Virginia Tech football fans had a rough ride in the 2025 season, with the team posting a 3-9 record - their worst in terms of winning percentage since 1992. Kicking off with three straight losses for the first time since 1987, the Hokies faced a season full of challenges. But sometimes, tough times pave the way for transformation, and that’s exactly what’s happening in Blacksburg.
Enter James Franklin. Taking the helm on November 17, 2025, Franklin brought a wave of change, including over 50 new players from high schools and the transfer portal.
His mission? To steer the Hokies back into contention for their first ACC title game appearance since 2016.
Athlon Sports, in their preseason magazine, pointed out the Hokies' decade-long absence from the ACC championship and the 16 years since their last win. They noted the timely arrival of Franklin, a recruiting dynamo and proven winner from the mid-Atlantic. While it might take more than a year to fully revitalize the team, with Franklin’s track record and recent financial boosts to Virginia Tech athletics, the days of 3-9 seasons seem numbered.
Key additions to the roster include quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, ranked as the No. 4 incoming transfer in the ACC by Athlon, tight end Luke Reynolds, who made the Preseason All-ACC First Team and is ranked No. 7, and wide receiver Que'Sean Brown, ranked No. 8.
Meanwhile, returning players like Marcellous Hawkins, who averaged 6.35 yards per carry last season, and defensive tackle Kemari Copeland, with 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, are expected to make significant impacts. Athlon Sports ranked Virginia Tech No. 30 in their preseason rankings, placing them fifth in the ACC.
Reflecting on last season, the Hokies ended with nine losses, dropping six of their last seven games. The season saw head coach Brent Pry dismissed after a 0-3 start, which included a tough 45-26 loss to Old Dominion.
In a twist of fate, Pry is returning to the Hokies, this time as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. His history with Franklin as a defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt and Penn State adds an intriguing layer to the coaching dynamic.
Looking ahead, Virginia Tech kicks off their season against VMI on Saturday, September 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The game, airing on the ACC Network, marks the first meeting between the two teams since 1984. As the Hokies prepare for the new season, fans are hopeful for a fresh start and a return to glory under Franklin's leadership.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Hall Of Fame Class Will Hit Hokies Fans Right In The Feels
Virginia Techs 2027 Hall of Fame class brings together seven former Hokies whose careers stretched across football, soccer, baseball, wrestling and track and field, a reminder of how deep the schools athletic history really runs. The announcement also arrives soon after Brian White was hired as the schools new athletic director, giving the program a fresh administrative backdrop as it looks to celebrate some of its most accomplished names.
For fans, the class carries a little extra emotional weight because it connects different eras of Hokies sports under one banner. The group spans stars, record-setters and a longtime coach who worked across multiple sports, so this is the kind of Hall of Fame class that invites a lot of memories from longtime supporters while also offering a new athletic department a chance to lean into the schools tradition. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Techs ACC Hopes Hinge On Three Urgent Fixes
Virginia Techs path back into the ACC conversation starts with a simple reality: the league looks open enough for a bounce-back team to matter, even after a 3-9 season. The Hokies still have to navigate a tough slate against the conferences better programs, but the larger issue is whether they can turn close games into wins and avoid the kind of late-game slips that buried them a year ago.
Ethan Grunkemeyer gives the offense a place to build, after showing real progress last season, and the next step is making sure he gets the support needed to keep that momentum going. For Virginia Tech, the offensive line is more than a position group right now. It is part of the whole equation, because if the pocket holds and the end-game mistakes shrink, the Hokies have a chance to stay relevant longer than their record from a year ago would suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Logan Thomas Earns Permanent Place In Hokies History
Logan Thomas is heading back into the spotlight at Virginia Tech, this time in a way that cements what Hokies fans already knew about his place in school history. The former quarterback will be inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class, a group that also includes six other honorees, giving the program another chance to celebrate one of its most memorable modern stars.
Thomas left Blacksburg with a rsum that still stands out in the record book, then built an unusual pro career that stretched from quarterback to tight end in the NFL before he retired in January 2025. Virginia Tech will officially recognize the Hall of Fame class next fall, with the kind of homecoming that figures to bring plenty of attention back to a player whose career kept evolving long after his college days ended. [Read more 🡒]