It was no secret that Brent Pry was beginning the 2025 season on the hot seat. Heck, even ESPN placed athletic director Whit Babcock on the hot seat with him, which would make sense.
Pry had the perfect opportunity to cool off the hot seat with a win over the 13th-ranked Gamecocks, but it became a familiar story for Virginia Tech: too many mistakes under Pry. It has become a common theme during his tenure in Blacksburg. After the 13-point loss, where is Pry's hot seat entering a week that feels like a must-win?
Brent Pry hot seat meter getting hotter after loss to South Carolina
It wasn't the outcome Virginia Tech and Pry wanted, but it was there for the taking, and the Hokies did what they have done too many times under Pry in these situations: hang around, make mistakes, have self-inflicted wounds, and poor clock management. With the loss, the former Penn State defensive coordinator is 16-22 in three-plus years in Blacksburg.
Here is how we gauge the meter,
- Freezing
- Cold
- Neutral
- Warm
- On Fire
Where does Brent Pry fall on the meter?
Hot Seat: Warm
I know, this isn't breaking any news; however, Pry is entering a very big week ahead of a Week 2 home opener against Vanderbilt on Saturday night at Lane Stadium. South Carolina coach Shane Beamer gave Pry a vote of confidence (what else was he going to say), and he knows how passionate the fanbase is and how long they have been looking for a winner they had under his father's watch.
There is no sugar coating things; this week against Vanderbilt is a must-win, and if not, then the heat likely gets turned up even more for Pry. Last season's opener in Nashville was a disappointing overtime loss that started a concerning trend for the Hokies in 2024 with a very talented roster. It's strange to say that a Week 2 game is a must-win, but here we are after another game by Virginia Tech with the same mistakes and poor clock management. Hopefully, the Hokies win this week, and the heat meter gets turned down with a very doable schedule the next couple of weeks.