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September 8, 2026
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NEWS VIRGINIA TECH AWARDED THREE GRANTS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COLLEGIATETIMES.COM
Julian Namez | News Editor
Virginia Tech was presented three grants to fund research for ultrasound imaging, yellow fever mosquitoes and dementia. In the past week, Virginia Tech has been awarded three grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The first, awarded on Sept. 3, is a $750,993 grant in support of research on pulse-echo speed-ofsound imaging technologies. Pulse-echo imaging is a relatively new technology that uses ultrasound to measure how fast sound waves travel through internal body tissue, producing detailed diagnostics of a patient’s condition. The same day saw a $588,671 grant in support of research on the yellow
fever mosquito. There are roughly 200,000 cases of yellow fever every year, resulting in 30,000 deaths. While primarily present in Africa, countries in the Western Hemisphere are currently at risk of yellow fever out b re a k s . Re c e nt l y pu bl i s h e d Virginia Tech research has revealed the specif ic protein at work in mosquito reproduction, knowledge of which can help efforts to control mosquito populations. On Sept. 4, a grant of $249,000 was awarded for the research into families that serve as caregivers for patients
OUR CORE VALUES Impartiality means reporting, editing and delivering the news honestly, fairly, objectively and without opinion or bias. Credibility is the greatest asset of any news medium, and impartiality is the greatest source of credibility. To provide the most complete report, a news organization must not just cover the news, but uncover it. It must follow the story wherever it leads, regardless of any preconceived ideas on what might be most newsworthy. The pursuit of truth is a noble goal of journalism. But the truth is not always apparent or known immediately. Journalists’ role is therefore not to determine what they believe at that time to be the truth and reveal only
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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with dementia. Roughly 500,000 cases of dementia are diagnosed annually in the U.S. alone, causing struggle, not only for those who have it, but for individuals like family and friends who take care of them. Virginia Tech research has already shown that dementia caregivers are prone to develop anxiety that can potentially affect the quality of care they provide. The HHS is the largest grant-making agency in the U.S. To apply for grants, universities officially register in the federal system, then submit a grant proposal which is judged based on technical merit, cost reasonableness and program fit. Once awarded, the grant is managed by the HHS to ensure the recipient is given the support they need and that the funds are being properly used. For more information on the grants
and awards Virginia Tech receives, visit VT’s Grants and Awards page.
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VIRGINIA TECH CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SENIOR SERVICE COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP Sarah Lindauer | News Writer
The Senior Service College Fellowship aims to help senior military officers build skills. BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech will now train future military leaders through the Senior Service College Fellowship on its campus, allowing enrollees to strengthen their military skills in national security and policy. The SSCF is a 10-month educational and leadership program providing national security, policy and strategy training to military officers. Enrollees receive their training at the United States Army War College in Pennsylvania. Others may go to partner universities like Virginia Tech.
Other institutions, inlcuding the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have also been chosen to participate in the fellowship. It is designed for senior military officers, many of whom have decades of experience. Participants are hand-selected before coming to Virginia Tech. At Virginia Tech and other participating universities, enrollees gain hands-on experience rather than just lecture-based education. They also work with artificial intelligence tools, modern technology and drones.
Over the last year, the Department of Defense cut approximately 100 fellowship spots across elite and Ivy League institutions. This included programs at Harvard, Princeton and Yale. The DOD cut fellowship spots to move away from schools that do not focus on core warfighting and national security skills. Students currently enrolled in the fellowships can finish their current studies; however, no new students will be admitted into the terminated programs.
The SSCF hopes its rebranding will help refocus education for its senior officers. Virginia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill are the first two universities chosen to participate in the revamped program, making it an honor for these schools due to the program’s prestigious nature. With this program, Virginia Tech aims to make significant advances in the military field by hosting enrollees in the fellowship.
