Who wants an authentic replica Virginia Tech helmet for FREE? @HokieHangover is running its first giveaway for our YouTube subscribers! Once we reach 1000 subs, we’ll draw a random winner. To enter to win, all you have to do is subscribe to @HokieHangover on YouTube. Subscribe here: piped.video/@hokiehangoverpo…

Cody fought through a torn pec, took a dumb L at WM 39, beat all the side quests, wins the Rumble only to have to give up the spot. This ain't it man

Did ANYONE from On3 watch the VT-South Carolina game?

To all the prospective coaching candidates out there, consider this a plea. You see the fan support. You see the atmosphere. This team is 2-5, and this place is jumping like Tech is 5-2. You can win in Blacksburg. Come make it happen. #Hokies

JC will never have a bar tab in Blacksburg for the rest of his life. #Hokies

It’s time to give Justin Fuente some real credit. 23 players out. Forced to use third QB got chunk of the game. No DC, no asst. DC, missing two more assistants. Blowout win. #Hokies

Mike Young has cemented himself in Tech lore, as has his players. This group of #Hokies are forever legends in Tech history.

This is a message for college football programs across the country — consider yourself warned. Virginia Tech's hiring of James Franklin is a shot across the bow of college football. The entire Atlantic Coast Conference, and the rest of the country, is now on notice. For its entire existence, Virginia Tech has played small ball when it comes to finances. The #Hokies have never led the way in fundraising or sponsorship dollars. Even after Frank Beamer and Michael Vick made Virginia Tech a nationally-relevant brand, the Hokies have never been able to compete with the Alabamas, the Georgias, and the Ohio States on the balance sheet. Until now. The Board of Visitors' pledge of $229 million to support the athletic department has helped level the playing field. That amount, which includes $47 million in Fiscal Year 2026 alone, puts Virginia Tech among the elite athletic programs in terms of financial resources. It also made Virginia Tech an attractive destination for an elite football coach — especially one who shouldn't have been available. Penn State jumped the gun when it fired Franklin on Oct. 12 following an ugly loss to UCLA. The Nittany Lions dismissed a head coach that vaulted the program to national prominence after crippling sanctions nearly killed it. In case you didn't know, Franklin won nine or more games in seven of his 11-plus seasons in Happy Valley. Franklin took Penn State to six New Year's Six bowl games and won the Big Ten title in 2016. Last year, Franklin was just three points away from competing for a national championship. In any sane world, a head coach with those credentials would be afforded a down season. We do not, however, live in a sane world, and Franklin's successes were quickly swept under the rug while he cleaned out his office. Franklin shouldn't have been available, but he was. Virginia Tech pounced, identified Franklin as its top candidate, and locked him in before the 2025 season even ended. That's a big-boy move. Schools like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State, the kinds that Virginia Tech wants to compete with, would have done the same thing. When you need a new head coach, you find the best candidate available and do what it takes to get the deal done. You don't take no for an answer. For all the issues with Virginia Tech's athletic department leadership, the search committee and President Tim Sands deserve considerable praise for getting Franklin signed. Virginia Tech's newfound ability to play hardball, and its willingness to spend, prove that the Hokies aren't fooling around anymore. The excuses have been removed. The war chest is full and the checkbook is open. It's time to win. Franklin is the exact hire you make when the time to win is now. He wasted little time at both Vanderbilt and Penn State, winning nine games in his second season in Nashville and 11 games in his third season in State College. Franklin checks just about every box — he's a winner, he's built coaching staffs that can recruit and develop, and he can ignite a fan base. When you think about it, there aren't many head coaches in the country as accomplished as Franklin. If this column sounds like I'm bullish on the future of Virginia Tech football, it's because I am. Not only has the university committed to funding the program at an elite level, but the power brokers in Blacksburg just stole one of the best coaches in the sport away from one of the most accomplished programs in the country. I've been saying for well over a year that Virginia Tech didn't have a resource problem — it had a people problem. The expectation at Virginia Tech isn't to compete for national championships every year, but to compete for conference championships on a consistent basis. You're telling me that Virginia Tech now has someone who has competed for — and won — a Big Ten championship, and he now has more resources than any coach in the history of the school? Sign me up. I'm all in on James Franklin. Virginia Tech desperately needs a coach who can reverse the downward trend of the program, put the Hokies back on the map, and give a hungry, passionate fan base the winner it so richly deserves. The time has come. Virginia Tech has been bullied from coast-to-coast for far too long. To everyone in the ACC, and to college football programs across the country — consider yourself warned.

