Let's face it, despite this being a huge season in several ways for the Virginia Tech football team, it's just time to get it going. The offseason has been long enough, and it's time to play games for real on the field.
If there is a season where the program needs to exceed expectations, this is the year. The hot seat is getting warmer for head coach Brent Pry, the athletic department is at a pivotal moment in terms of money and being able to compete, and Hokies fans have been waiting a long time for a season where they exceed expectations. With that said, here are three reasons why Virginia Tech will exceed expectations this year and two reasons it won't. We're using the Hokies over/under wins of 6.5 at BetMGM as to whether or not expectations will be met this season.
3 reasons Virginia Tech exceeds expectations in 2025
1. Kyron Drones is fully healthy
Last season was an injury-filled season for quarterback Kyron Drones. He never seemed fully healthy and played through injuries before missing four of the final five games of the season. Now fully healthy, he is looking for a big season with eyes on the NFL Draft in April.
The offense will go as Drones go; it's no secret. He can use his legs and his arm to be successful, and when he gets out running in the open field, he's not easy to bring down. A player as talented as Drones, looking for a bounce-back season when healthy, is a player who has a big season. If he does, so will the Hokies.
2. Virginia Tech has a winning record in one-score games
I mean, sooner or later, this has to flip in Pry's favor, no? You just know that there are going to be several one-score games, and again, it's now or never for the Hokies under their fourth-year coach. This is an area that Pry has put a lot of work into, and now it's time to lean on his assistant coaches, mainly Montgomery, who has had success as a head coach.
3. Virginia Tech wins at least five home games
This season, the Hokies have a favorable schedule in terms of seven games at home in Lane Stadium, one neutral site game, and just four true road games, all ACC contests. The season opener against South Carolina is in Atlanta, although you will see a pro Gamecocks crowd. After that three straight non-conference games before conference play begins.
Winning at least five home games means that Virginia Tech will take care of business against Old Dominion, Wofford, California, and Wake Forest, while winning at least one against Vanderbilt, Miami, and Louisville is more than doable.
2 reasons Virginia Tech won't exceed expectations in 2025
1. Virginia Tech has losing record in one-score games
Ok, so this is going to go one way, either they'll have success and a winning record in one-score games or they won't. There'll be no in-between. Again, you just know that there are going to be one-score games coming down to the end. Pry has put an emphasis this offseason on doing everything he can to improve in that area. You get the feeling this'll either make or break that season for the Hokies.
2. Virginia Tech still lacks game management
Sure, injuries played a role in the Hokies' 2024 season, but man, so did some very questionable decisions and lack of awareness in game management. From having double numbers on the field on a punt return (yes, they got away with it at Miami on a field goal) to a questionable fake field goal call at Miami, where if they took the three points, then the outcome is likely different, and they don't get hosed on a bad video review and touchdown reversal. It may not seem like much, but man, it cost them wins at Vanderbilt and Miami. Imagine the vibes around the program if they went 8-4 instead of 6-6 one year ago?
This feels like a season where Virginia Tech exceeds expectations, but in this day and age, never assume anything, as anything is possible.