Virginia Tech gets back to Lane Stadium on Saturday night with a chance to put the SMU loss behind it and keep pushing toward win No. 7.
The Hokies are 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the ACC after a 23-point defeat in Dallas, a game that followed their bowl-clinching win over Clemson on Oct. 24.
That victory was Virginia Tech’s first over Clemson since 2007, but the trip to SMU brought a rougher reality check. The Hokies gave up a season-high 51 points, their most in a game since the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl against Maryland, when they lost 54-10.
Even with that setback, Virginia Tech’s offense has been built around a few clear engines. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer has completed 71.7% of his passes for 2,431 yards, 18 touchdowns and three interceptions.
He leads the ACC with 215 completions and is averaging 270.1 passing yards per game. Against SMU, he went 28 of 38 for 291 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and he also scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the year.
Jeffrey Overton Jr. has given the Hokies another steady weapon. The sophomore has run for 762 yards and six touchdowns on 126 carries, and he broke through for 123 yards and two scores against the Mustangs for his third 100-yard game of the season. In the passing game, Que’Sean Brown tops Virginia Tech with 60 catches for 722 yards and four touchdowns, while Luke Reynolds has added 493 receiving yards and six touchdowns at tight end.
Stanford comes in at 4-5 and 2-4 in the ACC, still chasing bowl eligibility. The Cardinal need two wins in their final three games to get there, and quarterback Davis Warren has kept them in the mix with 2,203 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions on 60.4% completions. Warren is averaging 244.8 passing yards per game through nine contests.
Micah Ford has been Stanford’s top runner, piling up 751 yards and eight touchdowns on 156 carries. CJ High leads the Cardinal in receiving with 449 yards and four touchdowns.
On defense, Virginia Tech has leaned on Aycen Stevens, who has 8.5 sacks, and Kaleb Spencer, who leads the team with 49 tackles. Stanford’s defense has been paced by safety Jay Green with 57 tackles and linebacker George Kaminski with two sacks.
ESPN’s Football Power Index likes Virginia Tech in this one. The Hokies have a 90.5% chance to win, while Stanford sits at 9.5% for the road upset. With bowl eligibility already locked up, Virginia Tech will try to use Saturday night as a reset and a springboard for the final stretch.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Suddenly Has A Bigger ACC Problem Than One Loss
Virginia Techs 51-28 loss to SMU was jarring enough on its own, the kind of defeat that exposes issues on both sides of the ball and leaves little room for comfort. Kevin Jennings carved up the Hokies for 350 yards and four touchdowns, and the result stood as Virginia Techs worst loss of the season in a conference race that already feels crowded and volatile.
But the bigger concern may be what the rest of the ACC is doing around them. Georgia Techs 44-17 loss to Louisville pushed the Yellow Jackets to four straight defeats, and the league continues to churn with other results and looming games that could reshape the standings again. Even NC States reported move to hire former quarterback Philip Rivers as head coach adds to the sense that the conference picture is shifting fast, and Virginia Tech cannot assume one bad night is the only problem it has to solve. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Reynolds Has Virginia Tech Fans Watching A Bigger Race
Luke Reynolds has given Virginia Tech fans another reason to keep an eye on the national awards picture. The Hokies tight end was named one of nine semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the countrys top college tight end, putting him in a select group as the postseason honors start to roll in.
For Virginia Tech, the recognition is a reminder that Reynolds season has carried beyond the usual weekly box score chatter. Being in the semifinal field keeps him in the conversation at a position where production and impact can be hard to separate, and now the focus shifts to whether he can turn that nod into something even bigger as the award race tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Week Just Raised The Stakes For Oregon Recruiting
Oregons upcoming game against Michigan is shaping up to be more than just a marquee matchup on the field. The Ducks are expected to host a strong group of recruiting visitors, and among the names to watch is four-star running back JP Jones-Priest, a verbal commit to Virginia Tech who has stayed in contact with Oregon and is anticipated to be in Eugene for the game.
For Oregon, the timing matters. The Ducks have a young backfield and are already thinking ahead to the 2027 season, so adding depth at running back remains a priority. A visit like this does not settle anything by itself, but it does give Oregon a chance to make a serious impression as the recruiting race around its 2027 class starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]