Brent Pry’s dismissal cannot be the only move that gets made today at Virginia Tech. Do not let Pry be a scapegoat. #Hokies

Virginia Tech’s defense held an SEC offense with a Heisman contender to under 30. The problems do not exist on that side of the ball. This offense better show up against Vandy. #Hokies

After last night’s events, Virginia Tech’s players and coaches have a decision to make. The #Hokies can either… A) Sulk. Blame the loss on the refs and the ACC. Spend all week thinking you got screwed. or B) Get pissed off. Spend the entire week ornery as hell. Attack practice with revenge in your mind. If they do the latter, they’ll show up to Palo Alto with chainsaws and turn Stanford into firewood. VT has reached a fork in the road. Which path will they take?

This is pretty cool. Stroman, Motuapuaka and Walker all made the trip to see former #Hokies teammate CJ Reavis on his Senior Day at Marshall. nitter.app/iam_gsiii/status/93479…

Metallica gave us our moment. Seasoned and experienced fans of Virginia Tech have often reminisced about their memories of the 1999 football season, when Michael Vick’s transformative play led the #Hokies to their only national championship appearance. Younger fans, such as myself, haven’t been fortunate enough to experience a something like that. Until now. @Metallica's show inside Lane Stadium on Wednesday gave younger fans the closest thing they’ve ever had to an everlasting moment. By now, you’ve seen the myriad of photos and videos of the performance, which captivated more than 70,000 people for two hours. The clips are amazing to watch, and I highly recommend watching every video you can find, but they simply cannot portray how incredible the experience was. Seeing the giant stage, lighting, and sound setup, made it feel like Virginia Tech was the place to be. Worsham Field’s beautiful blades of grass gave way to a massive concert arena for the first time in the stadium’s history. How fitting it is that the act headlining Lane Stadium’s first concert is the band that helped propel the program into national relevancy so many years ago. Metallica teased the crowd at the outset, playing a small portion of Enter Sandman before diving into the beginning of the set. As the artists finished Master of Puppets, they playfully trolled the crowd into thinking the show was over. It wasn’t. James Hetfield’s “Let’s go!” chants sounded loud enough that you could hear them across the New River Valley. The crowd’s response seemed even louder. And as good as Enter Sandman is in the Fall, it was even better on Wednesday. I know this description seems rather extravagant and excessive, but for younger fans that have yearned for a milestone moment they can latch their fandom on to, this was more than a concert. It was a collective catharsis. Seeing an internationally-renowned band selling out Lane Stadium made it feel like Virginia Tech was the national brand that it was just a couple decades ago. For just a few hours, Blacksburg wasn’t the home of a middling athletic program, but instead the epicenter of the authentic college sports experience. I am fortunate enough to have shared this incredible moment with a few friends, but most importantly my dad, who has seen all the ups and downs of the Hokie adventure. I don’t know if this will ever happen again. It took years for Virginia Tech and Metallica to make this happen. The group plays all over the globe, and is in high demand more than 40 years since it’s inception. If it does, I will do everything in my power to be there. If it doesn’t happen again, I’ll be able to take solace in the fact that for my generation’s memorable moment, I was there. While I’ll always hope for another moment that actually involves the team, I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing our very own Metallica play on our field. That’s a moment that we’ll all reminisce about, long after the next generation of Hokies join us on this wild ride.

