We are nine days away from the Virginia Tech football team opening the 2025 season against South Carolina in Atlanta. With Week 0 schedule to begin on Saturday, the Award Watch List season is just about in the rearview mirror, but one Hokies' player ended up on one of the last ones of the preseason.
Quarterback Kyron Drones is back and fully healthy, hoping to have a bounce-back season. The Watch List for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award was released, and Drones was one of 58 signal callers on the list.
Look who’s golden arm is getting national notice 👀 Kyron Drones is on the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List 💪#ThisIsHome | #TeamOverMe pic.twitter.com/chWUns8OJk
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) August 21, 2025
Diego Pavia to make some serious bank in 2025
After playing the Gamecocks, Virginia Tech will have a quick turnaround and host Vanderbilt six nights later at Lane Stadium. This is a game that the Hokies should have no problem getting up after last season's overtime loss in Nashville to open the season. However, it was reported that Commadores QB Diego Pavia is going to cash in with NIL this fall.
According to Pete Nakos of On3, Pavia will be making over $2 million this season, which is mind-blowing. The former New Mexico State quarterback threw for over 2,000 yards last year and rushed for over 800 more. He keyed wins over Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Alabama. Money talks.
SEC football expands conference schedule to nine games
When it comes to changes to college football, it usually revolves around the SEC or the Big Ten. This time, it's the SEC. On Thursday, they officially expanded their conference schedule from eight games to nine games beginning in 2026. It's a clear statement from the conference with regard to the College Football Playoff.
“Adding a ninth SEC game underscores our universities’ commitment to delivering the most competitive football schedule in the nation,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “This format protects rivalries, increases competitive balance, and paired with our requirement to play an additional Power opponent, ensures SEC teams are well prepared to compete and succeed in the College Football Playoff.”
Beginning next fall, the SEC will play three annual opponents, and the six remaining games will rotate among the remaining schools. Each team will face every conference program at least once every two years and every opponent home and away in four years. It'll be interesting to see what the ACC decides to do going forward.