The 2024 football season didn't go anywhere near expected for Virginia Tech. Looking to take a major step in the rebuild under Brent Pry in Year 3, the Hokies sputtered to a 6-6 record with a roster that retained a ton of talent from 2023.
Virginia Tech needed to beat Virginia at home Thanksgiving Weekend to become bowl-eligible once again, something that most people would have laughed at if you said to them that it would happen for a second year in a row. Incredibly, it was another one of those seasons for the Hokies.
Following the season, the Hokies lost a lot of talent off their roster with players entering the transfer portal, something that didn't happen the previous winter window, and players out of eligibility moved on to the NFL Draft or another path. That leaves Pry and his new staff scrambling to put things together for 2025.
You have to think that Year 4 Pry is a big one in terms of results on the field. Clearly, there is a lot to prove for Virginia Tech entering the season and proving that they are not a program spiraling out of control.
Virginia Tech named program spiraling out of control under Brent Pry
Andrew Boardwine of Saturday Blitz listed seven college football programs spiraling out of control and Virginia Tech was one of those seven programs.
"Once a dominant force in the ACC, Virginia Tech has seen a decline in performance over recent years. The Hokies have struggled to maintain their previous standards, leading to concerns about the program's future. The team experienced a significant exodus, with over two dozen players (26 total) entering the transfer portal, including key left tackle Xavier Chaplin. However, there is a silver lining as quarterbacks Kyron Drones and William Watson have announced their return for the 2025 season, providing some stability amid the turmoil."
It feels like the only silver lining going into 2025 is that both quarterbacks are coming back. They'll do so with a new offensive coordinator in Philip Montgomery, who is replacing Tyler Bowen who left for Ohio State as the offensive line coach. The Hokies also have a new defensive coordinator and offensive line coach just to name a few of the other changes in Blacksburg.
The schedule for next season is more difficult on paper for a team that will have less talent. Who knows, maybe without the high expectations, things will go better, but one thing is for sure, another 6-6 season or less, then the Hokies will be spiraling out of control, not a place they want to be.