It’s the Gobbler Country 2025 Football Season Coverage Kickoff
Football is a touch less than 50 days away, and that means it’s time to get started with the season previews. We’ll be breaking down the positions as practice gets started and the new fall roster is published, but for now we really need to take a look at the Hokies’ 2025 football schedule.
In General, We Don’t See Too Much Scary
There have been worse lineups in the recent past, but the Hokies still manage to find out how to best start out on the wrong foot by getting bashed in the face and beaten up. So, don’t take the section title completely
seriously. Objectively, the Hokies are a subpar team and program coming off a really disappointing season with gaping talent holes that need to be filled.
Added to the massive loss of talent to graduation, transfers in, transfers out, and new roster limits, Tech is also facing a nearly complete turnover in assistant coaches at the top. The new Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker coaches might be enough for most teams in the great middle (peloton) of “college” football to choke on a bit, but Tech had to replace, not only the Offensive Line coach, but also the Offensive Coordinator when Tyler Bowen voluntarily took a position demotion to go to Penn State (no disappointment there, for many of us).
The reality of that massive shift is that no one knows ‘nuthun’ much in regard to how the team will perform this season, and the debut game is going to be a sort of revelation. So, let us start with the new look coaching staff and then we’ll peruse that schedule.
A Mix of New and Old on Staff
The offensive core is mostly new. Philip Montgomery has pulled in a pile of new coaching talent. The returning primary offensive assistant coaches are Elijah Brooks for the Running Backs, and Fontel Mines for the wide receivers, Brent Davis moves to Tight Ends, and Stu Holt will still be involved but mostly concentrating on Special Teams. The team has hired former West Virginia Offensive Line Coach Matt Moore to handle the all-important O side if the trenches.
The biggest change is the number of assistants for the assistants. Brian Crist is going to be coaching Quarterbacks (listed as a Co- assuming that the OC is there too). Mike Moyseenko will be assisting with Tight Ends as an associate. Hokie Cam Phillips is still doing assistant WR work and quality control. Jens Danielsen is assisting Matt Moore with the O-Line, and assisting with the Backs the program brings in Cannon Montgomery.
If the big change in the offense wasn’t enough, the defense challenges it. Sam Siefkes takes over the DC job, and inherits JC Price who moves back to interior Defensive Line but keeps the Associate Head Coach Title. Hokie standout Pierson Prioleau at Safeties, Derek Jones at Cornerbacks, Shawn Quinn at Outside Linebackers, and Hokie great Xavier Adibi at Inside Linebackers. Price’s new Edge Coach, Jireh Wilson will be handling the speed rushers. Bryan Whitehead is finishing up the main assistant list with Nickels.
Assisting the defensive assistants, Hokie steady Jeron Gouveia-Winslow stays with the Safeties, Brayden DeVault-Smith takes on the Cornerback and Quality Control function. Jan Johnson Jr. will be doing Assistant D-Line work and Quality Control.
As mentioned before Stu Holt will be running the Special Teams, with the help of Brandon McCombs.
Brent Pry will be returning as the Head Coach, but how this all shakes out will be interesting, to say the least. Mixed bag replacements in the middle of a rebuild are not unheard of if the rebuild isn’t going well. The fact that this level of coaching change has to be undertaken is a sign of other issues, and it will be interesting to see how Pry navigates the rough water ahead. Experience says that the rapids are going to be in the Class 4 or 5 range until this new staff figures out who is who and who does what, when and how.
As far as an anticipated grade for the coaching staff, it will remain to be seen and that means a gentleman’s C+. It might take the entire season to square away, and figure out if it’s going to work as configured.
Now for the Schedule, Itself
It’s Been 2 Years Since Seven Home Games
We need to look at this from a high altitude. Drilling down without a ton of detailed information from Summer/Fall practice and a few games to see how good Tech is, is one thing, but we also have to find out how good most of the competition is since almost every team exists in the peloton of mediocrity, too.
The Hokies have seven home games this season and that will make the local proprietors happy. One extra Game Day is much needed revenue for nearly everyone in the hospitality businesses around Blacksburg for miles in any direction.
Of course, of that games there is one FCS cupcake setup (never thrilled with those) against Wofford which won’t draw a big crowd, and will probably be an early game. It’s a nearly guaranteed win (and not being able to say guaranteed blowout for Tech is bothersome) so its value in determining Risk levels is pretty low.
Tech Could and Probably will Start 2-2
All of Tech’s non-conference games (except for a possible bowl) are, again, front loaded this season. This year, Tech faces off against the theoretical bottom and middle of the SEC as it faces South Carolina and Vanderbilt. We say theoretical because both teams seem to be on the rise and neither is a lightweight challenge this season.
Shane Beamer has the Gamecocks dangerous, and South Carolina has risen past the middle of the SEC, the decision to face them in the opener was a king-sized stupid scheduling move. Actually, Tech facing any SEC program is pretty stupid, but in this case, the Gamecocks’ Head Coach is about to hand his old school and program a major plowing. Tech might have a chance but getting the deer vs. semi feeling isn’t unwarranted.
Vanderbilt will still have, courtesy of the courts, Diego Pavia at quarterback, and though we need to see the opener for them, objectively they have to be favored because Lane Stadium’s intimidation factor has waned a bit over the last decade or so. There is a chance that the Hokies will even their record up at 1-1, but the old Magic 8-ball keeps coming up with negative predictions.
