Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The James Franklin Era has begun in Blacksburg.
After an overwhelming 73-3 win over VMI to open the season, the Hokies will look to secure consecutive wins as they host Old Dominion on Saturday, Sept. 12 at noon ET. Tech football will look to take its white-hot momentum into a White Effect game that promises to be an exciting matchup, and with tickets discounted to just $35 dollars a person, fans should act fast to secure their tickets before time runs out!
As Blacksburg begins to welcome football fans again for a thrilling weekend in southwest Virginia, read below to see what to expect as the Hokies take on the Monarchs on Worsham Field later this weekend.
How to Follow:
TV: The game will be televised on CW Sports with Thom Brennaman, Jason Cabinda and Wes Bryant 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 of the Game:
Franklin will look to lead the Hokies to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2021.
After what was an eye-popping 70-point smashing of VMI to open the 2026 season, the Hokies will seek a second consecutive win to open the year against Old Dominion on Saturday. With a win, the Hokies will start 2-0 for the first time since 2021, where Tech football opened the year with an upset against then-No. 10 North Carolina and followed with a win against Middle Tennessee.
Last Saturday’s contest was all maroon and orange from the opening whistle. The Hokies dominated in all three phases, executing explosive plays on offense while imposing stifling defense that left the Keydets without an answer. At the final whistle, Tech football racked up a staggering 619 total yards compared to VMI’s 83 while the Lunch Pail Defense secured five sacks and an interception in the matchup.
The Monarchs enter the contest looking for a second straight win after emerging victorious, 31-10, over Norfolk State on Sept. 5.
Franklin faces familiar face on opposite sideline
Franklin and ODU head coach Ricky Rahne have a coaching relationship that dates back to 2006, when the two worked together at Kansas State. Rahne later followed Franklin to Vanderbilt and Penn State, where he developed into a key member of Franklin’s staff and eventually served as Penn State’s offensive coordinator.
A newly assembled Monarchs offensive line gives Kemari Copeland and the Hokies leverage inside.
The Hokies’ defensive unit shined in the win against VMI this past weekend, posting 71 total tackles (18 TFLs) while limiting the opposing team to less than 100 total yards of offense. Elements of this upcoming weekend’s matchup, however, should have Hokie fans keeping an eye out when the Tech defense takes the field.
All five of the Monarchs’ 2025 starters in the offensive line either transferred, graduated or left the team in the most recent offseason, two of which followed then-offensive coordinator Kevin Decker as he took the same role at Memphis. Against Norfolk State on Sept. 5, Old Dominion’s offensive front allowed for 182 yards of ground production, a total short of their 238.3 average rush yards per game achieved in 2025.
Additionally, 2025 Monarchs starting quarterback Colton Joseph, who secured Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year this past fall behind a dual-threat ability, transferred to Nebraska. The vacancy was filled with redshirt sophomore Quinn Henicle.
Players to Watch:
Wide Receiver Que’Sean Brown
Wideout Que’Sean Brown was a spark plug for the Hokies on Saturday evening, earning Offensive Player of the Game honors after hauling in six receptions for 109 yards and a score against VMI. Brown’s quick twitchand elite speed were on full display throughout the contest in what was the Winston-Salem, North Carolina native’s first game in maroon and orange.
Brown’s most jaw-dropping play against the Keydets came late in the second quarter of the contest. Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer found the wide receiver off an impressive route and Brown took the pass to the end zone, giving the Hokies a 38-0 lead with minutes left before halftime. The transfer made multiple men miss as he darted to the end zone for six.
Defensive Lineman Aycen Stevens
Indianapolis native Aycen Stevens was stellar for the Lunch Pail Defense on Saturday night, clashing against a Keydet offensive line that struggled mightily against the Hokies. The senior posted four total tackles (two solo) and 1.5 sacks, a total that led the Hokie defensive front.
Stevens’ most noteworthy moment came at the beginning of the second half. On a 3rd and 13 pinned deep in their own territory, VMI had no answer for Stevens as he sliced through the Keydets’ offensive line and blasted quarterback JoJo Crump, causing him to lose the football in the process. While the loose ball was ultimately recovered by VMI, the 6-foot-5, 264-pound lineman surely made his presence known with the play.
Safety Tyson Flowers
Fifth-year safety Tyson Flowers made his presence felt on special teams Saturday night, blocking VMI’s first punt of the night. Sheldon Robinson recovered to setup a 9-yard TD run from Marcellous Hawkins, before Cortez Harris later blocked another VMI punt, giving the Hokies two blocked punts in a game for the first time since the 2017 game against Pitt.
Looking to see James Franklin and the Virginia Tech Hokies as a new era continues to take shape in Blacksburg? Be sure to buy your tickets today for this weekend’s Salute to Service contest on Saturday, Sept. 12 at noon ET!