James Franklin’s first game at Virginia Tech came with the kind of scoreboard that turns heads fast.
In his head coaching debut with the Hokies on Saturday, Franklin’s new team rolled past VMI 73-3, and the blowout featured several familiar names from his Penn State days helping set the tone. Virginia Tech didn’t just win comfortably; it overwhelmed the Keydets from start to finish behind an offense that piled up yards and a defense that smothered just about everything in sight.
Ethan Grunkemeyer, now Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback, threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns before handing things over to his backup in the second half. Luke Reynolds chipped in as the Hokies’ second-leading receiver, catching five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.
On the other side of the ball, Mylachi Williams picked up the first sack of his career in the first quarter. And Messiah Mickens, the freshman running back who had been set to join Penn State but stayed with Franklin, made his college debut with five carries for 23 yards.
The numbers across the board were lopsided. Virginia Tech outgained VMI 619 to 83 and held the Keydets to minus-4 rushing yards.
But the afternoon wasn’t spotless. The Hokies were flagged 11 times for 93 penalty yards and lost the turnover battle 2-1.
The next test comes next Saturday against Old Dominion, which is coached by former Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne, who worked under Franklin. Virginia Tech is planning a “white effect” for Lane Stadium for that matchup.
Penn State, meanwhile, is getting ready for its first road game of the season, though it will be played in Philadelphia against Temple.
In Other News...
James Franklin Debate Just Got New Fuel From Former Penn State OC
Ricky Rahne has been around James Franklin long enough to know how the Penn State coach is viewed inside and outside the program, and his recent comments added a familiar voice to an argument that has followed Franklin for years. Rahne, who worked alongside Franklin and still has a long-standing relationship with him, defended Franklins impact in State College and said fans have often undervalued what he has done.
Rahne pointed to the sanctions Franklin inherited as part of the backdrop that shaped the early years of the job, while also giving Bill O'Brien credit for the recruiting foundation he left behind. He acknowledged that Franklin has not delivered a national championship, but framed his tenure around passion and steady winning, the kind of rsum that keeps the debate alive whenever Penn States bigger-picture expectations come back into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Wrestling May Have A New Middleweight Logjam
FloWrestlings preseason individual rankings have offered an early glimpse at what Penn States lineup could look like next season, and the middleweights may be the most crowded part of the room. Mitchell Mesenbrink is listed at 174 pounds instead of his usual 165, while PJ Duke is pegged at No. 1 at 165 after a sophomore season that included a Big Ten title and put him in position to step into the spot Mesenbrink has owned.
The ripple effect could be significant for the Nittany Lions. Tyler Kasak is projected to hold down 157 and is ranked No. 2 in his class, but the bigger questions sit above him, where Levi Haines may no longer be in the picture and freshman Jayden James could be left waiting for an opening. For a program that usually turns lineup debates into national title depth, this one looks like it could take a little time to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Next Opponent Looks More Vulnerable Than Expected
Temple is heading into its matchup with Penn State in a far shakier spot than it wanted this early in the season. Coach K.C. Keeler said starting left tackle Giakoby Hills will miss six weeks after getting hurt in the opener, a significant blow to an offensive line that now has to adjust on the fly against one of the most demanding fronts it will see all year.
The uncertainty does not stop there. Starting right tackle Kevin Terry is a game-time decision for the Penn State game, and Keeler still has not named a starting quarterback, with Jaxon Smolik and Ajani Sheppard competing for the job. For Penn State, that makes this a matchup worth watching beyond the final score, because Temple could be piecing together key spots just to get through the afternoon. [Read more 🡒]