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Football Preview
September 1, 2026
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NEWS NEW GAME DAY PROCEDURES AIM TO IMPROVE SAFETY Hannah Skemp | Assistant News Editor
New procedures are in place to ensure the safety of attendees at football games. A s football season approaches, Virginia Tech is implementing new procedures designed to ensure crowd management and a safe environment for attendees. The first game of the season and home opener will be Saturday, Sept. 5, at Lane Stadium against Virginia Military Institute. The Virginia Tech Police Department and the Dean of Students Office have updated game day practices, including protocols for entering the stadium and seating navigation. St udent s a re enc ou r a ge d to download tickets before arriving and use tap-and-go mode when entering the stadium. Cellular networks can
become congested during games, making the ability to access tickets difficult. Gates will continue to open two hours before kickoff and it is recommended that students arrive 90 minutes before the game to avoid dense crowds and enter with the group they are meant to sit with. General admission ticket holders must enter from Washington Street near the tennis courts and follow the route behind the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility to Gate 7. Gate 7 will now only be reserved for GA ticket holders. Any other ticket holders must enter through other gate entrances.
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that to their readers, but rather to report as completely and impartially as possible all verifiable facts so that readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth. When a news organization delivers both news and opinions, the impartiality and credibility of the news organization can be questioned. To minimize this as much as possible there needs to be a sharp and clear distinction between news and opinion, both to those providing and consuming the news.
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GA ticket holders will be the only students permitted in the north end zone and east side student sections. Students will be directed to the northeast ramp when accessing the east side student sections. In the event of an emergency, clear access to an exit is imperative; once inside the stadium, staff members will file students into their seats from the bottom upward in an effort to reduce crowding in the stands and stairways. The Student Conduct Office will have representatives present at all games to educate students about conduct expectations and address violations when necessary. Fraudulent tickets and unsafe or disruptive behavior can result in referral to the Student Conduct Office. With the f irst game coming up, u ni versit y of f icia ls a re a sk in g st udents to follow the updated procedures and take responsibility
for maintaining a safe environment throughout the season.
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HOKIEAI EXPANDS AI ACCESS FOR VIRGINIA TECH STUDENTS Abhigna Koochana | News Writer
Virginia Tech’s new AI technology promotes teaching, research and administration capabilities. In response to the evolving AI landscape, Virginia Tech released HokieAI, a university-supported AI platform that “provides metered access to vetted commercial models for generative and agentic AI.” It is intended to support teaching, learning, research and administrative work, according to Sharon Pitt, vice president for Information Technology and CIO. Its capabilities include chat, coding, image creation and more. “The development of HokieAI was grounded in the Responsible and Ethical AI Principles defined by the AI Working group, which completed its work in 2025,” Pitt said. “As in all areas of human innovation, expanding access within the university will catalyze better understanding and safeguards for responsible, ethical use.” Generative AI is a relatively new technology that is developing every day;
with its growing use, there is controversy surrounding how AI uses people’s data. Virginia Tech has emphasized that HokieAI takes measures to protect students’ information. “Information entered into HokieAI remains within Virginia Tech’s protected environment and is not used to train current or future AI models,” said Chris Bateson, manager of Enterprise Cloud and AI Platforms. “Communications with HokieAI are treated as private, and access is only granted through established legal or university processes, such as a court order or other authorized formal request within a defined scope. Virginia Tech’s Division of IT takes its responsibility for safeguarding user data seriously and is committed to protecting both individual and university information.” Currently, there are six models available for use and additional models
will be added as they are developed. It does not automatically have information related to course content or Virginia Tech policies; users are expected to communicate those to the chatbot, according to Dale Pike, associate vice provost for Technology-Enhanced Learning, and Jill Sible, associate vice provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs. Students are also expected to abide by Virginia Tech’s honor code and course policies regarding generative AI use. “HokieAI is meant to support users, but it does not replace human judgment,” Pitt said. “As with any AI model or tool, users should verify important information and use the university’s guidance on responsible AI use.” Students are encouraged to complete AI-related trainings, including AI at Virginia Tech: A Primer for HokieAI and
more available through the Professional Development Network. “HokieAI is designed to evolve alongside advances in AI technology by continuously evaluating and adding new models and capabilities that meet Virginia Tech’s standards for security, privacy and responsible use,” Bateson said. “By combining ongoing innovation with careful stewardship of university resources, HokieAI aims to remain a trusted and adaptable AI platform for the Virginia Tech community.” Questions about HokieAI can be answered through HokieAI office hours by registering for a session. In addition, commonly asked questions are available on the 4Help IT Support Knowledge Base.
