Virginia Tech heads into Saturday’s trip to College Park with a clean 2-0 record, a shot at its first 3-0 start since 2017, and a much bigger test than the first two weeks provided. The Hokies also have a chance to snap a familiar drought: they haven’t won a nonconference game against a Power Four opponent since that same 2017 season, when they beat West Virginia at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
There’s a lot to like in the early returns. Virginia Tech has piled up 117 points in eight quarters and beaten both Old Dominion and VMI by wide margins.
But the numbers come with built-in asterisks, because those two opponents entered Week 3 ranked No. 96 and No. 408 in SP+, respectively. The production is real; the level of competition is also impossible to ignore.
The same tension shows up when you look at Ethan Grunkemeyer’s start. He’s been sharp overall, going 48-for-62 for 551 yards and four touchdowns, and he’s been especially strong in the areas Virginia Tech has asked him to attack most often. His PFF grade on throws to the short middle of the field sits at 91.2.
The deeper throws, though, are another story. Grunkemeyer has attempted only four passes that traveled 20 or more yards in the air, and his PFF grade on those attempts is 39.8.
That ranks No. 213 among 228 eligible quarterbacks who have logged a grade. The catch is obvious: four throws is a tiny sample, and it’s hard to draw a firm conclusion from that alone.
Virginia Tech’s offense as a whole is built on the same kind of push and pull. The Hokies scored 117 points through two games, but Old Dominion found cracks in the line, finishing with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. That was a reminder that the front end of the offense still has some questions to answer.
Against VMI, the Hokies stacked up a long list of eye-popping program stats dating back to 1987, but the Keydets are ranked No. 408 in SP+, so those numbers have to be viewed in that light. Virginia Tech did what good teams are supposed to do to a far lesser opponent: it buried it.
One of the more interesting details came against Old Dominion, where Virginia Tech completed 32 passes, its most in a game since at least 1987. Six of the next 10 games on that list ended in losses, which says plenty about how those numbers usually come about.
This time, though, the Hokies weren’t chasing the game. They were using the passing attack to build a 34-6 halftime lead.
The fourth-down numbers from that game tell a similar story. Virginia Tech converted three fourth downs against Old Dominion, tied for the seventh-most in a game since 1987.
Of the six games ahead of it on that list, only one ended in a win. That can be read two ways: leaning on fourth downs too often isn’t ideal, but Virginia Tech made the calls work against the Monarchs rather than being forced into them because the scoreboard demanded it.
That part matters even more with Maryland coming up. The Hokies ran for just 89 net yards against Old Dominion after putting up 268 against VMI, and the offensive line situation isn’t exactly settled.
Starting center Kyle Altuner missed Saturday’s game after getting hurt in the opener, and right guard Montavious Cunningham was ejected against the Monarchs. Virginia Tech could be dealing with less than its preferred group up front in College Park.
Still, the Hokies found a way to score 44 points despite the issues on the ground. Grunkemeyer helped cover for the run game, and Virginia Tech had that 34-6 cushion by halftime without consistently winning at the line of scrimmage. The question now is whether that same formula can hold up against a much better Maryland front.
That’s the theme through two weeks: nearly every encouraging Virginia Tech stat comes with a caveat, and nearly every concern does too. Saturday won’t settle everything, but it should tell a lot more about which parts of this 2-0 start are built to last.
Virginia Tech faces Maryland on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on FS1.
In Other News...
Brian White Makes Another Virginia Tech Hire Fans Will Notice
Brian Whites latest move is another one Virginia Tech fans will notice, especially with the athletics department continuing to shape its leadership structure. The Hokies have hired Chris Ryder as executive associate athletic director for capital projects, facilities and operations, bringing in an administrator with a long background in athletic facilities and game-day management.
Ryder arrives from Florida Atlantic, where he served as senior associate athletic director for facilities and event management. In Blacksburg, he will join the executive leadership team and take on oversight of facilities and game operations, a role that puts him at the center of how Virginia Tech presents itself on game day and how it manages the spaces behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]
James Franklin Brings A Personal Edge Into Virginia Tech's Maryland Trip
Virginia Techs 44-21 win over Old Dominion pushed the Hokies to 2-0 under James Franklin, and now the focus shifts to a trip that carries a little more personal weight for the new head coach. Franklins connection to Maryland goes back to his time coaching there, giving this weeks matchup a familiar backdrop as Virginia Tech heads into College Park.
Franklin also brings a history with Terrapins coach Mike Locksley, including an old Penn State-Maryland flare-up over a controversial final play. Even with that edge hanging in the background, Franklin has spoken positively about his Maryland experience, which makes this week feel less like a reunion and more like a layered test for a Virginia Tech team trying to keep its early momentum going. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Techs Schedule Suddenly Sets Up A Defining First Season
Virginia Techs early start under James Franklin has been exactly the kind of opening stretch a new coach hopes for, with wins over VMI and Old Dominion helping the Hokies move to 2-0. Now the schedule begins to show what this season could really become, and ESPNs Football Power Index suggests there is at least a workable path ahead if Virginia Tech can keep building on that momentum.
The model has the Hokies favored in seven of their final 10 games, with matchups against Maryland, Boston College, Pitt, California, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Stanford all shaping the next phase of the season. Even so, a few tougher spots remain, including SMU and other opponents that could quickly test how real this start is, which is why the coming weeks feel like more than just another early-season stretch. [Read more 🡒]