4 (7-5)		As Jekyll and Hyde as your going to find in this league.

4-4 (8-4)		Look out because Wake Forest has 2026 sleeper written all over them.

4-4 (8-4)		After a great start, collapsed down the stretch in ACC play.

3-5 (4-8)		Generally, not good but beating Cal the way they did was impressive.

2-6 (5-7)		Salvaged a season that looked like it was headed down the toilet. You have to wonder if they are going to regret not firing Mike Norvell this year.

2-6 (4-8)		Probably the biggest disappointment in the league. Year 1 of Bill Belichick was a bust.

2-6 (3-9)		Pretty bad all the way around but they may have won the coaching carousel this year.

1-7 (2-10)		Won the first game and the last game and pretty bad in between with some moral victories sprinkled in.

1-7 (3-9)		What I’ll remember are the performative post-game wind sprints and losing to Notre Dame 70-7.
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2025 Virginia Tech Midseason Review

If I told you before the season that the Hokies would be 2-4 after week 6, you would have thought the wheels had completely come off the wagon, and they have. Brent Pry was fired after Week 3. I don’t think even the biggest Pry haters would have predicted that. While the team looks more competitive under Phillip Montgomery, they look like they have a significant talent, experience and depth gap. I’m not sure that Virginia Tech will be favored in a single game the rest of the season.

Being realistic, I don’t think that the Hokies will go 0-6. More likely, they will win 1-2 games somewhere along the line. They don’t have the talent to beat Miami or Florida State on the road. But the other games should be winnable if they play their A or B+ game. We saw against NC State what it looks like when this team plays clean football. They look competitive. If they can play like that, they’ve got a chance in most of their remaining games. It’s a matter of the team and players staying locked in and wanting to compete.

Offensive MVP: Terion Stewart

301 rushing yards with a 8.6 yards per carry average. Give this guy the rock.

Defensive MVP: Kaleb Spencer

Leads the team in tackles and is always flying to the football. Also keep an eye on Noah Chambers who has only played in two games but has made a big impact in a small sample size.

Special Teams MVP: John Love

He is 12-of-14 on his field goals this year with a long of 56. This guy will be an NFL kicker next year.

The key for the next 6 games is to stay locked in and try to compete. Even though this is a lost season, players still want to put good film out there. You have seen in the past two weeks that there are young guys who are getting opportunities and taking advantage of them. Fans might think there is nothing to play for but for these players and coaches there is still a lot on the line. Players can get transfer opportunities or opportunities under a new coaching staff. Coaches are showing what they can put out on the field for their next gig. So while it feels bad for the fans, these guys are still out there trying. I don’t see a bowl game in their future, but I also don’t see an 0-6 finish. Somehow, they will find two wins along the way and finish 4-8. After the season, the reset button gets hit on every aspect of Virginia Tech football.

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2025 Preseason ACC Predictions

A preseason prediction for all 17 ACC teams heading into the 2025 college football season.

Projected ACC StandingsComments

12-0		Clemson looks like a complete team that could be 13-0 headed into the CFP

11-1		Expect Kevin Jennings to take a bit of a step back this year but the schedule almost assures a really strong season.

10-2		Color me a bit skeptical of Mario Cristobal and Miami but the schedule is there to be a CFP contender.

9-3		The Haynes and Haynes combo is not to be trifled with. Brent Key seems to have finally found a roster that can compete for an ACCCG berth.

9-3		Manny Diaz proved me wrong last year. With a good transfer QB and soft schedule, they will make noise this year.

8-4		Offense should be really good. Defense — who knows?

8-4		Dave Doeren is usually able to pull together a solid squad every year but will that defense hold up after all the transfers?

6-6		Too much talent to be as bad as last year. Will the new influx transfers this year work out for them? Hard to pick anything but middle of the road.

6-6		Solid additions through the portal but Brent Pry is still the head coach.

