James Franklin, the new head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies, expressed confidence in his team's progress following his first offseason with the program. During ACC Media Days, Franklin stated that the Hokies had 'won the offseason,' citing improvements in size, strength, and speed. He also highlighted the addition of 12 former Penn State players and the return of defensive coordinator Brent Pry, who previously served as Virginia Tech's head coach.
Franklin was fired by Penn State in 2025 after a 3-3 start to the season, despite leading the Nittany Lions to at least 10 wins in each of the three prior seasons. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, finished the 2025 season with just three wins. Franklin's tenure at Penn State included a 4-21 record against top-10 opponents and only one Big Ten title in 11 and a half seasons, earning him the nickname 'Big Game James' from critics.
The Hokies' transfer portal class is ranked No. 7, and Franklin emphasized the need to translate offseason gains into on-field success. Some fans, however, remain skeptical, pointing to Franklin's history of optimistic offseason statements at Penn State that were not always followed by strong results.