SENSATIONS A CAPPELLA RELEASES ‘RUN IT BACK’ Aliza Baliff | News Writer
Sensations new album includes seven tracks and is available on all streaming platforms. Sensations A Cappella released their album called “Run It Back” on Aug. 28, 2026. It includes seven tracks and is available on all major streaming services. Sensations is an all-women, student-run organization at Virginia Tech founded in 2003. Every semester, they perform one themed concert with a variety of songs, mashups and genres. “Run It Back” was recorded in March 2026 in Charlottesville, Va., by James Gammon, under Sensations’ previous president, Claire Ross. “I was shadowing Claire Ross last semester as part of president training,” said President Ella Gardner, a junior majoring in communication. “Run It Back” is a really big achievement for Sensations, and it is so exciting to be in the group for our first album release. Sensations is the best part of my college experience, and I feel privileged to lead this talented group of women.” In spring 2027, Sensations plans to record an extended play. “This is a major achievement for our
ALIZA BALIFF / COLLEGIATE TIMES
group and me personally,” said music director Josalyn Harris, a sophomore majoring in multimedia journalism. “As a bunch of girls who shared dreams of being singers when we grew up, to be recorded on a real album is a surreal
experience. I am so proud of us, and I am excited to serve on the executive board and be the music director for Sensations this year.” To learn more about Sensations A Cappella, visit their GobblerConnect
page and their Instagram for live updates.
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LIFESTYLES
MEET LUKAS MÄKS SWARTMALGER: BLACKSBURG’S VERY OWN NOAH KAHAN David Vincent | Lifestyles Contributor
Seen as a local celebrity, get to know the man behind students’ favorite internet lookalike. The nickname was coined at Top of the Stairs (TOTS Tuesday) on an autumn night in 2022. Lukas Mäks Swartmalger had grown out his beard during the pandemic, and a stranger at the bar told him that he looked like Noah Kahan. “Who?” Swartmalger said. Flash forward to 2025, and his cover band Plum Crazy Purple was adding Kahan’s “Stick Season” to their sets. Swartmalger went to the bathroom and ran into yet another stranger, who asked him to sing the song again. It was filmed. It went viral. Next thing Swartmalger knew, videos of him singing Noah Kahan surfaced everywhere. Noah Kahan himself reposted them. Swartmalger picked up a Cameo account as a Kahan impersonator and has since grossed over three hundred requests. He even runs a TikTok account dedicated to tracking and reposting whatever strangers make of him. “I’m Noah Kahan of Blacksburg,” Swartmalger said. “Sure, whatever. Ha.” But he’s much more than that. Lukas Mäks Swartmalger was born in Madison, Wis., on Sept. 2, 1988. Three months later, he moved to Montgomery County, Va., before finally settling in Blacksburg by age 1. His father was a veterinary professor at Virginia Tech, meaning that his knowledge of both the school and the area was vast. He saw College Avenue widen from just a road to the more business-filled place it is now. Even as a kid, Swartmalger understood that the town’s affluence and diverse nature were in unique contrast to other small towns. He didn’t have Wi-Fi or cable growing up, but he learned how to drive early on. He grew up with dogs, cats and chickens. He read constantly and participated in eagle scouts, martial arts, track and cross country.
He also attended William & Mary and studied linguistics, which still fascinates him. However, Williamsburg never gave him what Blacksburg had. “The campus was beautiful, but it was a university that happened to sit inside a town, rather than a university that had grown into one. Tourists, students and locals moved past each other without touching. It was a socially stratified place with limited communal cohesion, unlike Blacksburg,” Swartmalger said. “We learned for the sake of learning, but there was no heart underneath it — at least that is how I felt.” So after graduating, he came home. The idea of going somewhere else felt like more than he could carry. Swartmalger admitted that he didn’t want a career built on his degree. Going home was a way for him to live the way he wanted. Swartmalger has worked multiple jobs: Virginia Tech Dining Services, modeling for art classes and even joining AmeriCorps, where he taught people about parks and worked with younger children. “My time at AmeriCorps taught me the difference between working to live and living to work,” Swartmalger said. “I wanted to work to live instead of living to work. I didn’t want to work for work’s sake.” He is currently working for the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute as an asphalt analyst. Before working for Virginia Tech or even attending William & Mary, Swartmalger was the first student in his elementary school to be diagnosed with high-functioning autism. His speech cadence, hunger for order and difficulty in deciphering the figurative and the literal. “I ask a lot of clarifying questions because I’ve failed inferences in the past to know not to trust my first read of a situation,” Swartmalger said. He also recently found out that he
