Virginia Tech, James Madison cancel 2026 non-conference football game
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James Franklin’s first Virginia Tech football team will be without one notable opponent on its schedule.
A Sept. 26, 2026 matchup between the Hokies and reigning College Football Playoff participant James Madison has been canceled, with the schools announcing the move on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
The change was prompted by the ACC switching to a nine-game schedule starting next season, which gives Virginia Tech one fewer non-conference game.
The Dukes filled the vacancy on their schedule with a game at San Diego State.
“We appreciate the timely, transparent communication from Whit Babcock and Virginia Tech regarding our game in 2026 following the ACC’s move to a nine-game conference schedule, and we remain hopeful that we’re able to schedule a future game between our two programs down the road,” James Madison athletic director Matt Roan said in a statement. “We’re especially appreciative to J.D. Wicker and his San Diego State staff for stepping forward and being willing to play us. We’re excited to take the Dukes to Southern California to face a new team in what will be one of the best Group of 6 matchups next fall.”
The Hokies will pay the Dukes $800,000 for the canceled matchup, according to the Virginian-Pilot.
Virginia Tech’s three-game non-conference slate for 2026 now includes home games against VMI and Old Dominion, as well as a road game against Maryland. In addition to San Diego State, James Madison will be taking on Liberty, Wagner and UConn before heading into Sun Belt play.
After largely struggling since legendary coach Frank Beamer retired after the 2015 season, Virginia Tech hired Franklin, who was fired from Penn State in October after his preseason top-five team dropped to 3-3. Though his final team fell well short of expectations, Franklin was one of the more consistently successful coaches in college football, going 104-45 in 12 seasons with the Nittany Lions.
James Madison, meanwhile, will also be unveiling a new coach next season in Billy Napier, who was fired in October from Florida after going 22-23 in four seasons there. Napier was previously a successful coach in the Sun Belt at Louisiana, where his teams went 40-12. He replaces Bob Chesney, who was named the UCLA coach after he led the Dukes to a berth in the playoff.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia Tech, James Madison cancel 2026 non-conference football game
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