Now that the calendar has turned to August, we have college football this month. However, for fans of Virginia Tech, you're going to have to wait until September to get the first look at the Hokies in a game on Sept. 5 against VMI at Lane Stadium.
When Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry last September, there was one thing that the search committee formed by the school had to do: Nail the next football hire in Blacksburg. After swinging and missing with Justin Fuente and Pry, the hire had to be one that really moves the needle. However, little did they know that the perfect candidate would fall right into their lap.
James Franklin was fired at Penn State in October, and he became the top target of the Hokies' search committee. In the end, it took just over a month to get the deal across the finish line, but it was done before Thanksgiving. Now, after an offseason in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is getting ready to begin fall camp.
ESPN dropped its trailer for the upcoming season, and it lasted less than two minutes. However, in those less than two minutes, there was plenty of James Franklin and Virginia Tech to go around.
Virginia Tech featured three times on ESPN's 2026 college football trailer
During ESPN's trailer, the Hokies were dropped three times, once coming out on the field at Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech fans were shown for a quick second, and Franklin was shown at spring practice. Oh yeah, we are so back.
The return of college football brings new excitement, new hope and of course, a new song 😮💨
— ESPN (@espn) July 31, 2026
"High Noon" by @ShaboozeysJeans featuring @1GunnaGunna is this year's anthem for College Football on ESPN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KFfpPypsnQ
It has been a long time coming, and there is a feeling there is entering the 2026 season under James Franklin. There is nowhere to go but up coming off a 3-9 2025 season and a coaching change following a Week 3 loss at home to Old Dominion. It has been years since Hokies fans had this feeling entering a new season, but James Franklin going to Virginia Tech is great for college football in terms of doing his magic that he did at Vanderbilt and Penn State in turning around both programs.
If there is someone who can do it and do it quickly, it's Franklin, and if this trailer is anything to signal what might come this season, there might be a lot of Virginia Tech and James Franklin talk across college football.
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