Trailing California 25-20 with 18 seconds left, things looked bleak for the Virginia Tech football team in Northern California. On the verge of being upset by a Golden Bears team that is banged up, Virginia Tech's offense moved the ball inside the Cal 10-yard line with three seconds left.
There was time for one play for the Hokies to draw up a play to win the game. That's what offensive coordinator Ty Howle and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer did, but the Penn State transfer failed to execute the play. His pass to the back of the end zone for tight end and fellow Penn State transfer Luke Reynolds was broken up with what looked like pass interference in the back of the end zone. No flag, game over. At his postgame press conference, head coach James Franklin addressed the no-call and took what could be considered a subtle shot at the officiating.
James Franklin addresses a non-pass interference call on the final play of the game
So, as you would expect, Franklin was asked and addressed it. Per Andy Bitter of Tech Sideline, here is what the veteran coach said.
Franklin on the last play to Reynolds with no call: "As you guys know, I don't officiate and I don't have comments on officiating. There's very strict rules about that. ... But things should be called consistently on both sides." #Hokies
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) October 10, 2026
There are strict rules about it, but there are ways that coaches can go about taking a subtle jab, and Franklin did. He is right about things being called on a consistent basis. The Hokies were flagged seven times for 88 yards, and Cal was flagged eight times for 99 yards. On the game-winning touchdown drive, Virginia Tech was flagged for pass interference in waht seemed like the exact same play.
However, there was no flag on the final play, and thus we move on. ACC officiating has come under fire, as it does in every other conference, but in the overall big picture, the game should be called the same way from the first play to the final one. That's all fans want and ask for. Consistency. Both teams. Both coaches. That wasn't the case on Saturday. However, in the overall big picture, the Hokies should never have been in that spot against a Cal team banged up in the first place.
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