Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Hokies (4-0, 1-0 ACC) return home after claiming consecutive road victories to face the Pitt Panthers under the lights on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. ET. Friday’s contest features the Stripe Effect at Lane Stadium on primetime television, bringing unparalleled excitement for what already promises to be a thrilling weeknight matchup.
Tech football – which has outscored their opponents 173-64 through four games in 2026 – will look to secure a fifth straight win and start the season 5-0 for the first time since 2005. Read below to see the First Look of everything this week’s contest has to offer in Blacksburg.
How to Follow:
TV: The game will be televised on ESPN with Mike Monaco, Jordan Rodgers, Dana Boyle 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 on via ESPN or on the ESPN 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:
An undefeated Tech team hosts an undefeated Pitt squad in a game that could have broader implications for conference competition.
The Hokies (4-0, 1-0 ACC) enter Friday night’s contest with the momentum of four consecutive victories to open the season, dismantling both VMI and Old Dominion while securing impressive wins against Maryland and Boston College. Comparatively, Pitt enters the weeknight game with wins over Miami (OH), UCF, Syracuse and a shutout against Bucknell this past weekend.
After four weeks of the 2026 regular season, Virginia Tech and Pitt are two of just four teams in the ACC who have stayed perfect in competition thus far. Both squads are also tied for third in the ACC rankings after the Hokies emerged victorious over Boston College while Pitt took care of Syracuse.
The winner of Friday night’s can’t-miss matchup will jump to 2-0 in the conference and into what currently stands as a three-way tie for first in the ACC.
Tech enters the game as the second-ranked offense in the ACC. Pitt has the top-ranked defense.
Through four games this season, the Hokies boast the ACC’s second-best offense while the Panthers retain a top-ranked defense among the conference.
Offensively, the Hokies have been humming behind an attack led by quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who has 1,012 yards through the air and eight passing touchdowns to boot. The junior’s connections with tight end Luke Reynolds and wide receiver Que’Sean Brown have proved crucial to the team’s offensive success; combine this with Grunkemeyer’s elite 74.3% completion rate and it’s evident why the Hokies are averaging 43.3 points per contest.
Contrastingly, the Panthers’ defensive front boasts a plethora of athletes that have led the team to allow a conference-best 8.5 points per game to opponents this season. Safety Cruce Brookins and linebacker Braylan Lovelace anchor a secondary that has allowed only two passing touchdowns in 2026, while defensive lineman Sean FitzSimmons has nine tackles and a sack in four contests. The entire unit flexed its muscles against FCS competitor Bucknell last weekend, as the Bison did not reach 100 total yards of offense until the fourth quarter.
Important to note: Pitt has yet to play outside of Acrisure Stadium, where the Panthers have opened their season with four consecutive home games. Their journey to Lane Stadium serves as the team’s first road test, one that will be taken in front of an already sold-out crowd of over 65,000 Hokie fans.
Players to Watch:
Running Back Jeffrey Overton, Jr.
Overton Jr. has burst onto the Virginia Tech offensive scene as a tailback in 2026. After spending a majority of the 2025 season sidelined with injury, the sophomore has registered 60 attempts for a blistering 409 yards (6.8 per attempt) on the ground while securing four rushing touchdowns. The Woodbridge, Va. native also excels through the air, as his 10 receptions for 114 yards (11.4 per attempt) and a score prove his dual-threat versatility as an offensive standout.
In the eye of the nor’easter storm in Chestnut Hill this past Saturday, Overton exploded for a staggering 209 yards on 25 attempts (8.4 per attempt) while adding 19 yards on three receptions. The 5-foot-9 speedster’s day was punctuated by his 76-yard go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, giving the Hokies a one-score lead en route to a 21-14 victory.
For his efforts, Overton Jr. landed a spot on the Pro Football Focus (PFF) National Team of the Week and was recognized as the ACC Running Back of the Week.
Safety Quentin Reddish
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 196 pounds, safety Quentin Reddish has been integral to the Hokies’ secondary through four games this season. The North Carolina native has posted 12 total tackles this season and has started in every contest thus far.
What made Reddish such an asset this past Saturday, however, was not just his tackling ability. The junior had three pass breakups on the day, disrupting the flow of Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie during offensive drives.
Wide Receiver Que’Sean Brown
Brown has served as an explosive asset for the Hokies in 2026, as the team has utilized his skills both in offensive schemes and in the special teams department. Through four games in 2026, the North Carolina native has posted 26 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown while also adding eight punt returns for 204 yards.
Against the rain and wind this past Saturday, Brown stepped into the spotlight on both fronts, securing eight receptions for 51 yards while securing five punt returns for a season-high 87 yards. A 50-yard punt return allowed the Hokies to start the second half of the weekend contest on a high note, as a John Love field goal would follow for a 6-0 lead.