6-6		Pitt and Pat Narduzzi are trending toward becoming a perennial 6-6 team.

5-7		Bill Belichick is a football genius but he doesn’t block, tackle or run the ball.

5-7		They have a great RB and that’s pretty much it. However, that may be enough to win 5 games with that schedule.

4-8		Tough schedule and not enough talent. Not a great combination.

4-8		Fran Brown might get a reality check in year 2.

4-8		Soft schedule might help them out a lot but ultimately they have to show they have become a better team when they hit the field.

3-9		Cal football looks lost at the moment. At least they have the #Calgorithm.

3-9		Tough schedule. Transfer losses. Interim head coach and a new AD trying to make his mark. Looks like a bottom-out season for Stanford.
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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

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

Bowl Game Prediction:

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How I Did With My Predictions This Year and ACC Final Thoughts

Here’s a link to my preseason predictions: https://treadmillhorse.com/2024/08/07/2024-virginia-tech-season-preview/

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.

GamePreseason PredictionGame Week PredictionResult
at Vanderbilt
Marshall
at Old Dominion
Rutgers
at Miami
at Stanford
Boston College
Georgia Tech
at Syracuse
Clemson
at Duke
Virginia
Prediction Record7-59-3
Virginia Tech Game by Game Predictions

Here’s a link to our ACC Panel Predictions: https://treadmillhorse.com/2024/08/21/2024-acc-football-preseason-predictions/

Final thoughts on the ACC Standings:

Final ACC Standings Comments

8-0 (11-1)		Shocking for SMU to go 8-0 in conference. They were fortunate to miss Clemson, Miami and Syracuse this season.

7-1 (9-3)		Clemson can roll out of bed and make the title game. Funny that going 7-1 in conference was considered a down year for them.

6-2 (9-3)		Miami had a Heisman trophy caliber QB and still couldn’t make the title game. They’ll need some luck to make the CFP.

5-3 (9-3)		I was not a believer in Fran Brown when he was hired. He had some nice wins this year. None better than beating Miami in Week 14.

5-3 (8-4)		The win at Clemson was really good. The rest of the results are a bit disappointing for what was supposed to be a very good team this year.

5-3 (7-5)		What I’ll remember is the win against Miami and taking Georgia to 8 OTs. They look for real under Brent Key.

5-3 (9-3)		Manny Diaz is off to a hot start. Didn’t beat the top teams but they beat everybody else.

4-4 (6-6)		This team was a preseason CFP dark horse. They needed to beat UVA in the final week to make a bowl game. Disappointing.

4-4 (7-5)		Played close games against everyone even if they were really good or really bad.

3-5 (6-6)		Lost to the good teams and beat the bad teams. Getting demolished by Tennessee and Clemson didn’t inspire a lot of confidence.

3-5 (7-5)		Started 7-0. Finished 0-5. Yikes. Reminds me of Virginia Tech teams in the early 00s.

3-5 (7-5)		Finishing the year losing 6 of the last 7 is a bad look. The one win was against Pitt who was also in freefall at the end of the year.

3-5 (6-6)		They beat a bowl team in Week 1. The rest of the results were blech. Giving up 70 points to JMU is a thing that happened

2-6 (6-6)		I love the #Caligorithm. Winning at Auburn was a nice win for the ACC. Losing against Florida State is unforgivable.

2-6 (4-8)		Best win is at NC State. Other than that, not much to look at here.

2-6 (3-9)		Beating Syracuse and Louisville is wild considering how they performed in the rest of their games.

1-7 (2-10)		Under no circumstance should this team have beaten Cal. How do you go from 13-0 to 2-10. A special kind of bad in Tallahassee. Karma is real.
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2024 Virginia Tech Midseason Review

At this point, I thought the Hokies would be 5-1. Instead they are 3-3. It’s a disappointment but their three losses have been in one-score games. Good teams win close games. Virginia Tech feels close to getting over the hump where they start winning those one-score games. The expect-to-lose mentality is still present in this program and that’s one of the toughest things to overcome when you are building a program.

