Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Old Dominion Monarchs: News, Notes, and Predictions
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If there is a really important vengeance game on the schedule this season, put the Monarchs right at the top of the list. ODU represented a supposedly relatively easy win for the Hokies in 2025. Instead, it was a full meltdown disaster. This season DC Brent Pry and the Hokies are looking for a measure of retribution meted out to the ODU crew.
It’s a Whiteout
It’s a Whiteout game, which might be a good thing given that the kickoff is at noon with the Sun directly overhead, and Lane Stadium during midday in the late Summer is a microwave oven. The team is out pushing the fans to remember to wear white.
Mother Nature is Not Looking Very Happy
The big issue for the game really won’t be too much of a surprise for locals, because the current weather report from Weather Underground Blacksburg, VA Hourly Weather Forecast | Weather Underground is reporting that there are serious thunderstorms brewing right as the presumed 2nd quarter could be starting. For those of us who remember the Purdue fiasco, this weather report is not a hopeful one. The threat of storms increases every hour after that until late into the evening. We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but with it being a non-conference game, and ODU being greatly reduced in scheduling, don’t be surprised if this one is cancelled and not revisited. (This is not an official call, folks, just a feeling based on a hunch, and a nearly wrecked camera.)
PFF is Very Happy Though
Pro Football Focus grades lots of things, and the team grades are almost as important as the star player grades when it comes to the attention that professional football scouts will be looking to organize their efforts to observe. Tech’s score for Week 1 was very impressive, and keeping that high up there this weekend is going to be really important for the Seniors trying to make the NFL.
The highest grade also netted the Hokies the PFF Team of the Week notice.
The Game is Officially a Sell Out
The Hokies pull off their second sell out of the young season. The first one wasn’t surprising for many reasons, most of which had the “hope of new” attached. This game could be counted as very unusual because it’s a noon kickoff, and noon non-conference “B-Movie” games are often not sellouts. Not this year. The “NEW” hasn’t rubbed off just yet.
The PR Staff has Really Upped Its Game, too
Before we head into predictions, take a look at the hype movie produced for the team by the Hokie Sports staff.
Time for Staff Predictions
In general, if there is going to be a game, or it doesn’t get shut down due to storms, the Hokies stand a really good chance of winning this one, but it’s not going to be the sort of blowout that we were treated to last week. Ricky Rahne, James Franklin, and Brent Pry are old friends and colleagues. Those sorts of contests can turn into a grudge match between buddies – a coaching family feud if you will. But ODU has a competent coach with a team that is expected to challenge hard in the Sun Belt Conference this season.
The Monarchs put an opening season win up on the board with a 31-10 victory over Norfolk State. So, they have an offense, and a credible defense. The big question that is loudly begged this season is; are the Hokies that much improved on both sides of the line of scrimmage in 2026 over 2025?
A win will go a long way to answering some of the basic questions about this new staff and team. That win is not going to be a dance on the top of a cupcake this weekend.
Bryan Manning
The spread is 18.5 on Saturday. Believe it or not, I like that for the Hokies. Look, this isn’t a case of being overly optimistic because of what Virginia Tech did to a bad FCS team last week. I was more impressed that the Hokies finally did what they were supposed to do for years: beat down teams that shouldn’t be able to compete with them. James Franklin will show no mercy. Virginia Tech has badly needed that type of mindset. We know Franklin is personally motivated. So is this team. Don’t you think Brent Pry wants this game on Saturday? Yes, ODU coach Ricky Rahne is close with Franklin. But this week, it’s strictly business. And that’s not good for ODU. While I think the Monarchs can keep it competitive early, I believe Tech ultimately pulls away and covers the spread.
I expect another solid performance from quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, while wide receiver Que’Sean Brown and running backs Jeffrey Overton and Marcellous Hawkins also carry the load. The key to ODU’s offense is QB Quinn Henicle and his legs. I believe the Hokies will shut that down, which will severely hamper the Monarchs’ chances.
Hokies 38, Monarchs 13
John Schneider
I don’t know what to feel about this one from the performance standpoint. I really liked what I saw on offense for the VMI game. We saw the QB under center for many plays. We saw crisp execution without the “check-with-me semi no huddle” nonsense. We saw a quarterback who could move in the pocket but wasn’t getting used like a primary running back. And we saw the positive development of an intermediate passing game.
On the defensive side of the ball, we didn’t get to see much in the way of pass coverage, but we did see superior run defense. The Hokie D held a triple option offense to almost nothing in the way of yardage on the ground. We saw the two deep on both line and linebackers control the game and keep the opposing offense from crossing the 50 for all but a muffed punt play.
Then we did see handkerchiefs on the field. In the ODU game those careless moments could cost the Hokies dearly. Those pre-snap mess-ups need to be absent for this one.
I do see that the Hokies’ running back combo of the Juniors, Hawkins and Overton, the topflight receivers like Q Brown and Greene, and both starting tight ends, Reynolds and Gosnell will get work from Ethan Grunkemeyer. It’s the Offensive line and how they perform that is going to be the tell in this contest. I think Coach Moore has finally gotten his offensive line squad working together in a functional two-deep.
For this one, I think the wiseguys in the desert are probably close to the odds though the spread is varying between -17.5 and -19.5 for the Hokies, and the OU is varying between 50.5 and 52.5. If that all happens according to their calculations, Tech should put up a healthy chunk of that over/under. I figure that it’s going to be a mixed bag of TDs and FGs.
41-13 Hokies
Just a Parting Reminder
GO HOKIES!!!
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