has ADHD. Growing up, Swartmalger felt like his parents were frustrated with him for being “different,” like he was someone who needed “fixing.” He compensated through things that could be measured, such as school and knowledge. What helped him break out of the need to be “fixed” was the discovery of hard rock and metal music. He realized it was the catharsis that he needed. Swartmalger described how he felt as if his head was drowning in water and running out of air. The music grabbed his head, pulled it out of the water and told him that it was his “human right to breathe.” He has been singing karaoke since age 11, when he saw a machine at Squires Student Center. He was mesmerized. He started performing, even singing in a metal band that covered songs by Metallica, Pantera and others, which he’s still a member of. On his way to the Metallica concert in May 2025, strangers once again asked him to sing Noah Kahan. He hit it off so well with them that they invited him to join them for a closer view of Metallica. During that show, Swartmalger found a correlation between how both Metallica and Noah Kahan carry grief. “Metallica was like a deep well of grief and fear desperately trying to mask itself with violence and anger. They were a product of their time, growing up on the border between Boomers and Gen X, and that was their socially acceptable form of therapy for their sadness,” Swartmalger said. “While Noah Kahan carried the torch forward as a Zoomer by singing about grief and fear and depression as a man without trying to disguise it with rage.” Swartmalger pointed to the lyrics of Kahan’s song “Growing Sideways”: “I’m still angry at my parents for what their parents did to them.” That
line connected with him because it described the cyclic damage that he felt everyone, including himself, had absorbed. He appreciates the way musicians tackle heavy subject matter while maintaining beautiful melodies, which is why the power of music is something Swartmalger has found to be transformative to him. He loves that something so simple, like looking like a musician, has become a way for him to connect with the Blacksburg community. “You start to believe in yourself when you’ve got a community that starts to believe in you,” Swartmalger said.
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VIRGINIA TECH’S FIRST ‘SURVIVOR’ COMPETITION: FUN IN FROZEN FIJI Alex Rottkamp | Lifestyles Contributor
Take a behind-the-scenes look inside Virginia Tech’s very own “Survivor” competition. “Survivor” has appeared on national television for over 50 seasons and has racked up millions of views due to its unique blend of high stakes, competitive design and infamous contestants. Each season, 20 hand-picked guests travel to a remote location and must use their skills to not only survive, as the show’s title suggests, but succeed in challenges and situations in hopes of winning a $1 million prize. I n Blacksburg, the Virginia Tech Survivor club has been hard at work producing their f irst season of “Survivor” on the school’s campus. The series has recently launched its pilot episode on YouTube, with new episodes every week. Ellie Swain, Class of 2026 and former club president, hosted season one. She imitated the role of Jeff Probst, “Survivor’s” longtime host. “I have so much more respect for Jeff Probst now that I’ve been in his shoes,” Swain said. “There is a lot that goes into being a “Survivor” host that you don’t necessarily think about as a viewer. From preparing questions for Tribal Council to perfecting my announcing skills during challenges, there are so many little details that go into making the game run smoothly.” Twenty students from different walks of life were picked to participate this past semester. Some chose to participate because they were fans of the show, while others had never seen it before. However, that is the beauty of “Survivor.” The show brings together a diverse group of people to play one game in the same space. Connor Pike, a senior majoring in marketing management and a contestant on the inaugural season of Survivor at Virginia Tech, shared why he joined. “I think it’s pretty common when you watch “Survivor” to put yourself in the player’s shoes and think about how you yourself would do if you were out there,” Pike said. “When I saw the flyer for a season being filmed on campus, I knew I wanted to compete. I’m a very competitive person, so I just wanted to go out and prove to myself and anyone watching that I would be good at the game.”
Cast members from Survivor at Virginia Tech.
