As Brent Pry begins Year 3 in Blacksburg, the head coach and team have different expectations in 2024.
Following their participation in the ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte, Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry and standout players Kyron Drones, Dorian Strong, and Antwaun Powell-Ryland are now focusing on the highly anticipated 2024 season in Blacksburg.
Expectations are soaring as Year 3 of the Brent Pry era commences for the Hokies. With significant retention on both offense and defense, as well as key additions from the transfer portal, Virginia Tech is being viewed as a dark horse in the upcoming ACC season.
The Hokies have a promising schedule ahead. They will start with four non-conference games before kicking off conference play on Sept. 27 against Miami, followed by a challenging trip to Stanford eight days later.
Looking ahead, matchups against Boston College and Georgia Tech at home pose challenges, and the season concludes with a rivalry game against Virginia. Notably, a pivotal game against Clemson on Nov. 9 is anticipated as their second toughest challenge after Miami, with potentially tough road games against Syracuse and Duke also on the horizon.
However, with their returning talent and good health, Virginia Tech has the potential to secure 9 or 10 wins.
Coach Pry, formerly of Penn State, has openly discussed the possibility of contending for a spot in the ACC Championship game in December, underscoring his confidence in the team’s capabilities and readiness for the upcoming season.
“Yeah I would probably be disappointed (if we didn’t make the ACC championship game). Again, my message to them has been we have to keep pushing and we have to make strides in these areas where we have to be better to be a team that can do that.”
As Brent Pry enters his third season in Blacksburg, the expectations for Virginia Tech football have undergone a remarkable transformation. Few would have predicted that Pry would set making the ACC Championship game as a minimum expectation, especially considering the state of the program he inherited from former coach Justin Fuente. Just ten months ago, the outlook was bleak following a 1-3 start to the non-conference schedule and a 2-4 record after a loss to Florida State in early October.
However, a dramatic turnaround ensued as the Hokies rallied to win four of their last six games. They capped off their season with a resounding 55-17 victory over Virginia on Thanksgiving weekend, securing bowl eligibility—a significant achievement for the program. The subsequent Military Bowl victory over Tulane further bolstered morale, and crucially, key players such as Kyron Drones, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, and Dorian Strong announced their decision to return for another season.
With the recent expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams, the landscape for Virginia Tech has shifted dramatically. Pry now expresses disappointment if the team fails to reach the ACC Championship game, recognizing that achieving this with one loss or fewer could potentially propel them into the expanded CFP field, regardless of the championship game’s outcome.
This rapid evolution in expectations extends beyond Pry himself. Quarterback Kyron Drones, a transfer from Baylor, has articulated his aspirations for the upcoming season, aiming squarely for a shot at the College Football Playoff. As Year 3 of the Pry era begins, the atmosphere in Blacksburg is charged with renewed optimism and the belief that the Hokies are on the path to reclaiming their position among college football’s elite programs.
