When it comes to college football non-conference games, those games are usually set well in advance. Contracts are signed after games are agreed on, and some new rivalries are born.
This season, Virginia Tech had to drop James Madison from its non-conference schedule to accommodate a ninth ACC game on its schedule. Instead, the Hokies will host VMI and Old Dominion before traveling to Maryland to begin a series with the Terrapins. However, it's not going to be a long series as we all thought.
On Friday, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Virginia Tech and Maryland are canceling the 2027 and 2028 games between the two schools. Maryland will make the return trip to Blacksburg in 2029. The Terrapins will play a home-and-home with Baylor the next two seasons to make up those dates. As for the Hokies, this was a move that was very unsurprising.
Virginia Tech and Maryland reportedly cancel two non-conference games
With the ACC moving to a nine-game conference slate, this move was seen coming a mile away. Virginia Tech plays Notre Dame the next two years, and playing Maryland would give them 11 power conference games. That's not something you want to be doing while Penn State is ducking their power conference games and only playing nine.
The next two years, Virginia Tech will open the season with Liberty in Blacksburg. If I were a betting person, the Hokies would replace Maryland with a lesser opponent. That's what is done across college football.
This will be perceived across the college football world, or State College, as Franklin ducking a power conference game. However, a little research will explain why the move is being made. Penn State fans obsessing over Franklin should take a look at Matt Campbell's upcoming schedule.
What will be interesting will be who Virginia Tech picks up in 2028, with non-conference home games against Liberty and Notre Dame. Will they grab a third non-conference home game, or do they risk going on the road for one? That really didn't work out well under former head coach Brent Pry, playing non-power 4 conference games on the road. Things could get interesting.
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