S ome of the contestants were longtime “Survivor” fans and had a favorite season they watched. With the show spanning over 50 seasons, it was interesting to see how people’s taste differed. “ My all-time favorite season of “Survivor” has to be season 37 (David vs. Goliath),” said Justin Shuman, a senior majoring in statistics and a contestant alongside Pike. “I’ve always felt like an underdog my whole life, so seeing people whose stories I relate to play and succeed in the game was very special.” The 20th season of “Survivor” — Heroes vs. Villains — was a mutually agreed-upon favorite for many Survivor at Virginia Tech contestants, including Pike, Jane Steele, Sam-Anderson Shepard and Danny Pack. The consensus was that the season had a perfect mix of
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH SURVIVOR CLUB
crazy personality and strategy, leading to a very entertaining season of classic “Survivor” chaos. This season of VT Survivor could very well have replicated that same chaos, with the first few episodes showing a promising start. Behind every great show is incredible production, and VT Survivor is no different. From editing the challenges to the tribal councils and the confessionals in between, it becomes a lot of work to put those clips together to form a show with an overarching story. The current Survivor club president, Wylye Tait, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering, was heavily involved in streamlining the production in VT Survivor’s first season. “ Working in a production as big as Survivor is very fulfilling, as the effort I put in is directly seen with player
enjoyment and the episodes releasing,” Tait said. “The most difficult challenge to produce was a challenge where duos were zip-tied together, but the zip ties kept breaking and we had to stop many times.” T he game of “Survivor” is near and dear to many people’s hearts, especially in Blacksburg. After all, Rick Devens, an iconic “Survivor” player, is a Virginia Tech alum. With a legacy in Blacksburg, the Virginia Tech Survivor Club has continued to uphold the legacy of its alumni and pioneer its way to new beginnings. Here’s to hoping the tradition of playing “Survivor” stays strong at Virginia Tech.
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OPINIONS JOURNALISM IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART COLLEGIATETIMES.COM
Kristina Dabaghyan | Opinions Writer
A career in journalism is as frightening as it is motivating. I can’t pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a journalist because I am a coward. My inability to deal with the reality of our world today is holding me back from pursuits I’d always longed for. It only took coming to college to realize the impossibility of it and, to be honest, I’m not all that upset about it. From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that involved public speaking, writing and photography. Journalism, involving all three of those prospects, was the natural conclusion for my future. Once I caught wind that journalism was a so-called “dying field” because of AI, news deserts and disinterest in reading or watching the news altogether, I was deterred. I went on to stake my claim in a far more vague area of interest when I got to Virginia Tech and decided to major in communications — like journalism, just … broader. From then on, when people asked me, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” My answer launched into a whirlwind tangent about, “Well, I wanted to be a journalist, but it’s kind of dying, so I’m in communications, because it’s broad, so I could really go into…” and on and on. Though I was put off by the rumor that journalism was going down a ditch, I still dabbled in entertaining myself with the fantasy of it. From my skewed perspective, if I chose to chase that fantasy, I could either go into sports or politics. To me, sports media is such a large portion of reporting. Plus, in my uneducated world, everything else I see on the news somehow relates to politics. In that same ignorant world of mine, it seems like most of what outlets are covering nowadays is war, death, crime and more death. I once had a journalistic advisor tell me, “If it bleeds, it leads.” In the way our public media plays out, I absolutely agree with him. Humans have a natural, twisted tendency to gravitate towards the goriest of news. I only just realized how spineless I’d
be in the journalism field after starting a class that delves deeper into the job. Starting each class with “What’s going on in the world today?” a majority of the stories told by my peers revolve around, you guessed it, war and death and crime and, naturally, more death. From there, we get into the nittygritty of writing from a journalist’s perspective, the top 10 rules of journalism, the actuality of the job and whatnot. My professor heeds warnings of the raw truth behind the scenes of writing a story that’ll deal a blow, reminds us that all sides of the narrative are reading it, advises us that one mistake can lead to boundless others and forebodes one vital lesson … that we never lose our humanity. One specific caution of his that stuck with me was that when you stop seeing the people you write about as people, you have to step away from the job. I once heard a story where a girl’s journalist dad, upon hearing of a local school shooting, felt a rush knowing he was going to be one of the first to report on it. That’s when he knew he had to change career paths. I believe that decision is exceptionally commendable. To stop doing what you love, to desert the thing you’ve poured countless years of your life into, spent endless volumes of blood, sweat and tears for, all because you’ve come to the realization that you forgot. You forgot who you’re writing for, who you’re writing about and whose lives you’re affecting with each word you type. I can understand how that consequence seems nearly inevitable for journalists, but also for humanity as a whole. We are so far past watching violence unfold and being shocked by it. Humans are so desensitized to the horror stories of our reality because it’s constantly broadcast and readily available. I’m beginning to understand that we are getting to an age where the people watching a gruesome war update are just as used to it as the folks in the newsroom.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WORDLING.
