Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The wait is over. Following an offseason fueled by unprecedented excitement, national buzz and a new energy surrounding Virginia Tech Football, the James Franklin era officially kicks off Saturday night in Blacksburg.
The Hokies open the 2026 season against VMI on Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET, welcoming a sold-out crowd to Lane Stadium for their annual Orange Effect and the first game featuring the Virginia Tech Gameday Experience. With “Enter Sandman” roaring, a new-look roster featuring a talented group of returning players and the nation’s 16th-ranked newcomer class (ESPN), highlighted by a highly touted group of transfers and freshmen, along with one of college football’s most anticipated new eras beginning under the lights, the stage is set for a memorable night at Lane. Read below for what Hokie Nation should keep an eye on as a new chapter of Virginia Tech Football begins Saturday.
Read below for what Hokie Nation should keep an eye on as a new chapter of Virginia Tech Football begins Saturday.
How to Follow:
TV: The game will be televised on ACC Network with Wes Durham (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst) and Madison Fitzpatrick (sidelines) on the call.
Radio: The Virginia Tech Sports Network can be heard on 40+ radio stations across the Commonwealth including 105.3 FM in Blacksburg. Bill Roth will handle play-by-play duties while Mike Burnop provides color commentary and Evan Hughes reports from the sideline.
Streaming: Catch the game online at ESPN.com and the ESPN mobile app.
Live Audio: Listen to live audio coverage of the matchup at HokieSports.com/listen or through the HokieSports mobile app.
Live Stats: Monitor the game through live stats on HokieSports.com, including play-by-play updates and full team and individual statistics.
Social Media: Stay connected with the Hokies on Twitter (@HokiesFB), Instagram (@hokiesfb), and Facebook (@VirginiaTechFB).
Storylines to Follow:
James Franklin takes the field as the head coach of the Hokies for the first time.
Since being hired as the head coach of the Hokies on Nov. 17, 2025, Franklin has revitalized the Tech football program through an unwavering commitment towards player and program development. Backed by an Invest to Win mindset and the support of Tech fans across the globe, Franklin’s drive to place Blacksburg in the upper echelon of college football has brought the program into national relevance as the season inches closer.
Franklin’s on-field results and known reputation as a dynamic culture creator speak volumes towards what the Pennsylvania native is creating in Blacksburg. No stranger to success, Franklin boasts a career head coaching record of 128-60 and stands as one of three active coaches in college football with a 68-plus winning percentage.
The Hokies’ new head coach enters Saturday with a track record of succeeding in season-opening contests. In the past three opening matchups that Franklin has coached, his teams have won by 35, 22 and 23 points respectively, the large margin of victory serving as a testament to the level of preparation and focus Franklin instills onto his players from the beginning.
Saturday’s matchup is historic for more than one reason.
While the excitement and promise surrounding the team is a driving force in the hype for Saturday’s home opener, the contest also provides sports history buffs with something just as thrilling.
The matchup between the Hokies and the Keydets on Sept. 5 marks the 80th head-to-head showdown between the two squads, an in-state rivalry that has not been revisited since 1984. The series itself, however, dates even further, as both teams began squaring off in 1894. “The original Military Classic of the South” - which found itself being played on Thanksgiving Day almost exclusively in Roanoke, Va. from 1913 to 1971 – represents a shared respect for deep-rooted military tradition between the two universities.
The Hokies will look to claim their fourth consecutive victory against the Keydets on Saturday night.
Players to Watch:
Wide Receiver Que’Sean Brown
Franklin’s relentless tenacity as a recruiter paid major dividends in the offensive department this offseason, including but not limited to wideout Que’Sean Brown’s commitment. A 5-foot-8, 175-pound speedster who spent three seasons with Duke, Brown joins the Hokies after posting 64 receptions for 846 yards and five touchdowns while also returning nine punts for 116 yards and a score for the Blue Devils in 2025.
“He is really quick...he’s really fast,” said Franklin, speaking to the media during spring practice. “He also has really good ball skills. He’s got great energy, [and] he’s a smart guy. He’s a joy to coach.”
Brown’s most statistically dominant performance came in the postseason this past fall, where the Winston-Salem, N.C. native posted a staggering 178 receiving yards on 10 catches against Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Brown also posted 80 or more receiving yards in five games last season.
Defensive Lineman Kemari Copeland
There’s little to say that hasn’t already been said about defensive lineman Kemari Copeland, who enters the 2026 season after posting 48 tackles and 7.5 TFLs in 2025. Copeland has earned repeated national acclaim for his jaw-dropping feats in the weight room – including a program record-breaking 510-pound bench press this offseason – and he consistently overwhelms opposing offenses in the moments that matter most.
Copeland’s pairing with defensive line coach Sean Spencer is a truly formidable duo. Spencer, who reunited with Franklin in Blacksburg after serving in the same role at Vanderbilt and Penn State (2011-13; 2014-19), has earned a reputation as “Coach Chaos” for constructing defensive units that suffocate the opponent.
Copeland’s 2026 offseason resume is already impressive: a top-10 spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, an All-ACC Preseason Team selection and spots on the Nagurski, Outland and Bednarik watch lists. Hokie fans should keep an eye on the Virginia Beach product against a VMI team that gave up 33 sacks to opponents in 2025.
While the opening matchup against VMI is sold out, interested fans can still visit SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan marketplace for Virginia Tech Athletics. Be sure to secure your seat and visit Lane Stadium to see Franklin and the Hokies in competition on Sept. 5!
Can’t make it to the home opener, but are interested in attending other matchups in Blacksburg? Secure single-game tickets for the rest of the regular season! Buy today – with two games already sold out, limited opportunities are left to see the Hokies in Lane Stadium!