If you're reading this, it's too late. Fans witnessed an amazing spectacle on Saturday night in Blacksburg, one that cemented a sad and depressing fact for everyone associated with Virginia Tech athletics. The Brent Pry era in Blacksburg is effectively over. Even as a fan, you have to admit it — Virginia Tech's fall from grace in the second half on Saturday was incredible. The Hokies allowed 34 unanswered points and were outgained by more than 300 yards after halftime. Tech's 10-point lead at the break quickly turned into a blowout win for the Commodores. Saturday's loss represented everything wrong with Virginia Tech's football program — once the ball is kicked in the air, it's a mess. Sure, the athletic department can put on a good show for the fans before the game. Enter Sandman is great, the fireworks are great, and administrators have done a good job selling tickets. If Virginia Tech could get extra points for pregame festivities, they'd win more games. Tech's flaws were on full display in the second half — the Hokies' fifth-year quarterback hasn't progressed in any significant way, the offensive line lacks any depth whatsoever, and the Hokies' defense continues to get gashed by average talent, no matter how many transfers they bring in. Every single unit played a role in Virginia Tech's collapse. When every unit is struggling, there's one man that must be held to account. Virginia Tech is now 0-2 in Brent Pry's fourth season. Pry's Hokies are just 16-23 since he assumed the head coaching job. As head coach, Pry is 0-7 against Power 4 non-conference opponents. These data points, combined with Saturday's epic defeat at home, have turned the fanbase against Brent Pry. A quick look at social media, or a photo of the empty bleachers from the fourth quarter on Saturday, confirm as much. Aside from running the table in ACC play — a laughable thought — there's not a single thing Brent Pry can do to win people back. We know where this is going. In 2019, fans knew that after Duke obliterated Virginia Tech at home that Justin Fuente's days were numbered. Fuente lasted much longer than people expected, but unceremoniously resigned just two seasons later. In 2014, Frank Beamer famously celebrated Virginia Tech going into overtime at Wake Forest without scoring a point. The Hokies lost that game, forcing many of Beamer's supporters to realize the game had passed him by. Beamer coached one more season before hanging it up. Much like his predecessors, Brent Pry will likely hang on a little while longer. Whit Babcock has no incentive to fire his last shot at retaining the Director of Athletics title, as he knows even Virginia Tech's seemingly absent Board of Visitors won't allow him to fire a second football coach and hire a third. As much as Saturday's loss marked the beginning of the end of the Brent Pry era, Babcock won't last much longer, either. Instead of decisive action by President Tim Sands and the Board, they'll likely let this play out for several more weeks, maybe even the rest of the season. Virginia Tech's athletic department is strapped for cash, and ponying up money for buyouts and new contracts presents its own challenges. Regardless of the financial obligations, university leadership would be best served pulling the plug as soon as possible. Fuente and Beamer hung around far longer than they should have, and it damaged Virginia Tech's ability to move forward and find solutions. It angered some fans, and even worse, turned some towards apathy. However long this story lasts, the fans already know how it ends. Brent Pry isn't turning this around, and we all know it. Sadly, I'm sure he knows it too.

An entire offseason of hope of optimism, completely erased in an hour. Sound the alarm. #Hokies

Virginia Tech football being on a bye this weekend has allowed this men’s basketball victory to get the proper attention it deserves. Didn’t get to watch, but this looks like a solid win - the kind that means a lot come March. #Hokies

Take a good look at that image. Close your eyes, and look at it again. Soak it in. That's Virginia Tech football. Brent Pry lost his job Sunday, just hours after overseeing the worst loss in school history. That's not recency bias — Saturday's night's defeat at the hands of Old Dominion represented rock bottom for Pry's coaching tenure, the Virginia Tech football program, and the athletic department as a whole. It's not worth diving into the X's and O's of such a performance because they simply did not matter. The Hokies played dead on Saturday night, hoping their much younger brother would spare them. Instead, Old Dominion curb-stomped Virginia Tech and Brent Pry into submission. There's little value in harping on Pry's failures. I've written about them for years now, and this podcast has covered them ad nauseam. Instead, I'm trying to look to what's next. It's safe to say Virginia Tech finds itself in an unprecedented position. Sure, the Hokies were 0-3 in 1987 (Frank Beamer's first season), but the circumstances surrounding that start were much, much different. Tech was crippled by NCAA sanctions, leaving Beamer's roster decimated. This time around, Virginia Tech is working with the best roster over the last four seasons, at least according to Pry. And still, the Hokies are on the brink of permanent irrelevancy. As conference realignment threatens to lock out dozens of FBS programs, Virginia Tech is bottoming out at the worst possible moment, risking being left out in the impending B1G and SEC expansion and or breakaway. You don't need me to tell you that the next head coach at Virginia Tech faces an immense challenge of resurrecting what has become a dormant program. However, the next athletic director's task is just as critical. Virginia Tech's announcement of Brent Pry's dismissal was directly attributed to president Tim Sands rather than Whit Babcock, the university's embattled athletic director. Here's an important part of Sands' announcement: "Board of Visitors members J. Pearson and Ryan McCarthy have been charged by the rector, John Rocovich, to work with university leadership and AD Whit Babcock to develop a financial, organizational and leadership plan that will rapidly position the Virginia Tech football program to be competitive with the best in the ACC. That plan will be presented to the Board of Visitors later this month. The new framework for college sports will be fully established for next season, so this is the time to make a major move." As always, the devil is in the details. But the fact that release is attributed to Sands, and not Babcock, is intriguing. With Pry packing his bags and contacting a real estate agent, it seems like Virginia Tech has a few options on the table. 1. Virginia Tech can ride it out with Whit Babcock. After all, he did give a compelling presentation to the Board of Visitors last month. 2. Virginia Tech can nuke its athletic department leadership, starting with Babcock, and do it now. Sands and the Board could put someone in charge of the program on an interim basis while those in power begin their search for a new director of athletics. 3. Virginia Tech can stay the course with Babcock, at least until he and the Board can iron out a funding plan to further support athletics. Once that plan is decided on, Tech and Babcock can mutually part ways. This news release sure sounds like Sands and his bosses are choosing the third option. I advocate for the second, but if that were happening, Babcock wouldn't have be allowed into his office this morning. Option 3 can work, if the individuals in charge can find the right people to take Babcock and Pry's places. This is, after all, a people issue, not a resources issue. Virginia Tech has the resources to not get booed off their home field after a loss to that small school from Norfolk. If the right people aren't put in charge, then nothing will change. This fan base's nightmare will continue, and images like this one will become easier and easier to find. However, if the right people are put in charge, and the right amount of resources are put forward by the university, then Virginia Tech can avenge their fans' collective sorrows. Until that happens, we'll be here, firmly in the depths of despair, waiting for someone to save us.

