One thing is for sure: the 2025 season has been full of everything for the Virginia Tech football team. In what has been a frustrating season on so many levels, from Brent Pry being fired after Week 3, to players entering the Transfer Portal, to the losses on the field, it got better with the hiring of former Penn State coach James Franklin on Monday.
While he can't do anything to help this season's Hokies, he is getting to work on his future in Blacksburg. On the field, Virginia Tech closed out the home portion of its schedule with a 34-17 loss to 13th-ranked Miami. Here are five observations from the game that are good and bad.
1. Jeffrey Overton, Jr. can be special
Franklin will evaluate the current roster over the final two games, but one player who continues to impress with each passing week since getting healthy is running back Jeffrey Overton. Against the Hurricanes, he rushed for 69 yards on seven carries and a 38-yard touchdown run.
He has explosive speed, he's tough to tackle in the open field, and on his touchdown run, he ran by the Miami defense. He should be someone Franklin has circled to try and retain going forward.
2. Should Pop Watson start against Virginia?
I know, this probably isn't going to amount to much, but the best in rhythm the Hokies offense looked against Miami was with Pop Watson coming in for Kyron Droens in the fourth quarter. He threw a nice ball to Ayden Greene down the sideline on fourth down and then scored on a touchdown run on the next play.
Last season, he played well against Virginia and led the Hokies to a win. What does Virginia Tech have to lose by running him out there next week against the Cavaliers?
3. Players continue to play hard for Philip Montgomery
Since Brent Pry was fired, one thing you can't question is the Hokies' effort each week under Philip Montgomery. That was the case against Miami as, despite being down 20-3 at halftime, the Hokies held the Hurricanes to two second-half touchdowns, including one with 20 seconds left. After Pry was fired, you didn't know what you were getting, but you're getting a team that plays hard for 60 minutes.
4. Miami has nobody to blame if they miss the playoffs
The ESPN broadcast was insufferable, discussing Miami's playoff chances. They are currently the highest-ranked team in the ACC despite having two conference losses, which is some statement. However, they're likely not going to the ACC Championship Game.
The beef that seems to come with Miami and the College Football Playoff is why Notre Dame is ranked higher if the Hurricanes opened the season with a win over the Irish? It's simple, really. Yes, they have two losses each, but Notre Dame's are both ranked losses, and Miami's are to non-ranked teams currently, Louisville and SMU. There is no reason why Miami is not undefeated. Losing to Louisville and SMU is not the committee's fault; it's Miami's. Take care of business on the field and win games you're supposed to win.
5. Some real peak and abysmal ACC officiating
There were not many explosive plays for Virginia Tech with Drones in the game, throwing the ball downfield, but their best was called back because of an inadvertent whistle. You really can't make it up. ACC officiating at its finest.
Drones was not down, and he released a Hail Mary pass to the sideline on third-and-long and completed it to Ayden Greene, who turned it into a first down. However, the inadvertent whistle caused the down to be replayed, and Drones was sacked on the next play. It wouldn't have changed the outcome, but it was more Little League officiating from the ACC.