The readers receiving reports of another school shooting are adding it to a tally of countless others in the same manner that the person who typed it did. The teenagers scrolling past videos of car crashes and murder scenes have accepted it as the norm. I’m scared to devote my life to a world in which the possibility of my reporting about death hardens me against grasping the reality of it. I’d like to tell myself that if avoiding journalism means keeping my mind pure and my heart soft, so be it. In choosing that, however, I know that I am deciding to blatantly ignore the reality around me and instead focus on a facade of kittens and rainbows, a delusion that everything is okay if I just don’t pay attention to the harsh truth. I hope that as I continue to educate myself through college on the works of journalism and how we interpret harsh
news and distribute it in ways that help the world around us, I will start to see things differently.
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THE DEATH OF THE MOVIE THEATER Shelby Brann | Opinions Editor
Movie theaters may be fading out, but our love for them doesn’t have to. It’s no secret to my family, friends or coworkers that I love movies. More than just movies, I love movie theaters — the ugly seat cushions, the sticky floors, the line for the bathroom and everything else. I love the good and the bad that comes with them, from fumbling to find your seat in the dark to the soda machine that’s always broken no matter where you are. There’s something special about it; it’s a place designed for movies and movies alone. Everyone in the theater is there for the same purpose as you — to enjoy a few hours away from life and to find themselves submerged in plot. There’s a culture and atmosphere surrounding movie theaters that truly cannot be found anywhere else. Unfortunately for me, my love for movie theaters isn’t quite shared anymore. With the rise of digital streaming has come a steady decrease in movie theatergoers. To me, it feels as though there are more streaming options than one could count; there were over 200 alone in 2025. There are countless options to find movies, shows or shorts from Netflix to BritBox. Because of this, people are choosing to turn to their own TVs instead of the local box
office. A poll conducted in late 2025 by AP News showed that about three-quarters of Americans chose to watch a new movie through a streaming service rather than going to the movie theater at least once in the past year. This is a clear demonstration of the growing trend of streaming preferred over trips to the movies. Scarily enough, this poll is not the only quantitative evidence of this trend. Another survey by the Pew Research Center found that only about half of Americans went to see a movie in theaters in 2025. An even starker image is shown by a study by S&P Global, comparing the number of frequent movie-goers from 2019 to 2025. In just six years, the percentage has dropped from 39% to 17%, showing that the percentage of adults who attend the movie theater at least once a month has more than halved. As a member of this now-17%, I felt shocked to read about this dramatic decrease. I hadn’t imagined it would be so blatant. With this dramatic change in numbers, one has to ask: what’s the reason? Like most things, we can blame the
pandemic. During the pandemic, there was a $17 billion loss in box office revenue. As a result, major movie-making corporations began to experiment with releasing brand new films almost simultaneously on streaming platforms with the time they were released in theaters. Many blockbuster movies that would have normally been hits were delayed in release or outright cancelled. Because of this lack of being able to receive entertainment, 12 million people subscribed to a streaming service they’d never previously tried. Thus, the shift from movie theaters to streaming services began, and sadly, it’s only been reinforced since the end of the pandemic. Maybe I’m too stubborn, or old-fashioned, but I simply can’t accept this change. It’s my firm belief that pulling up a computer or an average TV for a movie night cannot compare to the experience of seeing a film on the big screen in a local theater. From dive spots to massive AMC buildings, there’s a special feeling that occurs when sinking into those old seats and getting ready for previews. I always get a rush when the lights dim and the opening credits start to play.
