After a 3-9 season in 2025, Virginia Tech’s decision to bring in James Franklin marks the start of a fresh chapter for the Hokies. While critics may point to his challenges against elite opponents at Penn State, his overall coaching record as a head coach still speaks volumes about his quality and experience.
ACC’s Biggest Weakness Turns Into a Golden Opportunity for James Franklin
Virginia Tech represents the latest rebuild Franklin has taken on since earning his first head coaching job at Vanderbilt in 2011. His arrival in Blacksburg has also been viewed as a possible shift in power within the ACC, which lacks the same level of weekly competition seen in the Big Ten, SEC, or Big 12.
“Virginia Tech won at a very high level for a long time under Frank Beamer,” football analyst Stewart Mandel said (16:30) in the “Audible” podcast.
“Now, they haven’t been able to figure it out since. You might say, well, it was all that one coach. He elevated them. He put them on the map, but a lot of the same reasons it worked still apply. I think big upgrade getting James Franklin in there. It’s not like I know the end of the Penn State tenure wasn’t good but I mean, he was in the college football playoff semi-final the year before, like so.
“Nobody’s expecting you to come in, and you have to take Virginia Tech to the playoff semi-final right away. So I mean, I expect big improvement right from year one, and there just aren’t that many schools. The thing that I think kind of holds the ACC back, but also creates an opportunity for Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech is one of maybe four schools in that conference that is football first, and they’re rabid about football.”
When Franklin was hired in November, Virginia Tech saw several decommitments from its 2026 recruiting class. He took over a class ranked near the bottom of the FBS, but quickly proved his recruiting ability by closing with the nation’s 21st-ranked class, according to ESPN’s Craig Haubert. That turnaround marked the first real sign of a potential new era for Hokies football.
Franklin made a point to engage with the broader athletic department in his first weeks on campus, attending both men’s and women’s basketball games. However, some big changes were already underway within the football program.
In his Wednesday press conference, Franklin said the program’s growth into a big-time operation has come through meaningful facility upgrades and a shift in how the athletic department supports players.
He mentioned improvements to the training room, weight room, and overall environment, along with fixing practical issues like adding heat to the indoor facility to protect player health. He also said that keeping athletes healthy is key to development, especially as Virginia Tech focuses on speed training to become one of the fastest teams in college football.
With offseason changes in place and the 2026 schedule set, there are signs Virginia Tech could reach a winning season in Franklin’s first year. The Hokies currently hold a 0.36% chance of capturing the ACC title, according to the PFSN College Football Playoff Meter.