Old Dominion is coming back to Blacksburg from the Sun Belt Conference, and might just be a chance for the Hokies to breathe some air, and grab a win, but it’s not a guarantee, either. As we get closer to the season we might see if they are any good, but the program isn’t rich and the “Fun Belt” is still struggling for recruiting status. ODU is an unknown every season so this is a probable win unless Tech has already hit the rocks in the first two games.
Wofford will be a win. But will it be the huge blowout with tons of garbage time it’s supposed to be? Or, will it be one of those first half struggle bus affairs that needs the starters back in the 2nd half to secure the win? By the end of the first third of the season, we might be seeing signs of the injury bug, and certainly we will start the ACC schedule off with issues that we cannot predict at this point in time. If it’s not a big garbage-time cupcake game, then Hokie Nation should expect a really long season.
The 2nd Third of the Season Might Be
Well, depending on how well the offense is playing by the 4th of October we’ll get a real feel for what the ACC season is like.
Tech travels to Durham on the 27th of September for their first hostile environment game at NC State. The Wolf Pack is always tough in their own house, and any hope of Tech winning this one will rest on whether or not the offense has jelled, and Drones or potential replacement are running it well. The next four games are true peer contests, so they present real opportunities for wins or embarrassments.
That’s why the 4th is so critical. An unknown quality Wake Forest will roll into Blacksburg and we’ll see what sort of contest shapes up. The Demon Deacons have been good in the recent past, and they’ve also been on the struggle bus with Tech, too. A 3-2 Tech winning against Wake would really boost morale. A 2-3 Tech winning against Wake would be a saving grace, and any ‘Ls would represent a major disaster and a sign of dark times ahead.
Tech heads off to Atlanta and Georgia Tech to face off against the other ACC Tech in Bobby Dodd. The push-pull between the two teams is brutal and this game could be pivotal in both programs’ schedules. A 4-2 Virginia Tech would be looking for a win to get one step closer to a bowl, and a 3-3 team would be looking to do something positive to keep on a bowl track. The reality check is that if Tech is 2-4, it is unlikely to win the game. It’s a shame to think about but it, unfortunately, would not be surprising.
Cal – Berkley comes to Blacksburg on the long flight series to play a Friday night game in prime time. This is another game that Tech should win, but this would be the first game over the hump in the great slide into oblivion or a bowl. It really doesn’t matter the record, for their ACC presence the Hokies need this win badly, and the season hasn’t even started yet.
The Final Four – Does History Repeat or Echo?
Talk about a three-game meat grinder. It’s 2 home and 2 away (well sort of). And no, I can add, the final game is always UVA and unless something near miraculous happens to the Hoos we’ll be the grinder in that one.
The first pass at the KitchenAid attachment will be Louisville showing up at Lane to try to repeat their prior feat of defeating an injury diminished Hokie squad. Louisville can be bold, dangerous, and powerful, or they can be just as hapless as the Hokies have been. Tech will need to win at least one of the next 3 contests and Louisville might be the best bet.
The second pass through the mill will be the longest trip of the year for the Hokies to Doak and Tallahassee to face off against Florida State. Will the ‘Noles be any good at all this season? We just won’t know until the mid-point. FSU is not like Miami where the analysts worship at the throne of the Ibis. It’s been hot and cold so often in the last decade that folks have noticed that it often isn’t even lukewarm in general. Needless to say, Tech having a chance to win will depend on the directions both teams have taken over the season.
Nov. 22nd is Senior Night in Lane will see a renewal of the Big East Grudge Match, especially after last season’s seemingly corrupt overturning of Tech’s last second winning TD in Miami. The Hurricanes ended up not being all the way back last season but a #13 ranking and a 10-2 regular season record (They lost to Iowa State in their bowl game, yea.) wasn’t something to sniff at. Miami is predicted to challenge for the ACC Championship game and beating up on Tech might be a critical element for them. Maybe Tech has enough pride and played well enough to hand the Hurricanes a loss, but nobody is going to bet on that one for a long time.
Thanksgiving is late again this year, so November 29th the Hokies travel to Lane Stadium North Annex, aka Scott Stadium, to play the Hoos for the Commonwealth Cup, and some pride. Frankly, if the Hokies lose this one, Pry will probably be walking home from Hooville because only staff and players can ride the buses. That sounds pretty harsh and petty, but UVA is unlikely to be any good again this season. They could surprise everyone, but it’s very unlikely. Their sports program and fanbase is just not that into football. The Hokie fans will probably, again, equal or outnumber the Hoo fans in the stadium. The big question will be the conditions of the game, and the what will a win mean. It could very well be another struggle to get to 6-6 or the team could be sitting on eligibility and only looking for a better bid. If Tech is below 5-6 for the game, retaining the cup might be a salve, but it’s not going to save the current regime.
2025 Will Likely Determine Where Tech Lands in the Evolving League Structure
That’s a Wrap... Sort of greasy and gross like a sub with too much Italian dressing and mayo on it. This season the Hokies are on the hot-seat, not just Brent Pry, if this program has any chance of making it into the rapidly changing melee of P4 “college” football they have to do much better in 2025.
We have to wait and see. The ACC is in much the same shape, and in five years is unlikely to look the same or operate at the same “Power” level.
What’s Your Guess?
Next Up … Well, Bryan and I have to talk about it. Practice doesn’t start until August so the vamp until ready continues.
GO HOKIES!!!!
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