One quick look at the Virginia Tech football schedule in Year 1 of the James Franklin era, and it's not an easy one. Three non-conference games, VMI and Old Dominion at home folowed by a trip to Maryland from the Big Ten before ACC play.
The conference schedule is going to be a guanlet, to say the least. The back end of the schedule is tough with trips to SMU, Clemson, and Miami. Not only is the schedule going to be tough, but there are three Friday night games for the Hokies. Who said it was going to be easy?
ESPN listed the defining game in 2026 for each ACC team, and for Virginia Tech, Heather Dinich had one that comes up at the backend of the schedule.
ESPN lists Virginia Tech football's defining game of 2026
For the second straight year, the Hokies will meet the Miami Hurricanes on the weekend before Thanksgiving. For the second time in three years, it'll be played in South Florida on a Friday night. By the time we get there in late November, there could be a lot on the line for both teams.
"The ACC couldn't have made it much more difficult for James Franklin in Year 1. The Hokies have three Friday night games, two of which come during an extremely difficult back half of the schedule that includes trips to Clemson, SMU, and Miami. No matter what happens before the trip to Coral Gables, a win against the Canes would be a heckuva statement about the possibilities for the program under Franklin. A loss would help indicate just how much work has to be done to close the gap with the ACC's best,'' wrote Dinich.
By now, we all remember the short end of the stick the Hokies got in 2024 at Miami on the final play of the game. A game-winning touchdown was overturned on the field with what many believe was not indisputable evidence. However, after what Miami accomplished this past season in the College Football Playoff, this is a huge measuring stick game for Virginia Tech. Season-defining? That might be harsh, but it certainly can be considered a measuring stick game.