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· collected 2026-08-19 · by Aaron Beard The Associated Press
Virginia Tech has hired James Franklin as its new football coach, replacing Brent Pry who was fired after a 3-9 season. Franklin had been out of a job since his team at Penn State started 3-3 in 2025, and was brought on board by Virginia Tech by Thanksgiving. The Hokies are looking to elevate their program back to the success it saw under Frank Beamer era, and will face five of the top six teams in the ACC this season. This includes a matchup against preseason favorite Miami on November 21.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Virginia Tech hired former Penn State coach James Franklin to lead its football program on Thanksgiving. The decision comes after a disappointing 3-9 season last year and the quick firing of previous coach Brent Pry, who started 0-3. Franklin, who was also let go after starting 3-3, is expected to bring stability to the program. This move is part of Virginia Tech's broader effort to revitalize its sports programs, which have struggled since the Frank Beamer era. The school hopes to use football as a catalyst for growth and modernization, aiming to become a more competitive force in the 17-team ACC.
Written for “Virginia Tech Football Rebound” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.55 for article 1287 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-25
Things unraveled quickly last year, both for Virginia Tech and James Franklin back at Penn State.
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Things → unravel → State
The Hokies started 0-3, leading to the quick firing of Brent Pry.
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Hokies → start → Pry
And Franklin found himself out of a job when a team that had been to the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2024 and opened with a No. 2 ranking in 2025 started 3-3.
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that → find → 2025
Virginia Tech hired Franklin by Thanksgiving.
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Tech → hire → Thanksgiving
It offered a marriage of a successful coach ready for an immediate challenge with a school that has been hunting for consistent success since the Frank Beamer era.
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that → offer → era
“I think it’s been a challenge of a lot of programs across the country that have tremendous history and tradition,” Franklin said.
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Franklin → think → history
“They embrace and hold onto that tradition and history so tight that they haven’t evolved and grown into a modern football program and a modern athletic department.
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they → embrace → program
And I think that’s one of our biggest challenges.”
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that → think → challenges
That explains why Virginia Tech is looking to football as the key piece in a larger effort to elevate sports overall, with the Hokies picked to finish eighth in the 17-team ACC.
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Hokies → explain → ACC
Virginia Tech will see nearly all of the league’s projected top contenders, facing five of the teams picked to finish in the top six.
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Tech → see → six
That includes a trip to preseason favorite and national runner-up Miami on Nov. 21.
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That → include → Nov.
Strengths include potential with offensive skill positions and defensive front
The offense sputtered last year, with the Hokies ranked 14th in the ACC in total offense (348.8 yards) and scoring (21.4).
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Hokies → include → offense
There’s some interesting pieces, at least, for new offensive coordinator Ty Howle to push the Hokies forward.
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Howle → ’ → Hokies
Marcellous Hawkins is back after leading the team in rushing (749 yards) while making nine starts, while Louisiana Lafayette transfer Bill Davis bolsters a position that includes returnee Jeffrey Overton Jr. Ayden Greene (team-high 516 yards) joins Takye Heath as returning starters at receiver, joined by transfer additions at wideout and tight end.
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Greene → lead → wideout
Defensively, the Hokies have a preseason All-ACC pick to build around in tackle Kemari Copeland (7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks), backed by a returning part-time starter in Elhadj Fall (2.5 sacks) and the team’s leading tackler in linebacker Kaleb Spencer (67).
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Hokies → have → Spencer
Weaknesses include the need to solidify the offensive line
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Weaknesses → include → line
The good news is there are four offensive linemen back with at least 10 starts last season, including every-game starter Kyle Altuner at center.
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news → include → center
But that unit was part of the Hokies’ offensive struggles; the team allowed 29 sacks in 12 games, an average of 2.42 per game to rank tied for 105th among 134 Bowl Subdivision teams.
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team → allow → teams
The Hokies went into the transfer portal for help, including bringing in Big Ten players like Michael Troutman III (Penn State), Justin Terry (Ohio State) and Justin Bell (Michigan State).
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Hokies → go → III
