Going into his first season as football coach at Virginia Tech, James Franklin's schedule is one that begins with three non-conference games to kick off the 2026 season. That is actually good for the Hokies to work out the kinks before ACC play begins at Boston College in late September.
The first two games of the Franklin era in Blacksburg are home games against VMI and Old Dominion. Two very winnable games, although you remember what happened last season against ODU? That was Brent Pry's final game as head coach of the Hokies after a loss dropped them to 0-3. Of course, a lot has changed since that weekend last September, including Franklin being fired at Penn State and hired at Virginia Tech.
There has also been a lot of roster turnover as well, which always happens every season, especially after a coaching change. Virginia Tech's first road game under Franklin will be at a familiar stop, College Park, Maryland, against the Terrapins. Brad Crawford of CBS Sports predicted each Big Ten school's game and record. He has a good outcome for Tech in Franklin's first true road test.
CBS Sports predicts Virginia Tech to beat Maryland in Week 3
Let's not sugarcoat this, Crawford has the Hokies going on the road and winning. On paper, this should be a win with a trip to BC the following weekend, but we have to remember, a first true road game for Virginia Tech will not be easy.
While playing two home games is nice to begin the season, you probably would like your first true road test at Boston College, where the stadium is half empty and just a close gathering of friends and family are in attendance. Maryland will sell out this game, and the place will be rocking under the lights.
This is a big season for Mike Locksley as head coach at Maryland. Expectations have not been met, and with a daunting Big Ten slate, this is a game that the Terrapins must win for their head coach.
"In Year 7 with the Terrapins, patience has worn thin. That kind of stagnation likely makes a coaching change in College Park inevitable,'' wrote Crawford.
Again, there are not many games on Maryland's schedule where you can count on a win right now. That is what is going to make this game a big one for the Hokies, going up against former recruit Malik Washington at quarterback. There is also no love lost between Locksley and Franklin, which adds a little more juice to the matchup. Regardless, this won't be a cakewalk, as some think.
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