Blacksburg, Virginia is buzzing with anticipation this Saturday as Virginia Tech prepares to host Old Dominion in a matchup that has Zambian sports fans on the edge of their seats. For those who follow American college football closely, this is more than just another game. This is about pride, redemption, and settling an old score that has been festering for nearly a year.
What happened the last time these two teams met?
Last September, Old Dominion marched into Lane Stadium and handed Virginia Tech a humiliating 45-26 defeat. That loss was so devastating that it cost head coach Brent Pry his job the very next morning. For the Hokies faithful, that memory still stings. For the players who were on that field, it is a scar they carry with them into every practice, every film session, and every workout.
Now, under new leadership with James Franklin at the helm, the Hokies have a chance to wash away that bitter taste. But Franklin, a coach known for his discipline and focus, is taking a measured approach to the revenge narrative.
Coach Franklin refuses to use revenge as motivation
When asked Monday whether last year's loss would serve as fuel for his team, Franklin was quick to shut down that line of thinking. He acknowledged that the tape from that game will be playing on a loop in the facility all week, but he insists his team doesn't need bulletin-board material to get up for this one.
“I don't think we're going to need to offer things like that as fuel. The reality is they already have our attention,” Franklin said.
He pointed to the record. Old Dominion has gone 2-2 against Virginia Tech over the past four seasons. That is not a fluke. That is a program that has earned respect the hard way. Franklin made it clear that the Monarchs have his full attention, and that attention is not born out of revenge, but out of respect for a worthy opponent.
Players echo the coach's sentiment
Left guard Layth Ghannam, who was on the field for last year's debacle, echoed his coach's stance when asked if the memory gives him extra motivation.
“I don't believe so. We don't need old games to motivate us,” Ghannam said.
His focus is simple: win every game on the schedule. That means going 12-0. The offseason work is done. The roster has been rebuilt. Now it is time to collect what they have earned.
The revenge target has left the building
There is also a practical problem with the revenge narrative. The man who torched Virginia Tech last year, quarterback Colton Joseph, threw for 276 yards and ran for 63 more that night. He won Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year honors. Then he packed his bags and transferred to Wisconsin.
Old Dominion returns just one starter on offense. Redshirt sophomore Quinn Henicle now runs the show, and he looked sharp in a 31-10 season-opening win over Norfolk State, accounting for four touchdowns.
Virginia Tech underwent its own massive overhaul, bringing in 27 transfers, 12 of whom followed Franklin from Penn State. This is essentially a brand new team on both sides.
A reunion more than a grudge match
What truly distinguishes Saturday's game is not bad blood, but familiarity. Old Dominion head coach Ricky Rahne worked under Franklin for over a decade. Monarchs special teams coordinator Kevin Smith was on Franklin's staff. Defensive coordinator Blake Seiler played for him at Kansas State.
Franklin admitted he has never coached against a former assistant. In a perfect world, he would avoid it entirely, because someone always leaves disappointed. But this is game week, and personal feelings have been set aside.
What will decide this game?
Franklin opened his Monday press conference talking about penalties, and he stayed on that topic for a while. He made it clear that discipline is the foundation of winning football.
“I take a ton of pride in penalties, and I think it shows a disciplined football team, and I don't think we were that on Saturday. Before you can learn to win, you got to eliminate the things that get you beat,” Franklin said.
Old Dominion will not forgive sloppiness the way VMI did in the Hokies' season opener. Franklin called Seiler's defense fast and physical, a unit that decides quickly and runs downhill. He flagged the three-down front with a third safety as the puzzle his offense must solve this week. That defense held Norfolk State to just 220 yards and forced three turnovers.
The Hokies are expected to win. With a new staff, a rebuilt roster, and a schedule they believe they can run the table on, they have plenty to play for without reaching back to last September. But make no mistake, the ghosts of that 45-26 loss will be lurking in the corners of Lane Stadium on Saturday.
Kickoff is set for noon at Lane Stadium. The game will air on The CW.