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CLAVICULAR VISITS BLACKSBURG Benjamin Woltman | News Writer
Popular influencer “Clavicular” hosted a meet-and-greet at The Burg Resto-Bar. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, popular influencer Braden Peters, more popularly known as “Clavicular,” made his way to Blacksburg for a scheduled meet-andgreet event at The Burg Resto-Bar. This visit was a part of a larger college tour initiative by Clavicular. Other colleges in the tour include Penn State, the University of South Carolina and Texas A&M. Clavicular rose to popularity as a “looksmaxxing” content creator. Looksmaxxing content generally refers to a genre of online media centered around maximizing physical attractiveness — ranging from general self-care advice like skincare and grooming to more extreme and medically unproven processes such as surgeries, and “bonesmashing” (striking facial bones with blunt objects in an attempt to reshape the mandible). Clavicular’s content often leaned towards the latter. Looksmaxxing has caused Clavicular
to build a substantial following and a lucrative business; reportedly, he is earning over $100,000 from Kick livestreams, in addition to selling a $50-amonth self-improvement course subscription. Clavicular’s stop in Blacksburg proved no exception to the large crowds drawn from his appearance at previous stops on the tour. Before he even reached The Burg, a mob of students had already formed at Owens Food Court as students were able to identify Clavicular’s location via his livestream. The crowd eventually made its way to The Burg for the scheduled meet and greet. Reactions to Clavicular’s visit to campus were mixed. “I think the content is good, it promotes being the best version of yourself and self-confidence,” said Matisse Johnson, a sophomore majoring in economics. On the other hand, some students feel
Courtesy of Clavicular
that his media is harmful. “I think his content is not only dangerous but predatory and preys on insecure people as a means of profit,” said Jacob Hamlin, a sophomore majoring in entrepreneurship, innovation & technology management.
Clavicular continues his tour with the final stop scheduled for Aug. 31 in Tampa, Fla.
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LIFESTYLES WHAT’S NEW WITH HOKIE FOOTBALL
September 1, 2026 PAGE 4
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Alex Frank | Lifestyles Contributor
Catch up on all of the coaching updates, roster changes and more developments from the 2026 football offseason.
HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies captains walk towards center field for the coin toss on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Blacksburg, Virginia.
