One week down, 11 more to go for the Virginia Tech football team, with, of course, two bye weeks mixed in 2025. The Hokies kicked things off with a 24-11 loss to South Carolina in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon in a game that was there for the taking. It wasn't surprising that Tech opened with a loss, but they need to rebound this upcoming weekend against Vanderbilt.
The rest of the schedule is going to be, but it is manageable for Brent Pry's team. With that said, let's do stock up/stock down for each of the Hokies' 11 remaining opponents after Week 1.
Vanderbilt: Stock Up
It was a ho-hum opener for the Commodores in a 45-3 rout of Charleston Southern in Nashville, and they will come to Blacksburg this weekend with a lot of confidence. Quarterback Diego Pavia had a strong opening game, and when the home-and-home was agreed on, Virginia Tech wasn't expecting Vanderbilt to have a quick turnaround as a program.
Old Dominion: Neutral
If anything, the stock could be up for the Monarchs, who went to No. 20 Indiana and put up a good fight against the Hoosiers before losing 27-14. They get North Carolina Central at home this weekend before a trip to Blacksburg on Sept. 13.
Wofford: Stock Down
The Terriers opened the season with a 16-15 loss to South Carolina State after allowing the game-winning touchdown with 1:29 left in the game. The Hokies are Wofford's only Power 4 conference team on the schedule this season.
North Carolina State: Stock Up
The Wolfpack got revenge for a Military Bowl loss to the Pirates last December by avoiding a fourth-quarter collapse for a 24-17 win at home. Leading 24-7 entering the final quarter, NC State held off a late East Carolina rally to enter this weekend against Virginia on a high note.
Wake Forest: Stock Down
I know the Demon Deacons are going through some changes with Jake Dickert as a first-year head coach, but beating Kennesaw State at home, 10-9, is not a promising way to begin the season. Wake gets Western Carolina this weekend and will need to play better before conference play begins in two weeks.
Georgia Tech: Stock Up
The Yellow Jackets went on the road and beat Colorado, 27-20, on a late Haynes King touchdown. After the score, they took advantage of some questionable clock management by Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, who basically ran the clock out with timeouts left. Anyway, this is going to be a hard game for the Hokies next month in Atlanta.
California: Stock Up
Want a Week 1 overreaction? How about the Bears rolling to a 19-point win at Oregon State with a freshman quarterback? This game, for one week anyway, looks like it's going to be harder for the Hokies when Cal makes the cross-country flight in late October for a Friday night game at Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech will be coming off its first bye of the season.
Louisville: Stock Up
I mean, anything less would be concerning for the Cardinals after steamrolling Eastern Kentucky at home, 51-17. They get a step up in competition this weekend, hosting James Madison, but it'll be tough for teams to contain Isaac Brown this year, including the Hokies.
Florida State: Stock Up
Nobody's stock was raised higher than the Seminoles after a 31-17 beatdown of Alabama at home. Thomas Castellanos was correct when he said back in June that the Crimson Tide wasn't going to be able to stop him. I guess he wasn't the problem at Boston College; it was the talent around him. Shocker.
Miami: Stock Up
The Hurricanes had a successful start to the Carson Beck era in South Florida with a late field goal to beat Notre Dame on Sunday night. The weather conditions were not the best, and Miami needed that win more than the Irish in terms of a College Football Playoff bid in December. Notre Dame can rebound more easily from the loss in terms of the schedule than the Hurricanes.
Virginia: Neutral
The Cavaliers opened the season with a rout of Coastal Carolina at home, but let's remember that this isn't the same Coastal program from just a few years ago. It's a nice win, but picking up a road win at NC State this weekend would raise their stock.