Seven games into the 2026 college football season, Virginia Tech's defense under first-year coordinator Brent Pry hasn't looked as good as thought. Truth be told, it really isn't surprising, as not even James Franklin would fix the mess that is the secondary overnight. Given how bad they have played, it's a little surprising that the Hokies are 5-2 and really should be 7-0.
The truth is, it is not something that can be fixed this season and will take time and at least another portal class to fix, along with the development of some of the younger players. On Saturday afternoon against Georgia Tech at Lane Stadium, after allowing just a first-half field goal, which was set up by a muffed punt deep in Hokies territory, and forcing two turnovers, things were different early in the second half.
After a half of bending and not breaking in terms of coverage in the secondary, things broke down early, and the Yellow Jackets found the end zone twice in the first three minutes of the second half to turn a 24-3 deficit into just a 24-17 deficit. When the dust settled, the Hokies' defense was good enough to pull out a 34-24 victory. On Monday at his weekly press conference, Franklin explained one area that needs to be cleaned up on that side of the ball.
James Franklin points to an area Virginia Tech needs to clean up on the defensive side of the ball
Big plays have burned the Hokies ' secondary at times this year. That has been the case the last couple of years. Against Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets needed just three plays on the opening drive of the second half to go 75 yards and find the end zone. After their defense forced a three-and-out, quarterback Alberto Mendoza found Dalen Penson wide open behind the Virginia Tech secondary for a 33-yard touchdown pass. What needs to be cleaned up back there, according to Franklin?
"Our communication needs to improve, getting all 11 on the same page," said Franklin.
Well, that would be a good start. Communication would go a long way toward fixing things. It certainly couldn't make it worse. However, is that going to be fixed overnight? It needs to improve this upcoming weekend before going into Death Valley at Clemson for a primetime game.
Clemson freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds will be a challenge for the Virginia Tech secondary. He has thrown for just under 1,000 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. However, he has played against some good defenses, which should cause more concern for Hokies fans, given how they have made some quarterbacks look better than they are this year. Talk about the writing on the wall five days before the game.
Virginia Tech's secondary needs to improve if it is going to have any success on the road in its final three games away from Lane Stadium this season. Clemson, SMU, and Miami are all very difficult road games against signal callers that could light them up on the back end. Turnovers are going to be key away from Blacksburg in terms of the defense forcing them. It begins against Clemson on Saturday night.
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