A lot has changed within the Virginia Tech football program since the Hokies last took the field in 2025. The team running out of the tunnel to “Enter Sandman” this year will look a lot different from last year’s 3-9 team. The changes, though, aren’t limited to the players and coaching staff; major upgrades to Lane Stadium have also helped usher in the new era of Hokie football. Here are the biggest changes to look out for this season. The James Franklin era The first major change came after Virginia Tech f ired former head coach Brent Pry following the Hokies’ blowout loss to Old Dominion at home in September of last year. Two months later, Virginia Tech announced that they had hired a new head coach: former Penn State head coach James Franklin. Franklin, who was fired from Penn State midway through the season, coached the Nittany Lions for 149 games,
winning 104 and taking the team to 12 bowl games. After Franklin was hired, Virginia Tech underwent a massive overhaul of its football program. Major coaching and player changes came in the following months. Two of the most notable changes were made at both offensive and defensive coordinator. New offensive coordinator One of the first major hires Franklin made was offensive coordinator Ty Howle. Howle, a former offensive lineman for Penn State from 2009 to 2014, was first hired by Franklin in 2020 as an analyst. In 2021, Howle was named the tight ends coach. The following year, he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator while still remaining as the tight ends’ coach. Unlike his stint at Penn State, Howle will call all the plays on offense. Despite this new responsibility, Howle
has already established himself as a successful tight ends coach. He developed four tight ends who went on to play in the NFL during his time at Penn State, including Tyler Warren, who won the John Mackey Award for college football’s best tight end in 2024 and was a first-round draft pick. Not-so-new defensive coordinator The Hokies also made a change at defensive coordinator, though the name might sound familiar. That’s because it’s former Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry, who the Hokies fired less than a year ago. Before taking the head coaching position at Virginia Tech in 2022, Pry worked under Franklin for 10 years, including seven seasons as Franklin’s defensive coordinator at Penn State. Pry was rehired by Franklin in December of last year. It is rare for a coach to be rehired by the school that fired him, especially only a few months after being terminated. However, Franklin made it clear in his introductory press conference that Pry left a major impact on Virginia Tech and showed just how close their relationship is after tearing up while saying, “I know he poured his heart and soul into this place. I know this place is better today because of Brent and the commitment he made.” Despite Pry getting to stay, many of the players who once called him head coach did not, and new faces have taken their place. The quarterbacks While many changes took place on the Virginia Tech roster, the most notable came at quarterback. The only returner in the quarterback room for the Hokies is Keldon Ryan, who spent last year with the Hokies redshirting. The other three are all new to Blacksburg. Ethan Grunkemeyer joined the Hokies after transferring from Penn State last year. Grunkemeyer, according to Yahoo Sports, is presumed to be the favorite for the starting spot despite Franklin not yet
having named one. The other two major additions are UNC transfer Bryce Baker and four-star freshman Troy Huhn. Baker has also been rumored to be in the conversation for the starting spot and could see snaps this fall. Huhn will be a name to watch in the coming years as he starts his Virginia Tech career. More than just the names While the biggest changes for the Hokies this offseason have been the big names added to the staff and roster, some other big changes have been made to stadium technology and the gameday experience. The Lane Stadium video board received massive offseason upgrades. According to Virginia Tech Athletics, the video board received an improvement in resolution as well as new speakers to enhance audio quality. Speakers have also been upgraded in the concourse and premium suites around the stadium. Lane Stadium also got an upgrade to its lighting system. The field lights were all replaced with LEDs, allowing for a more interactive experience. Virginia Tech football will look a lot different in 2026. After a long wait, the Hokies will see whether their offseason changes pay off in their first game at Lane Stadium against VMI on Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
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LET’S GO HOKIES: THE COLLEGIATE TIMES’ FAVORITE GAMEDAY TRADITIONS Collegiate Times staff
As the first game of the season approaches, the Collegiate Times’ staff shares their most cherished football customs. Whether it be walking across the iconic Drillfield or attending a basketball game at Cassell Coliseum, there is no shortage of experiences that make Virginia Tech unique. However, one of the most distinctly Hokie experiences may just be the crisp fall Saturdays when Hokie fans dressed in maroon and orange descend on Blacksburg for college football. From tailgating to jumping in Lane Stadium, the Collegiate Times staff shares their favorite Virginia Tech gameday traditions. Alex Frank, lifestyles contributor While there is no doubt “Enter Sandman” is the best Virginia Tech football tradition, the build-up to it for me is what makes it so great. One of my favorite parts of game day is when Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” comes on with a hype video playing in the background while the team walks from the locker room to the tunnel and 66,000 people clap in unison. The anticipation and energy building is an experience unlike any other.
