The buzz is officially returning in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech enters 2026 energized by new head coach James Franklin, who arrives determined to return the Hokies to national relevance.
To be honest, the early signs are looking pretty good, and it seems like this rebuild might happen sooner than we thought.
When Franklin took over, the team was struggling, having just finished a disappointing 3-9 season in 2025, which ultimately led to Brent Pry’s early dismissal.
But since his arrival in Blacksburg, Franklin has been working hard to change the team’s image. He’s been focusing on recruiting new players, adding talent through the transfer portal, and shifting the team’s culture.
Virginia Tech began attracting attention from across the country after hiring Franklin. In just 12 days, they recruited 17 new team members, which was a big turnaround for a class that had been struggling.
This momentum carried over throughout the spring and helped the Hokies stay on an upward recruiting trend. They turned things around and became a Top 25 group, which was a big deal.
Now, Virginia Tech feels nationally relevant as a new era begins.
Completely Different Virginia Tech Team
The word surrounding Virginia Tech this spring has been “transformative.”
As fans of college football, we’ve seen a pattern emerge: teams with strong NIL programs tend to attract and retain top talent from all over the country, a key factor in making a run for the CFP Playoffs.
It’s all about building a solid foundation, and having a robust system in place can make all the difference in competing at the highest level.
Teams like Michigan, Ohio State, and, most recently, the Indiana Hoosiers have shown how to win national championships.
The Hokies have been looking sharp this spring, with their practices and spring game showing a team that’s quicker, deeper, and more physically imposing than last year’s squad.
There’s a whole new vibe around the program now, and a lot of that has to do with Franklin’s bold moves in rebuilding the roster through the transfer portal – it’s been a real game-changer.
That matters because offensive inconsistency, lack of depth, and trench play were major issues during the 2025 season.
It seems Virginia Tech has transformed and is now capable of competing on the field once more.
From the Days of Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech has been one of the most consistent programs, featuring Michael Vick, Tyrod Taylor, and Logan Thomas, to name a few.
Since then, their identity has been lost as teams have adapted to the new era of college athletics.
Transfer Portal Additions Could Transform the Hokies Immediately
James Franklin wasted no time rebuilding the roster through the portal.
The most significant new player might be Ethan Grunkemeyer, a former Penn State quarterback. Since he’s already familiar with Franklin’s system and what’s expected of him as a leader, Grunkemeyer can hit the ground running.
He can quickly build a strong relationship with his teammates, run the offense without any hiccups, and adjust to whatever happens during a game. This means the offense will be more solid and Virginia Tech will have a reliable quarterback, which is a big plus.
Franklin made a great move by bringing in Luke Reynolds, a top-notch tight end from a guy who’s got some Penn State.
This is a serious athlete who could be a real game-changer in talent for the ACC in 2026. He’s got the speed to stretch the field and the strength to block in the run game, which will give the team the much-needed balance and create tough matchups for opposing offenses, which is no surprise to some teams.
It really has, since Penn has been churning out NFL-ready State’s tight ends for years, and Franklin’s had a hand in that as well.
The team’s wide receiver position is getting a boost with the addition of Duke transfer Que’Sean Brown and Penn State’s Tyseer Denmark, who bring much-needed explosiveness and speed to the table.
These two players are expected to make a big impact right away, competing for significant playing time and helping to expand the passing attack.
With their skills, they should be able to make some big plays and open up new opportunities for the team’s offense.
The team’s offensive line got bigger and more versatile. Logan Howland, who used improvements to play for Oklahoma, brings when it comes to blocking for size and strength runs from Michigan State, adds quickness, and helps protect the quarterback when.
Justin Bell, who came passing, transferred from Penn State, and brings experience and leadership to the table. Together, they make.
Michael Troutman, who the unit is than it was last season, is a lot better, giving the quarterback more protection and making the unit more physical. Coach Franklin knows from team time in the Big 10 that games his team has won are often in the trenches, so he wanted to make sure the Virginia Tech offensive line had more players.
Defensively, Virginia Tech loaded up in the trenches.
The team’s defense is getting a big boost with some new additions. Javion Hilson, a talented player from Missouri, is great at rushing the quarterback.
