Franklin Era Begins: Hokies Aim to Shed 'Also-Ran' Label

James Franklin has officially taken the reins as the head football coach for the Virginia Tech Hokies. This surprising move includes the rehiring of Brent Pry, the team's recently dismissed head coach, to serve as Franklin's defensive coordinator. Franklin and Pry share a history dating back to their tenures at Vanderbilt and Penn State.

During his time as head coach, Pry accumulated a 16-24 record, struggling to find consistent success. In contrast, Franklin boasts an impressive 128-60 career record, with only two losing seasons over 14 and a half years. Virginia Tech's recruiting classes have averaged 39th nationally, with portal classes at 49th, placing their acquisition strategy around 44th. However, the team shows strong development, having placed 13 players in the NFL over the past two draft classes.

As of 2026, Bill Connelly's SP+ preseason rankings place the Hokies at 32nd overall. Franklin's decision to integrate Penn State talent and retain Pry as DC is seen as a strategic move, though the hiring of Ty Howle as OC, who also followed from Penn State, is viewed less favorably.

The article highlights Virginia Tech's historical struggle to overcome the 'also-ran' status, referencing the 1999 BCS National Championship runner-up season as a distant memory. Now, with Franklin at the helm, the team is dubbed 'State College South,' raising questions about whether Blacksburg can yield greater success than Penn State, especially considering the ACC's perceived easier competitive landscape compared to the Big Ten.

Virginia Tech's returning production is ranked fourth in FBS, with 69% of their players from the previous year back. However, they lack representation on national top-100 lists and have only one player on the Athlon preseason All-Conference Team. The team's roster will feature seven players from the transfer portal, including former Nittany Lions quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.

Notable transfer portal additions include Duke transfer WR Que'Sean Brown and LA Tech transfer Marlion Jackson on offense, and CB Cam Chadwick Jr. and DT Kemari Copeland on defense. Franklin's contract is reported to be around $8.2 million per season, with his efficiency measured by wins per season.

The upcoming schedule presents a mix of challenges, including a Friday game against Pitt, road trips to Cal and Clemson, and matchups against SMU and Miami. The season prediction ranges from 5-7 to 7-5, with a 6-6 outcome anticipated. The team is considered a year away from being a true ACC contender, contingent on Franklin's freshman recruiting class.