Kristina Dabaghyan, lifestyles and opinions writer I love to see the effort everyone puts into dressing up for games. Amidst the buzzing electricity in Lane Stadium before our football team storms the field, I always pause and take a still second to absorb the energy around me. Scoping the rows of bleachers filled with maroon and orange and actively watching the energy amp up is a beautiful reminder of how alive our fan base is at Virginia Tech. Aleeza Ali, lifestyles staff writer On gamedays, I love making friends with the people sitting near my friends and me in the stands. It’s exciting getting to know other Hokies that I might not have gotten the chance to meet otherwise. The sense of community is unmatched, and we’re all here for the same reason: to enjoy Virginia Tech football, all decked out in our maroon and orange, ready to jump to “Enter Sandman.” Samuel Harvey, lifestyles assistant editor Although jumping to “Enter Sandman”
definitely hypes the crowd up every time, my personal favorite Virginia Tech football tradition comes right before. The stadium speakers fall silent and the HighTechs hold up signs in both end zones. Depending on where you’re seated, you either shout “Let’s go” or “Hokies.” The chant echoes end-to-end in the stadium, and I always enjoy that moment of every fan coming together to do the cheer. Ella Winterling, lifestyles editor While there are so many things to love about Virginia Tech’s football festivities, my favorite has to be jumping to “Enter Sandman” at the beginning of every game. Once the lights dim, the first guitar riff begins and the stadium starts jumping; the energy present is a unique experience that can only be found in Lane Stadium. Shelby Brann, opinions editor There’s nothing I find more exciting or fun than watching the Cadets run through Newman Library or Turner Place with the legendary “game ball.” Emily Urda, opinions editor
Seeing the football players run in and hearing the beginning chords of “Enter Sandman” make me emotional, and I find myself holding back tears each time. The energy of the crowd makes me feel a part of something bigger than myself and reminds me of the community spirit I love at Virginia Tech. Annie O’Connell, lifestyles assistant editor “H-O-K-I-E-S, HOKIES!” The electric atmosphere of Virginia Tech game days is undeniable, and one of the reasons why is all thanks to our chants. From “Enter Sandman” to “Let’s Go, Hokies,” the chants echoing from Lane Stadium have to be one of my favorite traditions of Virginia Tech’s game days.
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SONGS HOKIES SHOULD KNOW BEFORE STEPPING INTO LANE STADIUM Ella Winterling and Samuel Harvey | Lifestyles Editor and Lifestyles Assistant Editor Start singing and jamming to Virginia Tech’s key football songs to get prepared for gameday. Along with the vibrant maroon and orange sea of a gameday crowd, the scent of freshly cut grass and cooking turkey legs, gamedays in Blacksburg are also full of iconic sounds. Beyond the roar of thousands of Hokie fans, Lane Stadium echoes with a number of iconic gameday songs. Here are a few must-knows for every Hokie fan. “Enter Sandman” Perhaps the song most closely associated with Virginia Tech football, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” acts as the soundtrack for one of the most iconic college football entrances. As the song starts, fans in the stadium begin to jump, building excitement until the Virginia Tech football players run out through the tunnel, greeted by cheers
and heavy metal. It’s an iconic Virginia Tech tradition and “Enter Sandman” is definitely a song to know. “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” by Johnny Cash precedes “Enter Sandman” during Virginia Tech’s pre-game festivities. The rhythm of the song encourages spectators to stomp and clap along with the beat, building momentum for when the song transitions into “Enter Sandman.” When “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” begins to play, fans know the excitement of kickoff is close. “We Ready” As the Hokies get ready for kickoff, “We
Ready” by Archie Eversole rings throughout Lane Stadium as fans link arms and sway to the beat of the song. The crowd sings along with the lyrics “we ready, we ready (for y’all),” showing the opposing team just a glimpse of Hokie pride. “We Ready” is the last song played beforethestartofthegame,signaling fans are “ready” for the game ahead. “Tech Triumph” A much more historical song than other gameday playlist essentials, “Tech Triumph” commonly played by The Marching Virginians and The HightyTighties throughout the game itself and gameday festivities. Composed by Wilfred P. Maddux (Class of 1920) and Mattie Eppes in 1919, the song has acted as one of Virginia Tech’s fight songs and most iconic tunes.
“Shout” “Shout” by the Isley Brothers plays at the beginning of the final quarter to continue good crowd morale in the final stretch of the game. The song is accompanied by a jumbotron video, becoming a stadium staple for over a decade. When “Shout” plays, the crowd throws their hands in the air and fills the stadium with energy to lead the Hokies through the home-stretch of the game. From classic fight songs to heavy metal, Virginia Tech’s gameday soundtrack reflects the traditions and school pride that make college gameday in Blacksburg a memorable experience.
