It's no secret that the 2025 season is a big one in a number of ways for the Virginia Tech football program. However, nobody's future will be riding on each play and each result more than head coach Brent Pry.
After a 6-7 season in 2024 that began with so much promise and ended with another dose of frustration for fans, the 2025 campaign could be a make-or-break season for Pry. Now, I believe that things would really have to bottom out for changes to Pry's status to be made. Chip Patterson of CBS Sports ranked the ACC football coaches going into the 2025 season, and Pry tumbled from this time last season.
Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry tumbles in the latest ACC Football Coaches Rankings
Just 12 months ago, Pry was sitting at No. 11 in Patterson's rankings. However, with a tough 2024 season that followed, marked by roster turnover, assistant coaching turnover, and numerous unanswered questions entering the new season, he tumbled four spots to No. 15 out of 17 head coaches. The only two coaches ranked lower are Virginia's Tony Elliott and Stanford's interim coach Frank Reich. Even first-year Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert is higher than Pry. Here is what Patterson wrote about Pry,
"Pry says this year's squad is the closest to his vision of Virginia Tech football that he had seen since arriving in Blacksburg ahead of the 2022 season. He inherited a difficult roster situation, so early struggles were understandable, but numerous losses in one-score games have left Pry with a 16-21 record overall despite back-to-back bowl appearances. Virginia Tech hasn't been outclassed, but it's had trouble finishing games against its toughest opponents."
Finishing games would go a long way in the Hokies having a season that would be considered a turnaround, as one-score games have been a thorn in the side of Pry. He knows what his team is facing this year, especially early in the season with two games against SEC foes, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. At least one win in those games would be a good start to the season for Pry and his team. Two losses, and things could get very interesting.