We are about a week away from the Virginia Tech Hokies opening fall camp. That’s right, football is right around the corner. In just over five weeks, new head coach James Franklin and his Hokies open the season in Blacksburg against VMI.
Expectations are high for the Hokies. Maybe not for 2026, but for the future. While Franklin is focused on rebuilding for the future, he plans to win this season. What are real expectations for Virginia Tech in 2026? Well, how fans view the Hokies, compared to the ACC media, is a bit different.
The ACC media released its 2026 preseason poll on Tuesday. Unsurprisingly, Miami is No. 1, garnering 165 of the 188 first-place votes. Where were the Hokies? They came in at No. 8 out of 17 teams. Here’s the complete ACC preseason poll:
- 1. Miami (165)
- 2. SMU (6)
- 3. Louisville (4)
- 4. Clemson (7)
- 5. Georgia Tech (2)
- 6. Virginia
- 7. NC State
- 8. Virginia Tech
- 9. Pitt
- 10. Duke
- 11. Florida State (3)
- 12. California
- 13. Wake Forest
- 14. Syracuse
- 15. North Carolina
- 16. Boston College
- 17. Stanford (1)
What’s our initial takeaway on this poll? How in the world did Stanford receive one first-place vote? Was that person a Stanford graduate? Florida State receiving three first-place votes is interesting, too. Mike Norvell has one of the hottest seats in college football. Does anyone really believe Florida State is challenging for the ACC Championship in 2026?
So, for the Hokies, ranking them at No. 8 feels fair. Are expectations higher in Blacksburg? Yes. Are expectations higher among the fan base? Absolutely. But this was a 3-win team in 2025. While no one wants to see the Hokies finish 6-6 this season, that would mean doubling last season’s win total. Still, Virginia Tech is capable of more.
How much more? That’s why they play the games.