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OPINIONS CONSIDER SWITCHING YOUR MAJOR Emily Urda | Opinions Editor
Every freshman should consider changing their major at least once to explore all of their opportunities. How might someone figure out what they want to do for the rest of their life? How might someone figure everything out at 18? At 18, I felt so sure I was going to be a biology student on the pre-med track. The anxiety that I had made the wrong decision sat heavy because I didn’t realize that most college students are not sure either. I felt I was behind when I realized I was unsure, but what I wish I knew earlier was that it was just a step towards realizing what my actual dreams and goals were. About 30% of students change their college major once, and 10% change it more than once. Oftentimes, it’s difficult to find and get opportunities to experience a possible future career in high school. Getting research, a job or an internship in an area that might require a college degree can be challenging. Some jobs take years of seeking out connections in that specific company, physicians question your maturity level and research is difficult to get into without taking college level courses. Going into college may be the only time to experience a future career path before making a final decision. Speaking from personal experience, I had a general goal of someday becoming a doctor. I pursued it in high school and thought that was my end goal. Pre-med students can major in anything from STEM to humanities. I chose biology as a college major, but I didn’t realize that there were other majors that I wanted to do. Something extremely important is getting involved in different activities in college and classes that seem interesting. In my freshman year I took Russian literature and knowledge and reality with James Klagge. Volunteering, doing research, joining a fraternity/ soroity or a club is important. Not only are there opportunities to learn about a future career path, but also people farther along, willing to help. This information can be about the hiring process, good classes to take and great professors
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to seek out. Joining clubs in an area of interest also provides exposure to people who are similar to yourself, due to similar career interests. This will result in friendships that survive past college. My freshman year, I joined a research lab and did Virginia Tech Crew. Working in a research lab made me realize what area of research I am not interested in and pushed me into a direction I enjoyed more. This experience also taught me a lot about where my ethics and morals are when it comes to research and what I should look for in future labs. This information is extremely important, and while most people may do research just to do it and place it on their resume, it was more than that to me. It was also to see if I liked research, and if I wanted to pursue
immunological research. Virginia Tech Crew was a huge time commitment and made me evaluate my time management skills. I couldn’t continue to commit my sophomore year due to difficult courses. Not being able to do VT Crew ended up being a good thing. I had more room to be involved in other parts of campus like volunteering with The Virginia Tech Prison Book Project. Joining experiences that may not entirely line up with future career goals expands thinking. Working with VTPBP made me cognizant of education gaps, and it made me more curious about global health education. Global health access and education gaps led me to become more knowledgeable and subsequently be interested in working
with TEAM Malawi at Virginia Tech. These experiences ultimately made me reconsider my biology major and pushed me into a different direction. Biomedical engineering was a clear new direction that would give me the experiences of working on a team and expose me to different ways to solve complex problems. Opportunities to improve and save lives drastically made me eager to learn and help. Do experiences that don’t align perfectly with your goals, but keep an open mind as they might lead to a career goal that excites you more.
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SPORTS VMI PREVIEW: HOW WILL THE JAMES FRANKLIN ERA START? Alex Winn | Sports Editor
The Military Classic of the South returns to kick off James Franklin’s Hokies reign.
