The ACC did James Franklin and Virginia Tech no favors when it came to his first conference schedule in Blacksburg. Sure, it begins ok; however, the backend is something that is very difficult.
The final five of the nine games the Hokies will play are road games at Clemson, SMU, and Miami, with home games against Stanford and Virginia mixed in. Four of those five teams played in bowl games last season, while one, Miami, played in the National Championship Game. SMU and Miami are favorites to get to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game.
As far as the Mustangs go, it has been two years since joining the ACC with Stanford and California. SMU played in the ACC Championship Game two years ago, falling to Clemson, but received an at-large College Football Playoff bid in the new 12-team field. However, the Mustangs bring back a talented roster that will be tough to beat. Virginia Tech will have its hands full when they head to Dallas in November.
One SMU coach Rhett Lashlee comment should open some Virginia Tech fans' eyes
SMU plays at Ford Stadium, and SMU has won 17 of the 19 games played there, including all of their ACC games since joining the conference. That is not ideal for the Hokies, who are forced to play a ninth ACC game in 2026 to reach the new guidelines of playing 10 power conference games a season.
"We’re 17-2 at home in Ford Stadium, the best home record in the ACC. We have yet to lose an ACC game at home,'' said Lashlee.
It should be noted that SMU will host California, Virginia, and Boston College before the Hokies visit this fall. Winning on the road is never easy in college football, but winning on the road within the conference is even more difficult. Virginia Tech has its work cut out for itself this season away from Blacksburg, but going to Texas in early November is not going to be easy. It's also going to be a Friday night game, and the Hokies will be coming off their bye after a trip to Clemson.
There is nowhere to go but up for Virginia Tech under Franklin in his first season in charge of the Hokies, but the road schedule is going to be a major test, especially in early November.
Add us as a preferred source on Google