Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-2 ACC) will face their second road opponent in as many games as they take on SMU (6-2, 4-2 ACC) on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. ET. The Hokies, who have yet to clash against the Mustangs as conference opponents, will travel to Texas seeking their fourth road victory of the 2026 regular season.
The contest, which will be streamed on primetime television on ESPN, will be the first time the two teams have taken the field since 1974, bringing a new chapter into the history of the two institutions. Read below for the First Look at this Friday’s can’t-miss primetime matchup.
How to Follow:
TV: The game will be televised on ESPN with Mike Monaco, Jordan Rodgers and 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 ESPN or 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:
Friday’s primetime showdown pits two of the conference’s strongest quarterbacks against each other.
The Hokies and the Mustangs have both experienced offensive success this season, much of which starting from the play at quarterback.
Tech junior Ethan Grunkemeyer has quickly risen to the occasion in his first year as a Hokie, posting 2,140 passing yards and 17 touchdowns through eight contests. Grunkemeyer has also demonstrated his quickness on the ground, scoring five rushing touchdowns, exemplifying the Ohio native’s dual-threat capabilities at the position.
Opposite Grunkemeyer in the weeknight matchup is Kevin Jennings, whose 2,414 passings yards and 21 touchdowns are complimented by two scores on the ground. Jennings returned to SMU for his fifth year with the team after posting over 3,600 yards as a redshirt junior in 2025 and leading the team to its first College Football Playoff berth in 2024.
Both Grunkemeyer and Jennings share attributes that have both student-athletes at the top of the stat sheet. The pair are two of five quarterbacks in the ACC to have thrown for over 2,100 yards through eight games, and two of four quarterbacks to boast a 70-plus completion percentage. Moreover, both quarterbacks possess an ability to scramble out of the pocket and improvise on the fly to avoid blown plays or loss of yards.
Hokie fans should keep an eye on the battle between Grunkemeyer and Jennings in what will be a conference matchup fans won’t want to miss.
Players to Watch:
Tight End Luke Reynolds
Junior Luke Reynolds has been a favorite target for quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer in 2026, hauling in 50 receptions for 493 yards (9.9 yards per catch) and a team-high six receiving touchdowns. Standing at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Reynolds has used his elite physicality and strong hands to haul in passes at the moments that matter most in games this season.
Against Clemson, Reynolds showed up in major moments, none greater than his touchdown reception with just 1:44 left in the fourth quarter. The catch, which was brought in on a fourth-and-1 scenario, gave Tech the lead and the win, 20-16.
Cornerback Jaquez White
Jaquez White has become a vital part of the Tech secondary in his first year in maroon and orange. The senior has started and played in every game in 2026, posting 31 tackles, two TFLs for nine yards and a pair of pass breakups and deflections.
Perhaps White’s most notable contribution was his sack for a loss of seven yards, earned with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter of Tech’s 20-16 win over Clemson. White blitzed on the Tigers’ last offensive drive of the night, dropping the quarterback for a loss of yards and stalling momentum.
Plays later, White would link up with teammate Mylachi Williams to secure the last of his team-high 11 tackles on the night and the Hokie victory, ending the Tigers’ hopes of earning a comeback victory in front of a home crowd.
Defensive Lineman Kemari Copeland
Kemari Copeland has continued to be an absolute force in the trenches for the Hokies, posting 20 total tackles and four TFLs this season. Copeland, alongside athletes like Aycen Stevens and Williams have allowed the Hokies to rank first in the ACC in both sacks (27) and forced fumbles (11).
Copeland posted four tackles (three solo) in the 20-16 win over Clemson.
Kicker John Love
Placekicker John Love was pinpoint-accurate in the win over Clemson, sending both a 37 and a 47-yard field goal try through the uprights in the 20-16 victory. Love has made his last four kicks of the season, also knocking a pair through the uprights in the 34-24 win over Georgia Tech.
Love has also added 31 of 32 extra points and 11 field goals in 2026, accounting for 64 total points.