Samuel Okunlola, who used to play for Colorado, is super fast and can make big plays on the edge. Eric Mensah, a strong lineman from Ohio State, adds some much-needed power to the interior.
And with Daniel Jennings and Randy Adirika joining from Penn State, the team now has some extra depth and options for rotating players in and out. All these new players bring a mix of size, speed, and versatility to the front seven, which will really help the team’s defense.
Kenny Woseley Jr, a corner for Penn State, might become a key player in the ACC, thanks to his skill in stopping opponents’ receivers. Cam Chadwick, who transferred from UConn, is reliable when it comes to coverage at safety
. Jaquez White, who came from Troy, has experience and can provide depth at corner, which is just what the secondary needed to get stronger.
With these new additions, the team’s defense is looking better. The secondary was struggling, but now it has some much-needed reinforcements.
Brent Pry’s Return Could Be Massive
One of the most fascinating storylines entering the 2026 season is the return of Brent Pry to Blacksburg, but this time strictly focused on defense.
After being replaced as head coach, Pry returned to Virginia Tech as defensive coordinator under Franklin, reuniting a partnership that helped build Penn State into one of the nation’s premier defensive programs during the late 2010s and early 2020s.
And honestly, this role may fit Pry better than ever.
As a head coach, Pry balanced program management, recruiting, NIL involvement, media duties, staffing, and game management. Now, under Franklin, Pry can focus on what he does best: calling defense and developing physical football teams.
That matters for Virginia Tech because there is built-in continuity between Pry and many returning players. Several veterans already understand Pry’s defensive terminology, practice structure, expectations, and aggressive style.
Familiarity should help the Hokies transition faster than most first-year systems.
More importantly, Pry’s track record as a defensive playcaller speaks for itself.
During his final four seasons at Penn State from 2018-2021, the Nittany Lions consistently fielded one of the top defenses in college football:
- Penn State ranked in the Top 10 nationally in total defense three times during Pry’s tenure as defensive coordinator.
- In 2019, Penn State finished 6th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 16.2 points per game.
- The 2021 Penn State defense ranked in the Top 10 nationally in sacks and in the Top 15 in tackles for loss.
- From 2016-2021, Penn State averaged over 3 sacks per game under Pry’s defensive leadership.
What made Pry’s defenses dangerous was versatility.
His units could pressure quarterbacks without constantly blitzing, disguise coverages effectively, and play downhill against the run.
Pry’s system thrives with athletic EDGE defenders and versatile safeties, which is why Virginia Tech aggressively targeted defensive front-seven talent in the portal this offseason.
The additions of Samuel Okunlola, Javion Hilson, Eric Mensah, Daniel Jennings, Randy Adirika, and Kenny Woseley Jr. suddenly give Pry more athletic tools to work with than Virginia Tech has had in recent years.
That combination of familiarity, upgraded personnel, and Pry focusing fully on defense instead of managing the entire program could become one of the Hokies’ biggest hidden advantages in 2026.
To play dominant defense consistently, Lane Stadium will once again become a nightmare for ACC opponents.
Franklin and Bry are also not guys who forget the history that was forged in Blacksburg.
Legendary Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster was the heartbeat of those great Hokies defenses that have produced for almost two decades. Bry is looking to keep the standard.
The Freshman Class Could Produce Day-One Contributors
Franklin’s recruiting efforts could have a lasting impact on Virginia Tech. He’s known for being one of the best recruiters in college football, consistently bringing in top talent – from 3-star to 4 and 5-star players – wherever he goes.
This ability to attract and secure top players could be what he’s most remembered for in the long run.
The Hokies secured one of the strongest recruiting classes in recent history, featuring eight four-star recruits and multiple players who could contribute immediately.
Troy Huhn is coming to Blacksburg as the new quarterback, and he’s got a lot of potential to become a star player.
Even if Franklin decides to have him learn from Grunkemeyer and Baker this season, Huhn could still be the one to lead the team in the future.
The Hokies snagged a big recruit, 4-star running back Messiah Mickens, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Frank played a key role in bringing in highly sought-after quarterback Peter Bourque, a significant long-term addition to the team, despite facing stiff competition from top programs.
With Bourque on board, Virginia Tech finally has the quarterback recruiting stability it has been missing for years, and this move is expected to have a lasting impact on the team’s performance.
