Predicting Every 2025 Virginia Tech Football Game

There’s a saying that goes “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Did you know that there is actually an extended version of this proverb?  "Fool me three times, shame on both of us."  

For each of the past three years of Virginia Tech football, I bought the hype, expanded my fandom based on warm fuzzies and hopium, and I wrote my glowing preseason prediction articles calling for more wins than we actually experienced.

In Brent Pry’s first year, I loved the new energy in the program and predicted seven wins. Tech limped to a 3-8 record in 2022 that included a 1-4 record in one-score games.

In year two, I said eight regular-season wins, thinking there would be growth and improvement. Instead, the Hokies started slowly, made a quarterback change, then won four of the last six to finish the schedule at 6-6 before the bowl win.

Last year, with so many returning players in the two-deep, I drank the Kool-Aid and predicted nine wins. We all know what happened, especially in the five games lost by a touchdown or less.

This year I have decided to change my strategy.  Instead of predicting with my heart, I’m going mostly on past precedent, and until Pry and company can win some close games and maybe pull an upset, I’m going to expect more of the same.

Hopefully the coaching changes will rectify the one-score loss problem. Hopefully the general lack of expectation will result in a team playing with something to prove. Hopefully the Hokies can beat a power-conference team who finishes with eight wins or more

But those remain hopes. Until the hopes become reality, I can’t predict it to happen. My greatest hope though is to be wrong again in my predictions in this annual column.  (Apparently I’m not alone in my sentiments.)

Virginia Tech vs South Carolina in Atlanta, August 31

This feels like us last year, doesn’t it?  The Gamecocks finished last season strong and are entering the 2025 campaign with a lot of hype for the playoff and for their quarterback as a Heisman candidate.  However, unlike Tech in 2024, South Carolina lost a lot of players from their previous season, where they won nine games, so there will be several big question marks.  All-American defensive end Dylan Stewart returns, but South Carolina had to replace five of their front seven.  On offense, big quarterback LaNorris Sellers will have new players around him in the skill positions and three new starters blocking on the O-line.  The Gamecocks will have all the pressure in this game, and I do think the Hokies will show a lot of fight.  However, this is a ranked power-conference opponent, and the Hokies haven’t slayed this kind of dragon in years.  Sellers is a beast, and he gives me Logan Thomas vibes.  I think his legs will be the difference.  Vegas had this correct at the opening line.    South Carolina 24 – Virginia Tech 14

Vanderbilt at Virginia Tech, September 6

This is the biggest game on the schedule as of right now.  It is a must-win before the season even starts.  Revenge is on Hokie Nation’s mind after the embarrassment in Nashville to open the 2024 season.  And if Tech loses to South Carolina six days prior, the non-conference losing streak to power-conference schools will grow to 14 straight, dating back to the 2017 opener.  Shifty, spunky quarterback Diego Pavia is back for the Commodores to play his sixth season of college football, and he has All-American candidate Eli Stowers at tight end.  However, Vandy replaces a lot of players on the line and at receiver.  Their defense returns a lot, which can be an asset in close games.  This is the home opener for Tech and it is a night game, where Brent Pry has done well.  The Hokies have to win this.  But Vandy will not be intimidated.  It will be a dogfight, and Tech has been abysmal in close games over the past three years.  My heart is saying that Tech finally gets it done in a squeaker, but I won’t predict that to happen until I actually see it happen. Vanderbilt 27 - Virginia Tech 23

Old Dominion at Virginia Tech, September 13

For the second straight week, Blacksburg is the scene of a Saturday night game, and Old Dominion has yet to be competitive in Lane Stadium, losing by a combined 105-34 score in those three visits.  In fact, the Hokies have put up at least 30 points in five of six games agains the Monarchs.  And any talk of an ODU hex went out the window with last year’s 20-point win in Norfolk, so this game should be what Hokie Nation has always expected.  A beatdown. Virginia Tech 30 - Old Dominion 13

Wofford at Virginia Tech, September 20

Call it the bye week.  Or “buy” week, where we pay an FCS team an exorbitant sum of money to come to our stadium so we can beat up on them.  Hopefully that is what happens in this tune up game.  I don’t expect much here, lowering the bar to just hoping to escape this one with no injuries and plenty of work for the backups. Virginia Tech 38 - Wofford 7

Virginia Tech at North Carolina State, September 27

This is where things get dicey. If Tech can get to this point at 3-1, then seven wins is a realistic goal. However, I have the Hokies at 2-2 heading into a road contest in a rowdy environment against an ACC school who also has something to prove this year. The Wolfpack return six starters on offense, including their quarterback, but they only have four defensive starters coming back.  They also have two new coordinators, so predicting which NC State team shows up this year is going to be difficult. This has all the markings of another close game, and while the law of averages does eventually have to have mercy on Hokie Nation, I repeat that I cannot in good faith predict one-score victories until I see them go in Tech’s favor.  For the fourth straight year Brent Pry will be 2-3 after his first five games. North Carolina State 29 - Virginia Tech 27