SPORTS
Aside from the magical — yes, magical — energy that Nicole Kidman thoughtfully summarizes in the patron ad of AMC, movie theaters represent something uniquely special to me because of my experiences with them. When I was in high school and deeply depressed, I went to the movies. When I panicked and needed a location for my first-ever date, we went to the movies. When I was working ten-hour days over the past summer and needed a break, I went to the movies. I know I’m not the only one, either. For so many people, movie theaters are intrinsic to their lives, from the broken Coke machine to the flickering projector. Although movie theaters in America may be fading and shifting to downloadable apps, I will fight this change and continue going to my favorite movie theaters rather than waiting for a digital release. For anyone else out there who loves trips to the theater as much as I do, I encourage you to do the same. Movie theaters may be dying, but our love for them doesn’t have to.
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VIRGINIA TECH FALL SPORTS ROUNDUP Staff Report
What’s going on with Hokies sports this week? Virginia Tech football’s 73-3 drubbing of VMI to kick off the new season was the Hokies sports highlight in Blacksburg this week; both because it was an eventful way to kick off the Franklin era and because nearly all of the other fall sports teams traveled. Soccer Women’s soccer beat No. 22 Georgetown 2-1 last Sunday behind goals from midfielder Gabby Ciocca and forward Eliana Salama before tying Penn State 1-1 on Thursday. Ciocca scored an equalizer in the 85th minute to keep the team without a loss leaving University Park. Tech is now 4-0-3. “I thought we did a really good job in the first half keeping possession, creating some chances and getting that first goal, which was key for the match,” Hokies women’s soccer coach Chugger Adair said
following the upset in Washington, D.C. “Georgetown’s a good side. They’re going to test us, and they were knocking on the door, so I’m glad we got the result and held them off there.” Women’s soccer is back in Blacksburg on Sunday, Sept. 6, playing Illinois on the Hokies’ Senior Day. On the men’s side, Tech tripped to Raleigh to tie NC State 1-1 on Saturday. Freshman Midfielder David Skovborg-Anderson had the Hokies’ only goal. The team is 2-1-1 with its next game on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Thompson Field. Volleyball Hokies’ volleyball traveled to Rock Hill, S.C., for the Winthrop Invitational on Thursday and Friday. The team was first swept in straight sets by Winthrop but
rebounded to sweep Old Dominion the following day. Outside hitter Adeline Hundl led the Hokies with 11 kills and a .474 attack percentage, managing no errors, a dig and 12 total. Setter Camilla Brandalise paced the team with 20 assists, while fellow setter Camdynn Gonzales trailed close behind with 17. Tech volleyball is 3-2 overall and travels to Evanston, Ill., next for the Northwestern Invitational, where it will play the Wildcats and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Men’s Golf Virginia Tech men’s golf teed off its season at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate, finishing 13th of 17 teams. Freshman Sahish Reddy tied for seventh individually at 4-under 206, featuring a second-round score of 65 in his collegiate debut. Golf next competes at the
J.T. Poston Invitational in Waynesville, N.C., on Sept. 13. Cross Country Cross Country was the lone Hokies team — outside of football — to compete in Blacksburg this week. Tech hosted the Virginia Tech Invitational on Sept. 4, which the women dominated. Sophia Holgado, Kenza Elakari, Jeorgi Gavalas and Elizabeth Coe claimed the top four spots, while on the men’s side, Roan Kelly won the 6K. The Hokies will host another event, the Hokie Invitational, on Friday, Sept. 18.
