Over the last few months, there has been some shuffling with the non-conference schedule for the Virginia Tech football team. Some who want to attack James Franklin without knowing the reason for the changes in schedule will think that he's ducking schools.
He's not.
In fact, there needed to be changes because the ACC is going to nine games a season, and 10 games are required against Power 4 Conference schools. That forced some changes, and the Hokies are beginning to have their future non-conference games come into place. This upcoming season, Virginia Tech will play its three non-conference games in the first three weeks leading into its nine-game ACC slate.
That won't be the case in 2027, and on Tuesday, the school officially announced that it will begin the 2027 campaign at home against The Citadel at Lane Stadium.
Virginia Tech announces 2027 season-opening football game with The Citadel
The Hokies will begin the season against The Citadel, an opponent that they have not played since 1953. The Week 1 tilt between the two foes will take place on August 28 in Blacksburg. This season, Virginia Tech will play its first game of the James Franklin era at home against VMI on September 5, a Saturday night on Labor Day Weekend.
Virginia Tech will open the 2027 football season by hosting The Citadel on Saturday, Aug. 28, in Lane Stadium 🏈
— HokieSports (@hokiesports) July 7, 2026
📰 - https://t.co/7nI1gRulKf pic.twitter.com/kYcjeOEPrz
As far as the rest of the 2027 schedule goes, the Hokies will host Liberty a week after The Citadel visits on September 4, then they will travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame on November 6 in what will be the toughest non-conference game to date for Franklin and Virginia Tech.
The ACC will announce the 2027 Virginia Tech schedule at a later date along with their conference matchups, but first things first, the 2026 season under Franklin, a new-look roster and a new staff that will look to turn things around and erase the memories of a frustrating 3-9 2025 season that saw Brent Pry fired, opening the door for Franklin to be hired after he was fired at Penn State.
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