With his roster gutted and resources reallocated elsewhere, Mike Young is fielding a team just one win away from .500 in the ACC. Not to be outdone, Megan Duffy's bunch picked up their 15th win of the season today and is 6-5 in the ACC. The overall results haven't been there this year, but the coaching jobs by Young and Duffy cannot be discounted. #Hokies

What a win. Justin Fuente has clearly not lost this locker room and for all this team’s deficiencies, they have the right mentality. #Hokies showed me something today.

Coaching matters. For the last three-plus seasons, Virginia Tech has consistently found ways to lose games. Not this time, Satan. Virginia Tech's 23-21 victory over NC State was a prime example of a team finding ways to win a game. The Hokies weren't perfect — Tech's offense looked clunky at times and they committed seven penalties for 55 yards. In the past, these issues would have handed the Hokies another one-score loss. Instead, Philip Montgomery's ragtag bunch marched into Carter-Finley Stadium and won a back-and-forth affair where Virginia Tech had to regain the lead twice in the second half. Tech showed resilience that we've yet to see over the last few years. Brent Pry's poor record in tight games is well-known, as the Hokies usually folded in crunch time with critical mistakes that doomed any chance they had of winning. Saturday was different. Trailing 14-13 late in the third quarter, Terion Stewart ripped off an 85-yard run to set up a Cameron Seldon touchdown just one play later. NC State proceeded to matriculate down the field over 10 plays for 75 yards and a touchdown, putting Virginia Tech in a 21-20 hole. The Hokies' response? A four-minute, 20-second drive resulting in John Love netting his third field goal of the day to put the Hokies ahead for good. Everybody played a role in Saturday's win. Kyron Drones threw two more touchdowns, Virginia Tech's running backs combined for 222 yards on 19 carries, 11 different receivers caught a pass, and the Tech defense registered eight tackles for loss and five sacks. Despite the persistent turmoil in Blacksburg, the Hokies showed up to play with tremendous effort and toughness — two things rarely present in Virginia Tech's first three games. The men who showed up and refused to quit on their teammates deserve a standing ovation. With that said, no one plays with tremendous effort and resilience without coaches holding them together. There's ultimately one man responsible for that accomplishment — Philip Montgomery. As tumultuous as this month has been for Tech's players, it's been equally as hectic for Tech's coaches. Montgomery was run out of college football just a couple years ago, eventually landing in the United Football League. A middling coach rescued him from irrelevance and brought him back home. Then that guy got fired, and multiple players decided to sit out the remainder of the season. Not exactly a cakewalk, eh? Montgomery has seemingly steadied the ship. Tech's win over Wofford wasn't remarkable, but Saturday's win over NC State felt like a meaningful one. It felt like this was what the season should've looked like all along. It showed that as good or as bad as your roster might be, having a competent head coach leading the way makes a world of difference. The first five weeks of the 2025 season have put Virginia Tech through a meat grinder. And while Tech is just 2-3, they're 1-0 where it matters most. No one is seriously going to argue that the Hokies are an ACC contender, but a dachshund-long season remains. Virginia Tech's schedule will not be easy, but just about everything these players wanted before the season is right in front of them. Virginia Tech did not play anywhere close to their potential against South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Old Dominion. They did, however, play to their potential on Saturday. Maybe, just maybe, Montgomery is the right man to get the most out of this group. (Photo by @HokiesFB)

ESPN LITERALLY JUST SHOWED THE COMMENTATORS ROOTING FOR MIAMI. LITERALLY.

