The ACC and ESPN announced five kick times and television designations for Virginia Tech football games in the 2026 season on Wednesday afternoon.
Information for the first three games of the season were released, along with the two weeknight kickoffs. Here’s the info:
- Saturday, Sept. 5, vs. VMI: 7:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network
- Saturday, Sept. 12, vs. Old Dominion: Noon ET, CW
- Saturday, Sept. 19, at Maryland: 7:30 p.m. ET, FOX/FS1
- Friday, Oct. 2, vs. Pitt: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Friday, Nov. 6, at SMU: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Hokies will open James Franklin's inaugural campaign under the lights against the Keydets — and have former VMI head coach Danny Rocco on staff as an analyst.
It's also the sixth time in the last seven years Tech's home opener was a night game (and fifth on the ACC Network), dating back to 2020 vs. NC State (8 p.m.). The next three were North Carolina (Friday, 6 p.m.), Boston College (8 p.m.) and Old Dominion (8 p.m.). The lone outlier was in 2024, a 4:30 p.m. kick vs. Marshall. Last season, Vanderbilt was the home opener as a 7:30 p.m. kick.
The Hokies' Week 2 clash against the Monarchs will be their sixth game on the CW since the network acquired broadcast rights to ACC contests in 2023.
On Sept. 19, Tech visits College Park for the first time since 2009, when it won 36-9 and held a Franklin-coached Terrapins offense to 234 yards. It's the school's first night game since 2008, when Darren Evans ran for a then-school record 253 yards in the Hokies' 23-13 Thursday night victory in Lane Stadium.
Tech's two Friday games — vs. Pitt in October and at SMU in November — are 7 p.m. ET kickoffs on ESPN. It beat Cal 42-34 in double overtime on Friday, Oct. 24, last year.
Note that the Hokies' game at Miami, previously scheduled for Friday, was moved to Saturday, Nov. 21, in early May.