Virginia Tech is good enough to win all of their remaining games. Will they? Probably not. But they’ve got a good chance in every remaining game including Clemson. The biggest thing they need to do is to play a full 60 minutes like they did against Miami and Stanford. If they can do that, they can play with anyone. It makes me wonder why it takes this coaching staff a full month before this team is ready to play 60 minutes. But that’s an issue for next year I guess.

Let’s gauge the remaining slate against preseason expectations.

Final 6 Game RecordRegular Season RecordVs preseason expectations
2 wins or less5-7 or worseThis would be a catastrophe and fans would call for heads to roll including the head coach’s.
3-36-6This would match last year’s regular season win total and would be a big disappointment considering the returning starters and transfer additions in the offseason.
4-27-5Still a bit of a disappointment but a slight improvement over last season’s regular season record.
5-18-4Probably where most realistic fans would have set their expectations in the preseason. A 5-1 finish would make most VT fans feel good going into the offseason.
6-09-3Exceed preseason expectations. A win over Clemson and a 6-0 finish with a chance at an ACCCG appearance.

Offensive MVP: Bhayshul Tuten

One of the national leaders in rushing yards and touchdowns. Hard to have a better first half than he has. Feed him the rock.

Defensive MVP: Antwaun Powell-Ryland

APR is ranked 4th in the nation with seven sacks on the season. Safe bet that he’ll get to double-digit sacks his year. It’s been a long time since someone did that in Blacksburg.

Special Teams MVP: John Love

He is 9-of-10 on his field goals this year and has connected twice from over 50 yards. Reminds me of the kickers that Tech had during the Beamer era.

If the Hokies continue to play the brand of football they’ve played in the last two weeks, the second half slate looks very manageable. The first two games are at home against teams that look beatable in Boston College and Georgia Tech. Next is the trip to Syracuse. That looks like a REALLY tough game to me. Syracuse is playing well and they have a very good QB. And Tech never wins up there unless they have Michael Vick at QB. Then it’s Clemson. I think it’s a winnable game but Tech needs to bring their A-game. Anything less and that game is a loss. Duke and Virginia both look better than expected but those are both games Tech should win. A 4-2 record seems likely but the Hokies shouldn’t overlook any of their remaining opponents. It feels like the Hokies are starting to hit their stride this season.

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2024 Virginia Tech Season Preview

Virginia Tech got back to a bowl game after its worst season in 30 years. Things are trending in the right direction under Brent Pry.

Coaching Staff:

Brent Pry is entering his third season in Blacksburg. After a 3-win campaign in 2022, his team bounced back to win 7 games in year 2. Including going 6-3 down the stretch. It feels like Pry has the right coaches and players in place to have the program he envisioned when he arrived in Blacksburg.

Last season was a make-or-break year for Tyler Bowen. When Grant Wells suffered an ankle injury against Purdue, Bowen found lightning in a bottle in the form of Kyron Drones at quarterback. Having Drones solidify the QB position gave Bowen the opportunity to build out a run-heavy offense that fit his personnel.

Offense:

Kyron Drones is the straw that stirs the drink for this offense. The offense became more dynamic with him behind center. With Drones and Bhayshul Tuten at running back, it allowed the Hokies to establish a run-based offense that opened up the passing game. A heavy and consistent run game gave the Hokies deep-play threats room to operate downfield.

Once again, the Hokies should lean on a run-heavy attack. This fits best with their personnel. On an offense that includes Drones, Tuten and RB Malachi Thomas, you want to get the ball into your playmakers’ hands. This is also the best way to create space in the passing game for your wide receivers and tight ends.

The offense should benefit from having WR Ali Jennings back. He looked great in the ODU game and went out with a broken ankle against Purdue. Having him back along with WR Jaylin Lane, WR Da’Quan Felton and WR Stephen Gosnell should give Drones a lot of options in the passing game. Don’t forget TE Nick Gallo who should provide another nice downfield option for Drones.