Wake Forest at Virginia Tech, October 4

With Virginia Tech badly needing a win, the Demon Deacons come to town, led by a new coach hoping to reverse his school’s trend in Blacksburg where the Deacs have not won since 1983. Former Washington State coach Jake Dickert replaces long-timer Dave Clawson, and he is swapping out the mesh offense for a power spread.  1,000-yard rusher Desmond Claiborne should find success in this offense, but nine other players will be new starters on that side of the ball, as well as eight on the defense.  Many of those projected starters are upperclass transfers, but don’t expect Wake Forest to do what Indiana did last year.  Wake has lost seven of the last nine games in this series since 2004, and fourteen of the last nineteen since 1972.  Things won’t change this year.  Bowl hopes stay alive for the Techmen. Virginia Tech 34 - Wake Forest 20

Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech, October 11

What a difference a few years makes. I used to despise Georgia Tech under Paul Johnson. Then I almost felt sorry for the Yellow Jackets under Geoff Collins. Now I respect the hell out of that squad which reminds me of the Hokies of yore. Brent Key has built his program on toughness, and he has players that are going to line up and punch you in the mouth.  I don’t think anyone wants to play the Yellow Jackets, who might be ranked at this point, and unfortunately, Virginia Tech has to go into Bobby Dodd Stadium and try to punch back harder.  That will be a difficult task, especially with the talents of Haynes (King) and (Jamal) Haynes in the backfield. Tech wins, but not the one we want.  Georgia Tech 31 – Virginia Tech 21

California at Virginia Tech, October 24

Thankfully, Virginia Tech hosts another struggling program when the California Golden Bears make their first trip to Lane stadium. Cal lost a slew of starters to graduation and the portal, and they will likely rely on a true freshman at quarterback.  Lucky him, as he gets to experience “Enter Sandman” on a Friday night. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, though, Cal is used to seismic activity, but the shaking of Lane Stadium should resemble its Terrordome moniker of yore, and Cal will have a long flight back to Berkeley. Virginia Tech 37 - California 14

Louisville at Virginia Tech, November 1

This is Louisville’s first trip to Blacksburg since 1991. However, the Cardinals didn’t mind that absence, as they are 0-3 all time in Lane Stadium - and none of those games were close.  Coach Jeff Brohm again mined the portal for a quarterback and brought in highly touted Miller Moss to lead his high-powered offense.  Vegas thinks that the Cards will win eight games, and with their schedule they could be ranked by November.  That creates another opportunity for Pry and the Hokies to punch above their weight class to secure an upset win. But…I know I sound like a broken record… Louisville 38 - Virginia Tech 34

Virginia Tech at Florida State, November 15

Florida State can’t possibly be as bad as they were last year, can they?  Much like the Hokies, the Seminoles made many changes in their roster and on their staff.  There is talent on that team, but culture is in question.  They hope their new quarterback, former Boston College signal-caller Tommy Castellanos, will be a big influence in the locker room.  I scoff, as this is the same kid who walked from his Eagles' team after being benched last year.  Now he’s talking smack on social media as if he ever won anything up in Boston.  I can’t…just cannot…no way can I stomach a loss to Tommy Castellanos.  If the Hokies are going to win 7-8 games this year, this is one they need to have.  But that will likely require a one-score win on the road.  Against a guy whose biggest victory was over last year’s two-win FSU team that he now leads.  And I may be vomiting in my mouth after this one.  Florida State 23 - Virginia Tech 20

Miami at Virginia Tech, November 22

For a while, this was a great series for both schools.  Miami won the first twelve matchups, then Virginia Tech had the upper hand from 1995 to 2011, but the Canes have asserted their dominance since then.  Since 2012, Miami has won nine of twelve, including the last four.  However, three of those recent wins were by six points or less (go figure), so the Hokies have shown some fight, especially last year (let’s not talk about that one).  Sadly, Virginia Tech has not emerged victorious over Miami in Lane since 2016.  The law of averages says that Tech should win this one, but my faith in that law went out the window with Brent Pry’s 1-12 record in one-score games (with an active eight game losing streak).  My heart wants to call the upset, especially at home after last year’s wild ending, but I feel like I cannot do any more than cross my fingers and hope, which hasn’t been enough lately.  Miami 27 - Virginia Tech 23

Virginia Tech at Virginia, November 29

This game returns to Lane Stadium North for what could be an extremely important game for one or both of these coaches.  Tech has now won the last four in this series, 19 of the last 20, and 23 of the last 25.  That’s disgusting!  But I love it.  Sure, rivalries are better when both teams are good, but rivalries are a lot of fun when your team absolutely owns the other.  While UVa has a fairly weak schedule and their 264 actual fans think they can make it to a bowl game, they’d better have those wins secured before this one, because Hokie Nation is going to rush David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium for the third consecutive time.  Virginia Tech 27 - Virginia 16

Final Thoughts

Ouch, that results in a 5-7 season, which is bad news for the program if it happens.

I know it is hypocritical of me to hope for anything in this article after going against hope in the entries above, but I do hope I’m wrong here.  I want Tech to win seven or eight games.  I want them to win close games.  I hope they pull an upset.

But like Aesop’s villagers in “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” I’ve become scarred by the constant letdown, and my natural defense mechanism - apathy and mistrust - are sadly seeping into my fandom.

I do have hope that the new coaching hires will be the impetus of change in Tech’s recent one-score misfortunes.  But I - and everyone else - need to see it happen on the field.

If things do change, and if Tech proves me wrong, I will relish in the winning season and enjoy all the criticism that may come my way.

However, if I am unfortunately right, then it will be a long winter in Blacksburg.

Please prove me wrong Hokies!