from espn....teams most likely to rebound from a 2025 stumble:
Virginia Tech Hokies
2024: 6-7 record, 30th in SP+ (+10.0 adjusted points per game)
2025: 3-9, 106th (-10.1)
2026 projection (as of March): 7.3 average wins, 33rd (+9.1)
From the ACC preview: "[James Franklin's] going to be reliant on a mix of transfers and holdovers from a team that underachieved quite a bit in Brent Pry's final season in charge. [...] There's a chance it takes Franklin & Co. a little while to get things aligned, and maybe this ends up being a year for getting the young blue-chippers' feet wet. But with a manageable schedule and semi-proven QB in [Ethan] Grunkemeyer, there's potential for at least seven or eight wins."
More low-hanging fruit. After a 2024 season loaded with both promise and close losses, Tech collapsed last fall with two new coordinators and almost an entire transfer class failing to deliver what was required. The Hokies' No. 106 SP+ ranking was their worst in 52 years, so of course they're likely to improve. But their SP+ projection -- 33rd with a good chance at seven or eight wins -- is aggressive. There's a natural progression-toward-the-mean factor baked in there, and by my count Franklin added 16 former blue-chippers (freshmen and transfers) and around seven FBS starters. The floor is quite a bit higher than it was 12 months ago.
12 Replies
1d
Their heads - top to bottom. The players knew and so did the recruits.
I feel very good that we have a proven coach that will not tolerate the inexplicable mistakes the prior staff made over and over.
(In response to this post by squarerootofone)
2d
We have underachieved a couple seasons in the past decade, but otherwise we have been just average at best.
(In response to this post by squarerootofone)
2d
At the beginning of the season when Pry was on the hot seat I really didn't see the point of why he was still here. There was no way we were ever going to be even a .500 team with our talent level and coaching staff.
(In response to this post by extremehokie)
2d
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
M
MKD
2d
There simply isn't enough P4 talent and depth at this point. By next year, the defense should be in the top 6 of the ACC conference.
(In response to this post by squarerootofone)
{O} "...we, agry." {/Line}
I know at least one or two of us IV were practice-field confused...
...were we seeing a false negative or a double false negative at times this Spring?
Middle D is inviting... 1 legit Dt1 and then, what(s)?
C1 is solid, and the rest are questionable to modest after "hike".
soooooooooo...
???,
b.street
(In response to this post by MKD)
M
MKD
2d
(In response to this post by bourbonstreet)
I think its more about inexperience than talent level
(In response to this post by MKD)
2d
(In response to this post by MKD)
2d
TE heavy, plenty of running, ball control possession focus will generate first downs and take time off the clock. All of which help the defense.
And we expect to see more scoring as well, which also helps the D
(In response to this post by MKD)
2d
(In response to this post by squarerootofone)