The biggest concern on the offensive side of the ball is the offensive line. Particularly their ability to pass block. They had moments last year where they looked capable but they also had some pretty ugly moments too. For this offense to take another step forward, the offensive line has to prove they can protect Drones. This offense never looked at their best in passing situations last year.

Defense:

There were times last season where I had no idea what the safeties and linebackers were doing in the run game. They always seemed to be filling the wrong gap. It wasn’t a talent issue. It was an assignments issue. My hope is with another year under their belt they should be able to get it right more often that not this season.

Brent Pry has done a great job through the transfer portal of filling gaps on this defense. Bringing in Aeneas Peebles, Sam Brumfield and Kemari Copeland strengthens what was already a pretty strong group.

The strength of this group will be the defensive line. Antwuan Powell-Ryland is ready to have an all-conference year. Aeneas Peebles was already an all-conference player for Duke last season. Those two should wreak havoc on opposing offenses all season.

The Hokies have one of the best starting corner tandems in the ACC. Dorian Strong was one of the national leaders last season in PFF grades for cornerbacks with Mansoor Delane not too far behind him. If both can stay healthy, this should be a lockdown corner combo.

For this defense to take the next step, this group needs better contributions out of their safeties and linebackers. There were too many missed assignments last year leading to big plays. The addition of Sam Brumfield at mike linebacker will help a lot. So will the development of Jalen Stroman and Mose Phillips at the safety spots. Those guys are ready to take the next step forward.

Key Players to Watch

Quarterback Kyron Drones: Drones is a star and this team will go as far as Drones takes them. This was a completely different team last season with Drones under center.

Running Back Bhayshul Tuten: When was the last time that Tech had a chain mover like Tuten? David Wilson?

Defensive End Antwuan Powell-Ryland: APR came in with a lot of hype as a former 4-star recruit transferring in from Florida. He met and exceeded that hype. He’s a Daryl Tapp clone who likes to get after the quarterback.

Non-Conference Matchups:

Virginia Tech has a very manageable non-conference slate. Vanderbilt is one of the worst teams in the Power 4. Marshall is a solid team but one that Tech should handle at home. Old Dominion is close to their talent level from last season although Virginia Tech has yet to win in Norfolk after two appearances there. Rutgers is a rugged team under Greg Schiano but that game is at home this season. The team most likely to upset the Hokies from this slate is Rutgers.

ACC Outlook:

Virginia Tech is picked to finish 6th in the ACC preseason poll. That sounds about right to me. Virginia Tech is in the group right behind Clemson and Florida State who have a chance to get to Charlotte.

Conclusion:

Brent Pry looks well on his way to rebuilding Virginia Tech after 2 seasons at the helm. It finally feels like he has his coaches and players in place with a chance to make a run. This is the show-me year where he can prove that Virginia Tech can be a real contender for the ACC and a spot in the CFP.

Tough games (<40% chance to win)

Clemson and Miami. These both look like losses in the preseason. Both of these teams have more talent than the Hokies currently have.

Toss-up games (50-50 games)

Rutgers. Georgia Tech. Syracuse. These games are the difference between 10-2 and 7-5.

Should win games (>60% to win)

Vanderbilt. Marshall. Old Dominion. Stanford. Boston College. Duke. Virginia. The Hokies should make a bowl game on these games alone.

Key games for the Hokies: Clemson, Miami, Georgia Tech

Upset Alert: Georgia Tech

Game By Game Predictions

at Vanderbilt
Marshall
at Old Dominion
Rutgers
at Miami
at Stanford
Boston College
Georgia Tech
at Syracuse
Clemson
at Duke
Virginia
Virginia Tech Game by Game Predictions


Final Regular Season Record: 9-3 (5-3 in the ACC)
Expected finish: 4th in the ACC

Bowl Game Prediction: