James Franklin's first spring practices are in the books at Virginia Tech, and now all eyes turn to recruiting for the next couple of months before fall camp begins in August. It has been six months since he was hired in Blacksburg, and a lot of changes have been made.
Just how everything ends up falling into place remains to be seen this season for Franklin. CBS Sports patience meter was high for the Hokies, who are coming off a 3-9 season, and a lot of changes are happening. With Virginia Tech’s roster set and many of the roster battles already won, let’s set the floor and the ceiling for the Hokies in 2026.Â
Virginia Tech’s best-case scenario: 11-3, ACC Championship Game loss, bowl win
Talk about a ceiling for Franklin's first season at Virginia Tech. This seems like a stretch, and in order to get to the ACC Championship Game, they are going to need to win some big road games. Why not, right? The offense is going to look a lot different with more player-makers.
Familiarity with offense will help
Joining Franklin at Virginia Tech from Penn State are quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, tight end Luke Reynolds, quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien, and new offensive coordinator Ty Howle. Sure, other players are coming from the portal and retention on the offensive side of the ball, but this should be an offense that can attack different ways down the field.
Read: Ethan Grunkemeyer got brutally honest about leaving Penn State for Virginia Tech
Whether it's throwing the ball with Grunkemeyer or running the ball with Marcellous Hawkins or Jeffrey Overton, Jr., it's going to be interesting to see how they attack different defenses. Matt More developing a line over the summer, going into the season opener, will be key.
Schedule sets up well early
Virginia Tech will play its first three non-conference games to begin the season before the conference schedule begins. They open with home games against VMI and Old Dominion before a trip to play Maryland out of the Big Ten. Then ACC play opens up at Boston College the following week.
After that, things get interesting with games on the road against California, Miami, SMU, and Clemson before closing the season at home Thanksgiving Weekend at home against Virginia in the annual Commonwealth Cup. If Virginia Tech can get through the first month of games without a setback and gain some momentum, then things could get very interesting for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech’s worst-case scenario: 7-6 with bowl game win
Yes, I know, 6-6 is not something that Virginia Tech fans want to hear, again. They went 6-6 in what felt like a successful season in 2023 to become bowl-eligible down the stretch, then went 6-6 in what felt like a disappointing season in 2024, where they had visions of crashing the 12-team College Football Playoff at the beginning of the season. Another 6-6 season is not what the fanbase will be able to handle under Franklin.
The defense struggles under Brent Pry
Yes, that's right, by now you know that Brent Pry is back as the defensive coordinator for Franklin at Virginia Tech after being fired as head coach. Anyway, if they can repeat the success they had in State College in Blacksburg, well then, they've got something. However, the first month of the season will be huge in terms of putting everything together.
Virginia Tech doesn't take advatage of their early-season schedule
Things could go off the rails if the Hoies slip up at Maryland and/or Boston College. Then things get dicey. Road games become more difficult, and the outside noise about Franklin could grow louder. Injuries could also play a role in this; however, Franklin made it clear that one area that the Hokies had been lacking was depth, and they are going to have it in 2026. It's hard to imagine the season going off the rails where Virginia Tech doesn't even make a bowl game, but hey, anything is possible.
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