The First Bank & Trust Friday Q&A: ODU, Talent Levels, And The Season Outlook

15 Comments

1. 

   ChrisLords September 14, 2026 at 1:13 AM

   "The league needs Clemson, FSU, Tech, Miami and Louisville to be operating on all cylinders at the same time." I would add SMU as much as Louisville. As long as they have 6 billionaires interested in funding their athletics, they're going to be a threat. Especially now while every thing is good and they are experiencing some success they haven't felt for 35 years.
2. 

   Bwaterhokie September 13, 2026 at 9:44 AM

   The upcoming Maryland game will answer a lot of questions. A road game against a P4 program that has a good QB will be a challenge. I'm sure there will be lots of Hokies at the game. It would be great to be 4-0 going in the Friday night Pitt game. Lane Stadium will be electric.
3. 

   middletennhokie September 12, 2026 at 4:09 PM

   Thanks Chris!
4. 

   doodlebug September 12, 2026 at 10:44 AM

   Well it hard to believe that ODU has a 3-4 record against the Hokies. They have only had a football team for 18 years. Good for them but we should dominate them much more than we have. I think that will change under CJF. Not sure about our ability to dominate UVA, they are looking like a good team. Maybe the rivalry has returned.
5. 

   sacramento hokie September 12, 2026 at 7:02 AM

   Great writeup Chris I can see Dabo in the announcers booth very soon..Clemson DOES have the $$$ but Dabo is still stuck in old school and that won’t work as you described
6. 

   GO_HOKIES_GO September 11, 2026 at 9:49 PM

   As CC has mentioned, this series is mostly blowouts and Saturday will be no different - VT is going to beat ODU real bad.
7. 

   Cheesehokie September 11, 2026 at 9:09 PM

   I don't expect us to lose to ODU. But if we do, I won't be one of those who gets over it quickly.
8. 

   Stork September 11, 2026 at 5:11 PM

   “In short, Virginia Tech has added a ton of talent to its roster since last season, while the Monarchs lost a ton. I believe we'll be able to see that talent differential on the field this Saturday.” Correct. And easily explains why we lost to them last year.
9. 

   MiamiSailingHokie September 11, 2026 at 4:53 PM

   Would not think the FSU job that appealing to Franklin as he is a mid Atlantic boy with PA, MD, VA and NJ roots and connections.
   1. 

      middletennhokie September 12, 2026 at 4:08 PM

      Not his M-O.
10. 

    uvabasher September 11, 2026 at 3:05 PM

    Under old VT, a player or two from VMI could have been walk ons here. New VT under Franklin, I’m with you, zero
11. 

    NokieHokie September 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM

    The FSU leadership are morons. According to the journalists on the College Football Enquirer podcast, James Franklin wanted the FSU job, and was waiting for it come open before accepting the VT job. FSU kept Norvell, and then Franklin took out job. That's criminal negligence on FSU's leaders... But I thank them for it! :)
    1. 

       uvabasher September 11, 2026 at 3:06 PM

       He dodged a bullet imo. I don’t think FSU has the resources to invest in their program
       1. 

          NokieHokie September 11, 2026 at 3:39 PM

          Yeah I don't think he'd be a good fit there. Or FSU is a bad fit for him, really.
12. 

    uvabasher September 11, 2026 at 1:59 PM

    As bad as the ODU loss was last year it was a 10 win team with a lot of players that have moved on to bigger programs. The Dabo staffing is just pure arrogance and nepotism. Almost like he’s daring the program to fire him. That approach would have worked in a pre portal and NIL era where Clemson consistently fielded a top 5 recruiting class