After an offseason filled with change, anticipation and plenty of questions surrounding a new-look Virginia Tech program, the James Franklin era will officially begin Saturday night under the lights at Lane Stadium. The Hokies will open the 2026 season against VMI, renewing an in-state series that was once a regular part of Virginia Tech's schedule but has been dormant for more than four decades.
On paper, there isn't much question about which team should come away with a victory. Virginia Tech enters as a massive 55.5 point favorite against a VMI program that won just one game last season and is already 0-1 in 2026 — the spread increases to 68 when looking at SP+ predictive metrics. Instead, Saturday's matchup should provide the Hokies with an opportunity to establish an identity under Franklin and get an early look at a roster that underwent considerable change during the offseason.
VMI opened its season with a 38-10 loss to Idaho State, and even that score doesn't entirely illustrate how one-sided the game became. The Keydets trailed 38-0 before scoring twice in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, with Idaho State having already begun working backups into the game.
It continued a difficult stretch for a VMI program that finished 1-10 last season. The Keydets' lone victory came against Division III Ferrum, and winning seasons have been exceedingly rare in Lexington. VMI has posted just two winning campaigns over the last three decades, both of which came during seasons impacted by COVID-19.
This year, VMI is beginning a new era of its own. Ashley Ingram took over as the Keydets' head coach after spending two seasons at Division II Carson-Newman, where he compiled a 17-6 record. He replaced Danny Rocco, who stepped down following the 2025 season and subsequently joined Franklin's Virginia Tech staff as an analyst. Ingram's first VMI team has already established what it wants to do offensively: run the football.
Against Idaho State, VMI attempted only nine passes while recording 52 rushing attempts. The Keydets finished with 229 yards on the ground compared to just 11 passing yards. Those rushing numbers, however, were heavily influenced by a few explosive plays. Three second-half runs accounted for 124 of VMI's 229 rushing yards. On its other 49 attempts, the Keydets managed only 105 yards, an average of approximately 2.1 yards per carry.
VMI also rotated through three quarterbacks in the opener. JoJo Crump received the start, while Chandler Wilson and Nana Utsey also saw action. Running back Leo Boehling should be another name for Virginia Tech fans to watch. After rushing for 537 yards last season, Boehling received 17 carries in the season opener. Freshman Trevin Simon also showed some explosiveness, highlighted by a 46-yard run against Idaho State.
The matchup should provide an early test of Virginia Tech's discipline more than its overall defensive talent. Option-based offenses can create problems when defenders abandon assignments or attempt to do too much, and VMI's ability to generate several long runs against Idaho State showed what can happen when a defense loses its responsibilities. For the Hokies, limiting those explosive plays and forcing VMI into obvious passing situations could make for a very long night for the Keydets.
On the other side of the football, Virginia Tech's passing game should have an opportunity to make an immediate impression. VMI surrendered 366 passing yards and four touchdowns against Idaho State, which completed 23 of its 39 attempts. The Keydets also failed to record a sack and finished the game with just three tackles for loss.
VMI was considerably better against the run, limiting Idaho State to 88 rushing yards and 3.5 yards per attempt. That could make Saturday an especially interesting first look at Virginia Tech's passing attack and its revamped offensive personnel.
For Franklin and his staff, the scoreboard likely won't be the most important measure of success. Virginia Tech will be heavily favored, and anything resembling a close game entering the second half would qualify as a major surprise. Instead, Saturday provides an opportunity to see how efficiently the Hokies operate in their first game under an entirely new coaching staff. Penalties, turnovers, missed assignments and communication will be worth watching as closely as the final score.
It could also provide Franklin with an opportunity to get a significant number of players onto the field. If Virginia Tech takes control early, younger players and reserves could receive meaningful snaps in front of a Lane Stadium crowd before the schedule becomes considerably more difficult.
Despite the disparity between the programs entering Saturday, the matchup does carry considerable history. Virginia Tech and VMI will meet for the 80th time, with the Hokies holding a 49-25-5 advantage in the all-time series. The two programs first met in 1894 and eventually developed one of the region's most notable early college football rivalries, known as the "Military Classic of the South." They played regularly for decades before the series disappeared from the schedule following their last meeting in 1984. Saturday will mark the first matchup between the programs in 42 years.
The military connection between the schools will also be recognized before kickoff. Two HH-60 helicopters and an HC-130 are scheduled to participate in a pregame flyover, with the aircraft flown by Virginia Tech and VMI alumni serving with the 347th Rescue Group.
Forty-two years after the Hokies and Keydets last shared a football field, the old rivalry will finally return to Lane Stadium. For Virginia Tech, though, Saturday represents much more of a beginning than a reunion. After months of roster construction, practices and speculation surrounding what Franklin's first Virginia Tech team will look like, the Hokies finally get their first opportunity to provide an answer.
Prediction:
Virginia Tech will dominate this game rather easily, but there will be some growing pains that come with a vastly overturned roster. I think the final score will be 52-3 and the Hokies will be on their third-team offense by the time that the clock hits zeroes to start the Franklin era with an expected victory.
