Just how good is the Virginia Tech football team in 2026? Not many really could say after blowout wins over VMI and Old Dominion. Well, a lot of questions were going to be answered on Saturday night when the Hokies traveled to Maryland for a true road game.
Virginia Tech jumped out to a 35-14 lead early in the third quarter and held off a late Terrapins rally for a 35-26 victory that improved James Franklin to 3-0 in his first season in Blacksburg. Next up is another road game, this time at Boston College next Saturday. However, before we look ahead to the Eagles, here are four winners and two losers from the Hokies' nine-point road win in College Park.
Winner: Luke Reynolds
Well, if there were any questions as to whether or not Luke Reynolds is going to be playing football on Sundays, that has been put to rest. The Penn State transfer had 12 catches for 107 yards and two massive receptions on the final drive of the game that ran out the clock. His catch on fourth down right in front of the Virginia Tech bench sealed the win.
He had one touchdown reception, but whenever offensive coordinator Ty Howle and quarterback Ethan Gruinkemeyer needed someone to make a play, they called on No. 85, and he delivered.
Loser: Virginia Tech secondary
Defensive coordinator Brent Pry has some work to do with his secondary. They were torched by Malik Washington for 359 yards and three touchdowns. The Hokies defense held the Terrapins to just 64 yards rushing, but the touchdown drives Maryland had were drives that were too easy. Chris Duss Jr. had 12 catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Some communication breakdowns need to be cleaned up.
Winner: Jeffrey Overton, Jr.
Last season when he was healthy, running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. was showing some promise. This season, he's taking his game to another level and he scored a highlight reel touchdown in the second quarter.
He caught a swing pass in the flat and raced 49 yards, breaking a couple of tackles on his way to the end zone for a touchdown. He had three catches for 63 yards, 49 yards rushing on 12 carries, and a touchdown. Not to be outdone, Marcellous Hawkins Jr. had 16 carries for 75 yards.
Loser: Mike Locksley
Ok, again, what are we doing here? You can tell Maryland coach Mike Locksley is on the hot seat for some decisions he made, but maybe the most head-scratching one was in the fourth quarter. Chasing 21 points and scoring a touchdown early in the quarter to make it 35-20. Kick the extra point and make it 14 points, right? Not so fast.
He went for two, which forced his team to go for two points again later in the quarter, and they came up empty both times. The last touchdown and missed two-point conversion kept it a two-possession game. Again, what are we doing here?
Winner: Kaleb Spencer
The Hokies' defensive line has been getting a lot of the headlines early in the season, but Kaleb Spencer has been great at linebacker. Against the Terrapins, he was tied with Keon Wylie and Quentin Reddish with six tackles, but he had a sack and nearly forced a game-changing fumble. He has been flying around so far and has been arguably Pry's best linebacker.
Winner: James Franklin
When he was at Penn State, James Franklin had plenty of success against Maryland, but this was an extra special game for him against Locksley. It was the first time since they met two years ago, when words were exchanged after Locksley accused Franklin of running up the score and Franklin fired back. They worked together at Maryland, but losing this game would have weighed heavily on Franklin; once again, he got the last laugh.
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