On Tuesday, Virginia Tech football announced it will open its 2027 season at home against The Citadel on Saturday, Aug. 28. As Andy Bitter reported, the Hokies will pay the Bulldogs $500,000 for the game.
It'll be the second straight year Tech kicks things off against a Southern Conference foe, with VMI serving as the 2026 opener on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Two of the nation's six senior military colleges, the Hokies and Bulldogs have only met twice, in 1952 and 1953. Tech won both games â in Charleston, S.C., and Roanoke, respectively.
The Citadel is entering Year 4 under head coach Maurice Drayton, who is 9-26 (6-18 SoCon). It won back-to-back conference titles and made the FCS playoffs in 2015 (under Mike Houston) and 2016 (under Brent Thompson) but has sputtered since.
The Bulldogs round out the Hokies' non-conference schedule for the 2027 season, which includes a home game on Saturday, Sept. 4, vs. Liberty, and a road game on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Notre Dame.
After an ACC schedule with four home games and five road games this year, that should flip for next season. Throw in non-conference contests against The Citadel and Liberty and Tech should play seven games in Lane Stadium in 2027.
For more information on the Hokies' future football schedules, click here.