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HOKIES HAMMER VMI TO BEGIN JAMES FRANKLIN ERA Brody Bryan | Sports Editor
Virginia Tech’s new head coach opened his tenure with a commanding victory. Football games are rarely considered parties. But when you outgain your opponent 619-83, get fourth stringers in the game and put up the second-most points in program history, all under new LED lights in your new head coach’s debut, it gets pretty close. The Hokies thrashed VMI 73-3 in the 80th edition of the original Military Classic of the South at Lane Stadium on Saturday night, kicking off James Franklin’s tenure with a dominant display in all three phases. “We played a complete game,” Franklin said. “Offense did what they were supposed to. Defense did what they were supposed to. … I hope that [former head coach Frank Beamer and defensive coordinator Bud Foster] watched the game today and said, ‘That’s how Virginia Tech football is supposed to look.’” And for most of the night, it looked pretty good. From the opening possession, the Hokies marched down the field with ease. Sophomore running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. broke loose for a 50-yard touchdown on Tech’s first drive, and his running mate, fifth-year Marcellous Hawkins, followed suit from nine yards out on the next one to give the Hokies an early 14-0 lead. “It was definitely great blocking,” Overton said of his touchdown. “But it was definitely preparation. You know throughout the week, this is going to be one of our plays that’s going to get open.” Overton found the end zone again, and Hawkins twice more, though he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after one of them for high-fiving a member of the Corps of Cadets. “I’m not a huge fan [of the penalty],” Franklin said. “I don’t know why we can’t high-five somebody in the military. That seems somewhat un-American.” Regardless, the Hokies’ five rushing touchdowns scored by running backs on Saturday night eclipsed their season total from 2025 (three) in one game. “It feels good going past what we did last year,” Overton said. “This is only the
first game, though. We’ve definitely got more in the back to put out.” The good vibes weren’t limited to the ground game. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer completed 85% of his passes — his second-highest mark in eight career starts — for 224 yards and two touchdowns, one of which went 51 yards to Duke transfer Que’Sean Brown, extending the Hokies’ lead to 38 points. “Believe it or not, me and [Grunkemeyer] worked on that throw 1,000 times after practice,” Brown said. “From there, I just used my ability from God, and saw the end zone. I saw green, and I wasn’t letting nobody stop me from getting in.” The Keydets managed six first downs to Tech’s 30 and punted the ball 12 times — two of which were blocked, with one recovered by sophomore safety Knahlij Harrell in the end zone for a touchdown. The Hokies made 18 tackles for loss, surpassing the previous program record of 16 in September 2016 against East Carolina and November 2014 against Wake Forest. “We were able to make them uncomfortable and get them off schedule,” Franklin said. “When you can get an option team off schedule, they’re really not built for third-and-longs in the passing game.” Redshirt sophomore quarterback Bryce Baker was handed the reins for his first collegiate action early in the third quarter, as were many of the secondthrough-fourth stringers on Tech’s roster. “It’s amazing, seeing new guys,” Brown said. “In practice, they put in the work, and they actually get to go out there and put it on tape. It’s amazing to see them, and I was happy as I could be for them.” Just because the starters’ nights were over didn’t mean that the Hokies took their foot off the gas. With 33 seconds left in the third quarter, Baker rolled out to his right and delivered a 40-yard strike to junior wide receiver Chanz Wiggins. Early in the fourth quarter, sophomore wide receiver A.J. Brand — a converted quarterback — took a direct snap in the
DAVID SUITER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Keylen “Brodie” Adams (6) celebrates a blocked punt on Sept. 5, 2026 in Blacksburg, Virginia.
wildcat formation into the end zone from a yard out, making it 73-0. “My belief, when you get a game like this, and the points get the way they got, my job is to get the starters out and get the backups in,” Franklin said. “But they should have the opportunity to play football. …We need to see what Bryce Baker is able to do. To put Bryce Baker in and just hand the ball off the whole second half, that’s not fair to Bryce Baker and that’s not the right thing for us to do for developing Bryce and other players on our roster.” Of course, it wasn’t all perfect for the Hokies. True freshman Davion “FatRat” Brown muffed a punt off his foot, which led to a shutout-breaking 50-yard field goal by Keydets kicker Jack Joyce halfway through the fourth quarter. Tech was also penalized 11 times for 93 yards. “We’ve got to get those things cleaned up,” Franklin said. “That was really the only time we struggled, when we hurt ourselves.” Still, there wasn’t much that could dampen the mood in Lane Stadium on
Saturday night. “So excited with the outcome,” senior linebacker George Ballance said. “Definitely a huge win. The locker room, we were jumping up and down, getting excited, so definitely good vibes in the locker room.” “This was one of them games where we’re getting Virginia Tech back going,” Overton said. “It was definitely one of them games that we got to prove a point. Not just Coach Franklin, but I feel like everybody, all the guys on both sides of the ball. I feel like this game just proved, like, yeah, we back.” The Hokies will look to keep the good vibes rolling next Saturday against Old Dominion on Sept. 12, at Lane Stadium at noon ET.
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