| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
| VMI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Virginia Tech | 21 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 73 |
Final. Saturday, September 5, 2026. Kicked off 7:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
James Franklin coaches his first game at Virginia Tech, the program that fired Brent Pry last fall and then hired the coach Penn State had just let go. The opponent is VMI, an in state FCS program from the Southern Conference, in a Lane Stadium night game built to send the new era off with Enter Sandman and a crowd.
| Kickoff | 7:30 p.m. ET · 6:30 p.m. CT · 5:30 p.m. MT · 4:30 p.m. PT |
| TV | ACC Network |
| Streaming | ESPN app with a provider login, Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling with the sports add on |
| Venue | Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia |
| Line | Lightly posted. Where a line exists, Virginia Tech is favored by six touchdowns or more. |
Prediction and Odds
Franklin arrives with a $41.75 million contract, a transfer heavy roster and a fan base that wants proof the program is headed somewhere after a midseason coaching change. VMI gives him a friendly first exam: the Keydets have finished near the bottom of the SoCon and are outmatched at every position group. Expect Virginia Tech to lean on the run, play a lot of bodies and win by six touchdowns without the game ever feeling in doubt.
Our pick: Virginia Tech 45, VMI 3. Virginia Tech wins comfortably.
Why This One Matters
Beyond the debut, Virginia Tech has a real ACC schedule waiting and the first look at Franklin’s quarterback choice and staff matters more than the score. For VMI it is the in state guarantee game and a chance to play in front of 65,000.
How to Watch Without Cable
ACC Network is in the base packages of Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream, and on Sling with the sports extra add on. It streams in the ESPN app with any of those logins. More in our streaming guide.
The Bottom Line
VMI at Virginia Tech kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, September 5 on ACC Network. Virginia Tech is our pick in James Franklin’s debut. Result on our live scoreboard.