When he accepted the Virginia Tech football coach job, James Franklin knew that some things needed to be done. A roster overhaul was in order, but there was some key retention that needed to be made. That was done, as well as adding some key players from the Transfer Portal when it opened in January.
Since he was hired, Franklin has hit the ground running, and there is a different feeling around Blacksburg as the Hokies get ready for Year 1 under their new head coach. At ACC Media Days, Franklin commented to Virginia Tech that the Hokies had won the offseason, a quote that some took a little bit of and ran with it.
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However, the former Vanderbilt and Penn State coach knew exactly what he meant and what he needed to do to back it up. Translate the work done in the spring onto the field in the fall and let the results do the talking. Virginia Tech begins its 12-game slate on Sept. 5 at home under the lights against VMI. After that game, there will be 11 more games for the Hokies. Franklin, like every other coach, will tell you that they are taking it one game at a time. However, CBS Sports gave Tech some rather big bulletin board material for the end of the season.
CBS Sports gives Virginia Tech football bulletin board material
Austin Nivison of CBS Sports listed the best college football program in each state. His pick for Virginia was, well, certainly a decision. He picked Virginia over James Madison and Virginia Tech. Given the recent history of the Cavaliers compared to JMU's playoff berth and Virginia Tech's complete dominance of its Little Brother on the field, except for one year, it's certainly quite the decision by Nivison.
"The Cavaliers made an enormous leap last season, vaulting up to 11 wins and reaching the ACC Championship Game. The question now is whether they can sustain that level of play behind what should be an exciting run-based offense this fall. Of course, Virginia has major competition. James Madison was decimated by coaching and player turnover following a College Football Playoff berth, but it remains one of the best programs in the Group of Six, and James Franklin is entering Year 1 at Virginia Tech,'' Nivison wrote.
Sure, Virginia had a great 2025 season; nobody is going to ignore that. However, Nivison is also correct about whether or not it is sustainable. However, one win over the worst Virginia Tech team doesn't necessarily mean that the Cavaliers are back. Virginia had their one season where anything that could go right did go right, including having the worst Virginia Tech team in decades come to Charlottesville.
Virginia had their season in the sun, but in typical UVA fashion, the win over the Hokies was its ACC Championship Game, which it proved by losing to Duke a week later in Charlotte. Instead of a College Football Playoff berth, they settled for a Gator Bowl berth. Virginia Tech hired James Franklin and now is poised to fly right by Tony Elliott and Virginia. This will only be a one-year spot for Virginia, as Franklin and the Hokies will reclaim the spot after UVA's one season of success in decades.
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