Is Tyler Bowen contractually obligated to call the game scared for the first four weeks? This looks like a carbon copy of last year. #Hokies

No need to start Murphy for the rest of the season. Pedulla is the PG of the present and the future. #Hokies

I think we all overlooked how solid Virginia Tech's John Love was this season. 20-22 on all FGs 6-7 on FGAs from 40-49 yards 100% on extra points When your kicker is making FGs at a 90% clip, it makes winning a lot easier. #Hokies

If Virginia Tech somehow manages to come back and win this game, we know who we can thank. #Hokies

The embrace between Fuente and Foster is everything you need to know about these two. The relationship is genuine and has been. #Hokies

I am seeing a steady stream of Virginia Tech fans exiting Lane Stadium at halftime. The #Hokies are up 9. Where the hell are y'all going?

Pretty incredible that Virginia Tech women’s basketball has flown under the radar as much as they have. #Hokies are 20-6 and 10-5 in the conference and are projected as a 7-seed in the NCAA Tournament by ESPN. Kenny Brooks has truly transformed the program.

Mansoor Delane 📉

Virginia Tech’s players deserve an enormous amount of credit for today’s win. But the coaching staff also deserves credit. The turnaround that Justin Fuente and Co. have engineered is pretty remarkable. #Hokies

There will be a lot of dancing on Fuente’s grave today, but you won’t see it from me. Fuente was a great role model and ambassador for my alma mater. He treated me with kindness and respect. I hope he finds success elsewhere. #Hokies

If this version of Virginia Tech shows up next week, the #Hokies have an excellent chance of beating NC State. This version is stupid good.

I have a feeling this will be the last time Justin Fuente loses to Pitt. #Hokies

So grateful for everyone that made this happen. Who’d have thought a small town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains could host one of the greatest bands of all time. Thank you, @Metallica I’ll have some more thoughts to share in the coming days. #Hokies

Never expected Virginia Tech to subtweet @espn. I'll throw in the @ for you. #Hokies

I was totally unsure about the Mike Young hire. Never thought we'd see any semblance of success this season. And yet, Young has engineered an upset of third-ranked Michigan State in a game nobody thought they'd win. #Hokies are forreal, and forreal in Year One.

#Hokies QB Jerod Evans: Declared early for NFL Draft QB Josh Jackson: Transferred QB AJ Bush: Transferred QB Ryan Willis: Benched QB Hendon Hooker: Transferred QB Quincy Patterson: Transferred QB Braxton Burmiester: Benched All under one QB coach/offensive coordinator.

Kansas basketball is facing FIVE Level I violations, and they’re about to play for a national championship. What kind of message does that send?

Leaving Blacksburg tonight for the final time, at least for a while. Kinda bittersweet, given that I’ve spent my last five years here. Thankful for the memories but looking forward to the future.

✅ Found QB of the future ✅ Won six games, became bowl eligible ✅ Road blowout of in-state rival Year Two of the Brent Pry era at Virginia Tech is a success. Bring on bowl season! #Hokies

Virginia Tech is a good team now. And considering what we saw earlier this year, #Hokies fans should be excited about the opportunity ahead.

Things I don’t want to hear my coach say entering his third season against a P4 doormat ⬇️

Dax was chosen for this deliberately since so many UVA fans can’t stand the guy. #Hokies

For the record, Pitt is not a good football team. Don’t forget that. #Hokies

Couple things I want to note here. Phil Montgomery is earning a spot in Virginia Tech lore. #Hokies should be very appreciative of what he's been able to do since taking over the interim job. Also, Tech's creative work this season has been top notch. Quality work every week.

Went back and watched that ending of the VT-UNC game that lasted about 6 months. Feel like we never gave Khalil Ladler enough credit for those consecutive stops in 5OT/6OT. Just completely blew up both plays near the goal line. Here’s the first of those stops. #Hokies

This whole VT-ECU situation is really odd. ECU canceled the game without VT's approval, and VT threw some shade in their press release. Now, ECU is scheduling a game with NC State instead of re-scheduling a game at Lane vs. the #Hokies. Sounds like this series is jeopardy.

