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James Franklin Hired at Virginia Tech – Hokies’ 2026 Win Total, Schedule and Predictions
By Brady Trettenero in College Football
Published:
- Virginia Tech has hired James Franklin, just weeks after he was let go by Penn State
- FanDuel opens the Hokies’ 2026 season total at 7.5, with plus money on the over
- See below for Virginia Tech’s complete 2026 schedule and win total analysis
Virginia Tech didn’t waste time making the biggest splash of the coaching carousel. The Hokies hired James Franklin on Monday, just 36 days after Penn State fired him following a 3-3 start to 2024.
Franklin replaces Brent Pry, who went 16-24 in four seasons and never posted a winning record in Blacksburg. The school backed up the hire with a reported $229 million investment in athletics over the next four years.
The betting markets reacted immediately. FanDuel posted Virginia Tech’s 2026 win total within hours of the announcement, giving us our first look at expectations for Franklin’s debut season.
Virginia Tech 2026 Win Total Odds
At 7.5 wins, the over at +124 implies a 44.6% probability while the under at -166 suggests a 62.4% chance Virginia Tech falls short of eight regular-season victories.
Odds as of November 17, 2025, at FanDuel Sportsbook. Bet on VA Tech’s 2026 win total with the FanDuel promo code.
The 7.5-win total is aggressive considering where this program sits. Virginia Tech is currently 3-7 this season and hasn’t won more than seven games since 2019. FanDuel basically expects Franklin to more than double the current win total in Year One.
The plus money on the over (+124) offers value if you’re buying what Franklin’s selling. You’re getting positive odds on Franklin immediately transforming this roster. The under at -166 implies books expect some bumps in the road, despite Franklin’s impressive résumé.
Franklin’s Penn State Success
Franklin posted a 128-60 record across 15 seasons at Vanderbilt and Penn State. At Penn State specifically, he averaged roughly 10 wins per season over his decade in State College. He won a Big Ten title in 2016 and reached the College Football Playoff semifinals just last January.
His biggest criticism? Struggling in “big games” against top-10 opponents. He went 4-21 against top-10 teams at Penn State, particularly struggling with Ohio State and Michigan.
The good news for Franklin? Virginia Tech won’t face many top-10 opponents in the ACC. Franklin’s floor of 8-9 wins would make him a hero in Blacksburg after years of mediocrity. The pressure to beat elite teams that haunted him at Penn State doesn’t exist in the current ACC.
VA Tech’s 2026 Schedule
Hokies Have Manageable Schedule in Franklin’s First Year
Virginia Tech’s 2026 schedule looks manageable for Franklin. Games against VMI, Old Dominion, Boston College, California, NC State and Virginia are all very winnable. That’s six potential victories without touching the tougher matchups.
The road losses to Miami and Clemson feel baked in. Sure, neither program is what they used to be, but playing Year One of a rebuild against two ACC powers in their own buildings is a tall order.
Maryland, James Madison, Georgia Tech, and Pitt are the true swing games. All these teams are having strong seasons, but could regress or improve depending on their offseasons.
Maryland will be Franklin’s first real test in Week 3. James Madison is dangerous and could easily sneak up on a team still finding its identity. Georgia Tech has been red hot in the ACC too, currently leading the conference at 8-1. Those three are the wild cards that will shape the season.
If Franklin wins just one of those four, Virginia Tech should land at seven wins. Win two, and he’ll have eight victories. Win three, and he’ll be looking at nine. The realistic range for VA Tech in Franklin’s first year is seven to nine victories.
Virginia Tech 2026 Win Total Prediction
Franklin has never failed to reach bowl eligibility as a head coach. When he took over at Vanderbilt, they were coming off a 2-10 season. He went 6-7 in Year One and had them winning nine games by Year Three.
The ACC gives him an easier path than what he faced in the Big Ten. No Ohio State. No Michigan. His toughest games are against programs Virginia Tech should compete with if they have the right coach.
Franklin’s recruiting ties in the DMV area are already helping. He’s already working the transfer portal and flipping recruits who decommitted from Penn State. 13 Penn State recruits have bailed since his firing, and Franklin is actively recruiting several of them to Blacksburg.
Eight wins feels very achievable for Franklin in 2026, especially with a full offseason to revamp his roster. I don’t believe the +124 price on the Over for VA Tech’s win total will last for too long. Grab it before the sharps move this number.
- 2026 VA Tech Win Total Pick: Over 7.5 Wins (+124 on FanDuel)
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Brady Trettenero
Lead NHL & NCAAF Editor
Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.
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