Dream On, Hokies

You'd be hard-pressed to find a Virginia Tech fan who isn't over the moon right now.

Hell, even James Franklin is feeling pretty good about things.

"We have won the offseason," Franklin proclaimed at the ACC's media day.

As cool as winning the offseason may be, Franklin knows that it means little if the progress doesn't translate to wins on the field. But how many games must Virginia Tech win for that quote not to become a punchline?

It depends on who you ask. It's easy to look at Franklin's track record and determine that the Hokies should end their 2026 season with at least 8-9 wins. Excluding last season, Franklin won double-digit games in each of his last three full seasons. Before the COVID era, Franklin won nine or more games every season from 2016 to 2019. Franklin is a winner, no doubt., but worrying only about this year's win-loss record is short-sighted.

Armed with a massive war chest, Franklin could've gone all in on 2026 and filled out his roster with high-priced transfers that are headed to the NFL sooner rather than later. That may have resulted in more wins this season, but it isn't a sustainable approach. 

Instead, Franklin, his staff, and the administration are playing the long game. The Hokies don't want to compete only in 2026 but beyond that.

Just look at some of the transfers that Virginia Tech added this offseason:

• QB Ethan Grunkemeyer: 3 years remaining
• RB Bill Davis: 2 years remaining
• WR Que'Sean Brown: 2 years remaining
• WR Tyseer Denmark: 3 years remaining
• TE Luke Reynolds: 2 years remaining
• OL Logan Howland: 2 years remaining
• EDGE Javion Hilson: 4 years remaining
• CB Cam Chadwick: 2 years remaining
• DB Kenny Woseley: 3 years remaining

Of the 27 transfers who joined Virginia Tech this winter, 22 have eligibility extending beyond 2026. Virginia Tech has very few seniors, meaning the Hokies should return the overwhelming majority of their starting lineup in 2027.

Before Franklin retooled his roster, he made long-term investments in his coaching staff. He hired longtime assistant Ty Howle as his offensive coordinator, a position in which Howle has little experience and will need time to grow into. Franklin also re-hired Brent Pry, who will likely be hesitant to leave Franklin's side anytime soon.

The long game extends beyond the field. Franklin steadied the administrative ship this offseason, pushing Invest to Win initiatives towards completion while helping Virginia Tech hire Brian White as its athletic director. Virginia Tech added LED lighting to Lane Stadium — a long-desired feature by fans — and is renovating the video board above the North End Zone. Other infrastructure projects include Jamerson Athletic Center renovations and an updated head coach's office, with more on the way in the coming years.

Of course, none of this is possible without a leadership team capable of raising the funds necessary and pushing projects to completion. White has hired three key members of his leadership team, each uniquely qualified to handle their side of the shop:

• Brad Bell (Executive Associate AD & Executive Director of the Hokie Club): Bell spent the last five years leading fundraising efforts at Georgia. Bell wouldn't have lasted there if he couldn't get folks to donate.
• Ryan Gottlieb (Deputy Athletics Director & Chief Strategy Officer): White has tasked Gottlieb with generating non-charity revenue, something he did previously with White at Florida Atlantic and at Colorado before that.
• Mary Giardina (Deputy Athletics Director & Chief of Staff): White hired Giardina at Florida Atlantic. She'll be tasked with executing the department's vision and ensuring that daily operations run smoothly.

White isn't finished building his team, but he's hired three executive-level leaders in just a few weeks. Things are moving quickly.

As quickly as things are coming together, fans shouldn't think Virginia Tech is ready to play with the big boys. Crafting an elite roster will take another season or two, and it'll take a couple of years to fully reap the rewards of increased fundraising and revenue generation.

Even though the Hokies are thinking beyond 2026, that doesn't mean Tech can't hold its own this season. The beginning of the schedule is as welcoming as it gets, and there's enough talent on the roster to exit the ACC basement and put the conference on notice.

Virginia Tech is in a period of transition. The grand vision held by the Board of Visitors, Brian White, and James Franklin will not be constructed in just a few months. But as that process continues, fans can expect the Hokies to be competitive in the ACC, which is more than we could say in recent years.

Have some patience, but enjoy the ride, Hokies. Dream until the dream comes true.