RILEY THOMPSON / COLLEGIATE TIMES
The Hokies should be going into Week 1 with some confidence against FCS opponent VMI. They’ve only ever lost to two FCS opponents and have won 13 straight games against non-FBS schools. Their last FCS loss came in 2010 to James Madison, then in the Colonial Athletic Association, in a crushing 21-16 home loss. Virginia Tech looks poised to avoid that against the Keydets on Saturday. The two teams used to play each other every year when they were both in the Southern Conference, but they haven’t played each other since 1984. This time, the teams don’t seem to be as equal as they were decades ago. “To me, it was like bigger than life,” legendary former Hokies head coach Frank Beamer said of the Military Classic of the South in a promotional video posted by the team this week. For the Hokies, the energy is different compared to this time last year due to the hiring of new head coach James Franklin,
formerly of Penn State and Vanderbilt. Franklin brought a plethora of transfers and recruits, led by new presumed starting quarterback and sophomore Ethan Grunkemeyer. Even with the wave of new players, a lot of Tech’s production will have to come from returners from last year’s 3-9 team. The Hokies’ first game will serve to answer some questions for a team that didn’t play in Week 0 like VMI, though it fell to Idaho State 38-10. The Bengals finished 6-6 in the Big Sky last season. VMI’s 2025 season didn’t offer much to remember. The Keydets went 1-11, with their lone win coming against Division II Ferrum. Their average margin of defeat was nearly 27 points, and this season started with more of the same. The Keydets’ offense is led by returning quarterbacks JoJo Crump and Chandler Wilson, both juniors. Crump threw the ball seven times against Idaho State, completing three passes for 16
yards. Wilson is more of a designed runner at QB, only throwing once but running the ball for 62 yards and the lone score for VMI. The Keydets lost their top four receivers last season to the transfer portal, so they come into 2026 with a completely new group, none of whom flashed against Idaho State. The group is seemingly led by junior tight end Cade Cox and sophomore wide receiver Traveion Slaughter. The running back room for the Keydets is nearly the exact same as last year, led by junior Leo Boehling, who ran 17 times against Idaho State. VMI’s run-first offense should be a test for the Hokies, who seem to have an improved defense this season. VMI’s defense allowed Idaho State QB Jordan Cooke to throw for 325 yards and four touchdowns, though it forced one interception. Cooke’s four touchdown passes all came in less than 15 minutes of game time between the second and third quarters. The Keydets allowed Idaho State to accumulate 454 yards — 366 in the air and 88 on the ground. The Hokies should be able to capitalize on their defense, and Grunkemeyer could be receiving a soft first start at Tech, facing a defense that isn’t on the same level as the Big Ten schools he played last year. The Keydets struggled to start the year on special teams, too. They allowed the Bengals to block a punt and return it for a touchdown. VMI punted the ball nine times against Idaho State. The Hokies will hope they can use their speed at punt returner to capitalize on the Keydets’ special teams unit that will likely be on the field a lot if things go Tech’s way. The Hokies and Keydets have a lot of history: They’ve played each other 79 times, with Tech leading the all-time series 49-25-5 and taking the last matchup 54-7 on Oct. 6, 1984. “We had a team meeting today and (Franklin) brought up the history of us
playing VMI,” said junior linebacker Keon Wylie last week. “He talked about how our naval corps don’t like each other. He’s just trying to emphasize the importance of the game and that no game is bigger than the first game.” Will the Hokies pick up their 50th win against the Keydets and start the Franklin era with a win, or will VMI pull off one of the largest upsets in school history against a former rival and spoil the start of Franklin’s tenure in Blacksburg? The Hokies and Keydets face off at Lane Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ACCN.