This run of basketball by Virginia Tech is truly remarkable. A testament to these players and this coaching staff. An NCAA bid squarely on the table. #Hokies

If memory serves me correctly, Michigan actually lost this game cause Danny Coale caught it. #Hokies

When was the last time the #Hokies signed three four-star offensive linemen in the same class? I think it’s fair to say Nester, Bryan Hudson, Jesse Hanson and William Pritchard are the best OL group that Tech has signed in recent memory.

Now's a good time to give the comms folks at Virginia Tech athletics a round of applause. They're always good at what they do, but they're now running a coaching introduction while preparing for a Senior Day game on Saturday. #Hokies fans: don't forget the folks behind the scenes that help you get your information.

Hopefully the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors is watching tonight. #Hokies

Welcome to The Pop Watson Experience. Last November, I penned a column marking Kyron Drones as the quarterback of the present, as well as the future. That future came to a close on Saturday night. With Drones and Collin Schlee both injured, redshirt freshman Pop Watson led Virginia Tech to its 19th win over Virginia in 20 years and inserted himself as the odds-on favorite to start for the #Hokies in 2025. Watson stirred the pot in all the right ways on Saturday night. He avoided mistakes and protected the football while also taking chances in the right spots. He connected on two deep throws against the ‘Hoos, an element missing from Virginia Tech’s offense for much of the season. His athleticism and escapability negated Virginia’s pass rush. He showed better command of the offense than he did last week, when he was thrust into the fire against Duke with little preparation. When the final whistle blew, Watson had completed 66 percent of his passes, compiled 302 total yards, and scored three total touchdowns. It’s important to remember that the Virginia Cavaliers have struggled defensively for a good chunk of the year, but Watson’s performance should not be overlooked or understated. He’s taken significant first-team reps in just one week of practice, yet seems completely in control of what’s happening on the field. I’ve long doubted Watson’s future. Not many 5-foot-11 quarterbacks can make it at the Power 4 level and he looked overwhelmed and incapable in this April’s Spring Game. But when the lights came on, Watson shined brightest. In doing so, he made a compelling case to be Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback in 2025. Collin Schlee has played his final college snap, but Kyron Drones has another year if he wants it. After a subpar season by any metric, Drones will almost certainly use next season as a chance to rebuild his stock at the next level. But where will he do it? What incentive does Brent Pry have in continuing to start Drones? He’s been the unquestioned starter for more than a calendar year and has made little to no progress as a passer. If Drones had been playing well before getting injured, maybe this is a different column. We all know that hasn’t been the case. Drones’ time as the quarterback of the present, and future, has to end. Pop Watson will have interest from other programs this winter. His play on Saturday night guaranteed him options. But his best option might just be staying right where he is. Brent Pry has to make that case. Everyone got a sneak peek at The Pop Watson Experience on Saturday night, and there’s no doubt that the show will be in high demand. Watson has three years of eligibility remaining. Should he stay in Blacksburg, Watson will likely head into his sophomore season as the quarterback of the present, and the future. If Watson leaves…well, let’s not entertain that for now. (Photo by @izzypost)

It's time to shine, Kyron. Brent Pry sought out Kyron Drones as his starting quarterback for a reason. Drones' athleticism and big arm made him a star in the making that Virginia Tech's new head coach could build his offense around. Yet in third season as the #Hokies' QB1, Drones looks like he's regressing. Drones seemed out of sorts for much of Sunday's loss to South Carolina. He turned it over to the Gamecocks twice, including a mind-boggling interception deep in South Carolina territory that robbed the Hokies of points. Drones completed just 15 of his 35 pass attempts for 221 yards and no touchdowns. He offered little in the run game, earning 37 yards on 10 carries (excluding sacks). Finally healthy, Pry's star in the making burned out on the big stage. Drones isn't the only reason Virginia Tech failed to score a touchdown on Sunday. His receivers dropped passes, the running backs never got going, and more importantly, the big uglies in front of Drones struggled against an SEC defensive line. "Struggled" may be an understatement. None of the Hokies five starting offensive linemen finished Sunday with a Pro Football Focus grade higher than 60. Despite these failings around him, Drones did little to help himself, let alone his teammates. His throws were consistently inconsistent — he'd throw a pretty deep ball to Isaiah Spencer or Donavon Greene and then immediately short-arm an easy completion that would kill an offensive drive. As the quarterback, you've got to supplement those around you and make them better, and Drones didn't do that on Sunday. It's been ages since he did — you've got to go back to the Stanford or Old Dominion game from last season since Drones significantly impacted a game in a positive way. Virginia Tech's offense has a lot to improve on, and it's reasonable to expect some progression. Philip Montgomery is still implementing his offense, Matt Moore needs time to coach up his offensive line, and Drones continues to flash in certain spots. He's made the throws, but he's yet to show he can do so on a consistent basis. There's plenty of time for Drones to have a great season, and South Carolina's defense will be one of the toughest he sees all year. But the time is now for him to take the reins and be the quarterback that Brent Pry believes he can be. What better time to begin that turnaround than this Saturday against Vanderbilt, the team that derailed Drones' lofty expectations last season? You don't need me to tell you how important this weekend's game is. Everyone knows it, including Drones. It's time to shine, Kyron, or else it'll feel like Groundhog Day in Blacksburg.

