Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech will both be without several key contributors for Saturday's ACC matchup at Lane Stadium, with the Yellow Jackets facing particularly significant losses on both sides of the football.
According to the latest ACC availability report, Virginia Tech has ruled out linebacker George Ballance, offensive lineman Justin Terry and defensive lineman Emmett Laws, while six additional Hokies are listed as questionable.
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, has ruled out 12 players, including several defensive contributors and running back Malachi Hosley. Starting running back Justice Haynes is also listed as doubtful, potentially leaving the Yellow Jackets without two of their most important offensive weapons.
More encouraging news for #Hokies OL Brody Meadows (probable) than OL Montavious Cunningham (questionable) in the first availability report of the week. https://t.co/BYAZwBraQ5
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) October 15, 2026
Haynes' status is particularly significant for Georgia Tech, as the Alabama and Michigan transfer has been one of the Yellow Jackets' most productive offensive players this season.
Through five games, Haynes has rushed for 462 yards and three touchdowns on 87 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. His potential absence would be a significant blow to a Georgia Tech rushing attack that has already struggled with consistency.
The Yellow Jackets will also be without Hosley, who rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown against Virginia Tech last season. With both running backs unlikely to play, Georgia Tech could be forced to rely more heavily on quarterback Alberto Mendoza and its passing attack.
Georgia Tech's defense has also been hit rather hard by injuries, with defensive ends Jordan Boyd, Jordan Walker and A.J. Hoffler all ruled out.
Linebacker Kyle Efford, cornerback Daiquan White and safeties Fenix Felton and Will Kiker are also unavailable, leaving the Yellow Jackets shorthanded at multiple levels of their defense.
Those absences could be especially problematic against a Virginia Tech offense led by quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who has thrown for 1,734 yards and 12 touchdowns through six games.
Georgia Tech has struggled to generate consistent pressure this season, and the loss of several defensive linemen could make containing Grunkemeyer even more difficult.
The Yellow Jackets also listed offensive lineman Josh Petty and defensive tackle Landen Marshall as questionable, adding further uncertainty to their depth along both lines of scrimmage.
For Virginia Tech, the most significant concerns remain along the offensive line, where Terry has been ruled out for another week.
The Hokies have already been forced to experiment with different combinations up front, and the continued absence of Terry, along with the questionable designation Montavious Cunningham, could complicate those adjustments.
There is some encouraging news, however, as offensive lineman Brody Meadows has been upgraded to probable after being listed as questionable ahead of last week's matchup against California, where he missed the game.
Meadows' potential return could provide much-needed depth for a unit that has dealt with injuries throughout the season.
Ballance's absence also remains significant for Virginia Tech's defense and special teams.
Head coach James Franklin confirmed last week that the linebacker would miss multiple weeks, describing his absence as a considerable loss from both a production and leadership standpoint.
"Obviously significant," Franklin said. "He was a piece for us on defense. He was a significant piece on special teams, and then just from a captain, from a leadership, from a culture standpoint, big."
Laws will also remain sidelined, although Franklin previously indicated that the defensive lineman has been progressing through his recovery.
Elsewhere, wide receivers Shamarius "Snook" Peterkin and L.J. Booker, along with cornerback Jojo Crim, are questionable. Wide receiver Takye Heath is listed as probable, providing another potentially positive development for Virginia Tech's receiving corps.
The Hokies will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they host Georgia Tech on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, with both teams facing injury concerns that could significantly affect the matchup.
Virginia Tech enters at 4-2 following consecutive losses to Pitt and California, while Georgia Tech is coming off an upset victory over Duke.
With Georgia Tech potentially missing its top two running backs and several defensive contributors, the availability report could provide Virginia Tech with an important advantage as the Hokies attempt to earn their fifth victory of the season.