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SEASON PREVIEW: VIRGINIA TECH LOOKS TO TURN THE PAGE IN 2026 Brody Bryan | Sports Editor
James Franklin’s transformation of Hokies football begins. At Virginia Tech’s spring game on April 18, Hokies head coach James Franklin addressed the crowd at the end of the first quarter, claiming that the team and fanbase were “going to shock the world together.” Nineteen weeks later, it’s time to prove it. The Hokies kick off their 2026 campaign on Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET against VMI, marking the beginning of the Franklin era and a new chapter for the program. Tech is coming off a 3-9 season in 2025, its worst record since going 2-8-1 in 1992. Then-head coach Brent Pry was fired after a 45-26 loss to Old Dominion, but was rehired in December to serve as defensive coordinator under Franklin. The two have worked together for 11 years, dating back to Franklin’s first head coaching job at Vanderbilt. Though Pry’s defense has retained a majority of its players, including third-team All-ACC defensive lineman Kemari Copeland, several newcomers have also entered the fray. Troy transfer Jaquez White was a top FBS cornerback last season, being named All-SBC second team, and Penn State transfer Keon Wylie should slot in at linebacker after following Franklin to Tech. “A lot of different schools hit me up (in the transfer portal),” Wylie said. “Coach Franklin ended up hitting me up. I came down here, and I actually had other visits set up, but I already was familiar with how Coach Franklin is.” Beyond Copeland, the Hokies return several familiar faces along the defensive line, including redshirt junior Aycen Stevens and redshirt senior Elhadj Fall, while Penn State transfer Cortez Harris adds another option to the edge rusher rotation. “Cortez is a guy that has a chance to have a really big year for us,” Franklin said. “He’s just so explosive, and football’s really important to him. …There’s guys that like football. This guy loves football.” One of the focal points of fall camp has been the quarterback competition, largely between Ethan Grunkemeyer and Bryce Baker.
Grunkemeyer, like Wylie, began his collegiate career at Penn State, where he spent the majority of his time as the backup to Drew Allar before starting the final seven games of the 2025 season after Allar was sidelined with an ankle injury. He completed 68.9% of his passes for 1,234 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Baker, a redshirt freshman, was a four-star recruit out of East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, N.C. He spent the 2025 season in his home state at North Carolina before transferring to Blacksburg in January. Though Franklin has not yet named a starter, Grunkemeyer was recently voted captain by players, coaches and staff, along with linebackers George Ballance and Kaleb Spencer, tight end Benji Gosnell, safety Tyson Flowers and kicker John Love. “The way we do it, everybody votes,” Franklin said. “It’s not just the players’ captains. It’s all of our captains …It’s not the best player, and it’s not a popularity contest. It’s who are the guys that are living the standard day in and day out.” While Franklin has yet to officially name a starting quarterback, signs point overwhelmingly to Grunkemeyer taking Week 1 duties and beyond. But who will he throw to? The Hokies retained last season’s leading receiver Ayden Greene and added transfers Que’Sean Brown and Marlion Jackson, who posted a combined 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. Takye Heath also returns after tallying 200 yards and three touchdowns, and Tyseer Denmark, Davion “FatRat” Brown — a true freshman who has impressed throughout fall camp — Jeff Exinor Jr. and Chanz Wiggins provide some young depth to round out the room. The backfield features a similarly deep group, with last season’s leading rusher Marcellous Hawkins set to return in a featured role along with Jeffrey Overton Jr., who rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown in four games last season after missing the first eight due to injury. Behind Hawkins and Overton, competition has emerged for the remaining
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spots in the rotation. Franklin said true freshman Messiah Mickens and redshirt sophomore Tyler Mason are battling for the third spot. “Part of that battle is who’s going to have the most significant role on special teams,” Franklin said. “I’ve been pleased with the (running backs) group. I think we’ll have a chance to have three, possibly four backs that could go in a game and play well enough to allow us to win.” Penn State transfer Luke Reynolds headlines the tight end room alongside Gosnell and redshirt junior Ja’Ricous Hairston, while Oklahoma transfer Luke Howland and Ohio State transfer Justin Terry look to fortify an offensive line that allowed 29 sacks last season, the sixth-most in the ACC. Tech’s 2026 slate features seven games at Lane Stadium and five on the road, beginning with consecutive home matchups against VMI and Old Dominion. The Hokies will then travel to College Park to take on Maryland for the first time since the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl, when the Terrapins trounced Tech 54-10. ACC play kicks off on Sept. 26 at
Boston College, followed by Pitt and then a West Coast trip to Berkeley to face Cal, which Tech knocked off 42-34 in a double-overtime thriller last season. The season culminates with 2025 national runner-up Miami and in-state rival Virginia, which defeated Tech last season to take home the Commonwealth Cup for the first time since 2019. A year removed from its worst season in more than three decades, Tech enters 2026 with a new look and much higher expectations. On Saturday, the Hokies begin their attempt to shock the world.
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