Dan Dakich ripping the refs for indulging Coach K during timeouts. I’d agree with him.

One of these days, ESPN won’t botch the Enter Sandman entrance. Glad they feature it, but man, the production is always off. #Hokies

Virginia Tech should focus on next year for the rest of this season. A bowl game is no longer a realistic possibility and the team as constructed won’t keep the UVA win streak alive. Just play all the young guys and let them make mistakes. It can’t get worse. #Hokies

There's zero reason for Duke to be losing to teams like the #Hokies even with Zion out. Duke is absolutely loaded with talent and Tech is missing their only consistent distributor and perimeter scorer. Buzz Williams outcoached Coach K tonight and the margin was wide.

JC Price will end his head coaching career with a perfect record against UVA. Legend. #Hokies

Virginia Tech Football Head Coach Jon Gruden

Penn State fan doesn't think Virginia Tech fans know about heartbreak? Brother, we're as experienced as anyone.

It's still hilarious and fulfilling to see large swaths of Virginia's student section cheering on Felton's TD catch. Could watch this for days. #Hokies

The Virginia Tech fanbase deserves better. #Hokies flush a 10-point lead at halftime down the drain and lose to Vanderbilt 44-20 in front of another sold-out Lane Stadium. Tech hasn't beaten a Power 4/5 non-conference opponent at home since 2009.

The saga has ended. James Franklin is a Hokie. Make no mistake about it — Virginia Tech just won the coaching carousel. The #Hokies have put everyone on notice.

Me watching Virginia Tech commit to the run game and then take shots down field #Hokies

Khalil Herbert is the best RB to wear a #Hokies uniform since...?

Virginia Tech has had a lot of great running backs over the years. Bhayshul Tuten has been as good as any of them this season. #Hokies

VIRGINIA TECH IS SO BACK

Virginia Tech used to have full-time beat writers from several newspapers in the state. Over the last several years, newspapers have absolutely gutted college sports journalism in the Commonwealth. Very sad to see and a disservice to the readers.

In case you wondered how close James Franklin and Brent Pry are...you're learning it right now. That relationship is BEYOND strong. #Hokies

To those 32 #Hokies who lost their lives, to their families and friends, we will always remember. We will never forget. You will always be in our hearts.

Some personal news: @TechSideline has decided to let me go from my position as associate editor covering Virginia Tech football. I'd like to thank everyone for supporting me in my short writing career, and I hope you'll stick around. #Hokies

Total ass whooping tonight from Virginia Tech. Best I’ve seen them play in a looooong time. Life is good. #Hokies

Players like @elizabethkitley don’t come around often, especially in a small town like Blacksburg. We’re all fortunate to have been witnesses. #Hokies

Virginia Tech's Antwaun Powell-Ryland is having one hell of a season. #Hokies 9 sacks (1st in ACC) 11.5 tackles for loss (1st in ACC) 3 forced fumbles (t-1st in ACC)

*Checks score to Virginia Tech - Rutgers* *Walks towards open bar at wedding* #Hokies

It's time to debunk the narrative that Virginia Tech is being asked to do more with less. As Brent Pry enters Year Four of his coaching tenure in Blacksburg, there is no better time to make one thing abundantly clear. The #Hokies have the resources to compete at the level that fans expect them to. (Thread)

What a MASSIVE pickup for the #Hokies and Mike Young. Jalen Cone is coming to Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech is getting smoked in Hooville this year, aren’t they? #Hokies

Happy to see Jerod back on campus. I don’t know if we’ll ever truly appreciate the impact he had on Virginia Tech. #Hokies

The progression of Caleb Farley from poor cornerback to shutdown defender is one that will be talked about for a while in Blacksburg. #Hokies