Demarcus Brown, a wide receiver, is getting a lot of attention for his exciting plays and ability to make big things happen on the field.
At the same time, some freshman offensive linemen are already in the running for spots on the depth chart, and it’s because of their impressive physical abilities and potential to develop into great players.
James Franklin transformed Virginia Tech’s roster in literally a few months.
The Hokies are looking strong this season, with some great new additions to the team and one of the best recruiting classes they’ve had in a while.
This puts them in a good position to compete with top teams like Miami and Clemson in the ACC. They seem to be on the rise, and it will be exciting to see how they do.
Expectations for 2026
The timing could not be better for Virginia Tech. The Atlantic Coast Conference feels as wide open as it has been in years. There has not been a repeated ACC championship since the Clemson Dynasty from 2016-20.
Since then, Clemson has been up and down, but there are other questions across the league.
Florida State is trying to regain consistency, Miami was a quarter away from a national championship , North Carolina heads into year 2 under Bill Belichick, and there are other revolving doors in the conference itself.
Thus, this is why many media pundits are buying into a James Franklin-coached team in a conference with no dominant blue bloods.
If the Hokies establish defensive consistency early and get steady quarterback play from Ethan Grunkemeyer, there is a realistic path for Virginia Tech to become one of college football’s surprise teams this season.
The schedule is set to give Franklin several chances to put Virginia Tech back in the spotlight right away.
vs. Old Dominion
You might be wondering why this particular game is getting so much attention.
To be frank, the Monarchs have had the upper hand in their recent matchups, boasting a 3-2 record over the Hokies.
The last time they met, the Monarchs came out on top with a convincing 45-26 win at Lane Stadium. If James Franklin and Virginia Tech want to be taken seriously, they need to come out strong and set the tone from the start, which would likely get the rest of the college football world to take notice. T
his is an important game for both teams, and a strong performance by the Hokies could make a big statement.
at Miami
It has been one of the most intense rivalries in the ACC since the Big East days. As a native of the 757, I grew up on this rivalry.
This may end up being one of the biggest swing games of the season.
Virginia Tech has a real chance to make some noise here, and a win on the road against Miami would be a huge statement. The Hokies have been working on their defense, and it’s shown significant improvement, which could give them an edge against Miami’s elite talent.
vs. Clemson
Franklin. Dabo. Two highly touted coaches who built their programs from scratch meet for the first time as conference foes in Death Valley. Clemson is looking to rebound from a horrible 2025 season, and Virginia Tech is looking to make a statement in the new-look ACC.
At SMU
Since being accepted into the conference, SMU has a back-to-back winning season on its resume (20-7) with Rhett Lashee and his explosive offense. Franklin and the Hokies can set the tone and let the Mustangs know that they are still new to this.
vs. Georgia Tech
The Hokies are getting ready to face off against Georgia Tech, one of their big rivals, in mid-October in Blacksburg. If you look at the whole history of their games, the Hokies are ahead 12-9. But over the last 10 years, Georgia Tech has been doing better, winning 6 of 10 games. Last year, the Hokies lost to them, and since Brent Key took over coaching, Georgia Tech has been right in the mix of ACC competition.
Vs Virginia
Rivalry games are still a big deal, and what better way to wrap up the list than with a showdown between in-state foes in the Commonwealth Clash.
Virginia Tech has historically had the upper hand, leading the series 62-39-5. But lately, the other team in the state has been gaining momentum under the guidance of head coach Tony Elliott, who’s been leading the Cavaliers.
One thing that’s been a source of frustration for James Franklin during his time at Penn State is coming out on top in these rivalry games.
The Hokies might not be getting as much attention as some other ACC teams going into 2026, but it’s games like this one that can help Virginia Tech get back on the map.
This season’s success will likely depend on winning conference games, and if that happens, it could be the start of a fast rebuild we have seen in college football before.
There are plenty of people who are optimistic about the program.
James Franklin is looking to bring structure, his recruiting power, national credibility, and belief back to Blacksburg.
For so long, outside of Enter the Sandman, the Virginia Tech Football program seemed to be almost irrelevant in the national conversation.
This current roster has Strong Power 4-caliber talent across key position groups, and Franklin is looking to place a strong culture of excellence.