Brent Pry's recruiting is reinforcing a Virginia Tech roster needing talent. While fans rightfully complain about his lack of progress in the win-loss column, there is one area where the data clearly supports Brent Pry’s vision — the recruiting trail. Virginia Tech signed 19 recruits in their Class of 2025 last Wednesday, accounting for all of Tech’s verbal commitments. They may add one or two more before the final National Signing Day on Feb. 5, but this year’s cycle is mostly finished. These new #Hokies represent a critical pillar of the foundation Pry is attempting to build in Blacksburg. Aside from all the on-field problems, Pry’s progress in recruiting is legitimate. In an effort to quantify this success, I looked back to 2016, Justin Fuente’s first class as Virginia Tech’s head coach. I compared each recruiting class since in five key areas: - Average 247Sports Composite rating - How that number ranked nationally - How it ranked in the ACC - Number of four or five-star prospects in that class - And the number of Virginia Top-10 prospects in that class. Here’s what I found. Fuente and his staff recruited quite well from 2017-2019, but much of those classes didn’t pan out. Virginia Tech’s recruiting bottomed out in 2020 and 2021, finishing amongst the worst Power 5 teams in the country. Pry took over on Nov. 30, 2021, giving him some influence over the Class of 2022. That recruiting class marked significant improvement over the previous two classes, setting the table for continued gains over the next three cycles. Virginia Tech’s last three recruiting cycles are all marked improvements from the 2020 and 2021 classes. Some of Pry’s early recruits are showing signs of success. The Class of 2023 yielded several contributors this season, including quarterback Pop Watson, running back Jeremiah Coney, wide receiver Ayden Greene, defensive end Aycen Stevens, linebacker Caleb Woodson, cornerback Dante Lovett, and safety Mose Phillips. Aside from Phillips, it’s likely that each of those players return to Virginia Tech for next season, possibly assuming starting roles. Improvements on the recruiting trail are important, but only if they translate to improved results on the field. Pry’s Hokies showed promise after a 6-6 season in 2023, only to duplicate the same record in the face of heightened expectations. As the Hokies lose several starting seniors on both sides of the ball, it opens up opportunities for Pry’s hand-picked players to take reins and lift his program out of the quagmire in which it resides. Based on the numbers, Virginia Tech should have enough talent over the next couple of seasons to begin contending. Then again, that’s what we expected the Hokies to do this season. Pry’s winning on the recruiting trail. He’s invested heavily in relationships across the Commonwealth and across the region to put Virginia Tech back on the map. When it comes to recruiting, he’s done just that. Now, he needs to win on the scoreboard.

This team played South Carolina tough just a couple weeks ago. #Hokies have checked out.

Gonna be hilarious if FirstBank gets turned into Lane Stadium West. #Hokies

With Virginia Tech opening up slots in future schedules, the top 5 programs I'd like to see them schedule are... ⛰️West Virginia 🟠Tennessee 🦁Penn State 🐔South Carolina ⚔️Rutgers Am I missing anyone? #Hokies

These games against GT and BC are going to be absolute hell, aren't they? #Hokies

Wow, folks. #Hokies just laid a whooping on Pittsburgh. Back-to-back shutouts and all of a sudden, Virginia Tech is just one win away from a Coastal title. Incredible.

Wonder if #Hokies have reached out to Brandon Flowers about the CBS coaching position. He’s expressed interest before in returning as a coach.

Virginia Tech’s half-naked visionaries have expanded their territory. #Hokies

That is the worst roughing the passer call I have ever seen. My goodness. #Hokies absolutely robbed.

He was fine. Just fine. Did not look like a Heisman candidate. Maybe he had an off day, but he just looked fine.

UVA hasn’t beaten Virginia Tech in nearly a decade and a half, but sure.

Not a great look. #Hokies

Catching up on this Virginia Tech press conference and one thing immediately sticks out: Babcock seems completely defeated. I cannot imagine that he sticks around much longer. #Hokies

Good for Fuente. He’s been on the receiving end of mostly justified criticism. Finally something for him and his team to celebrate. #Hokies

#Hokies have announced that F Ty Outlaw has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. Outlaw missed all of last season with an ACL tear and missed all of 2015-16 with a heart issue.

UCLA fans couldn’t care less about football and are doomed to the basement of the B1G. Virginia Tech fans are desperate for a winner, and still show up for a mediocre product. Choose wisely.

Is this 1/2 of Virginia Tech's Mount Rushmore? #Hokies

If Tech calls on an FCS coach three games into his coaching career, then the leadership hasn’t got a clue. It doesn’t matter what his name is.

Liking what I am seeing from Dante Lovett tonight. He's got guys blanketed. #Hokies