(BCSNN) -- What a difference a year makes. One season ago, Virginia Tech entered 2025 coming off a 6–7 campaign but still carried high expectations after returning most of its 2023 starters. Some even viewed the Hokies as a potential College Football Playoff dark horse.

Instead, the most exciting moment at Lane Stadium that year turned out to be a Metallica concert in May. By fall, expectations had evaporated, and questions swirled about how long Brent Pry would remain in charge.

Pry didn’t last long. After an 0–3 start, Virginia Tech fired him and elevated offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery to interim head coach. The Hokies finished 3–9, seemingly sinking deeper into uncertainty. But in a stunning twist, the program caught an unexpected break when Penn State abruptly fired James Franklin after a slow start — just months removed from nearly leading the Nittany Lions to a national championship.

In November, Virginia Tech officially hired Franklin, a move that felt like a jolt of good fortune for a program desperate for direction. The surprises didn’t stop there: Pry soon returned as Franklin’s defensive coordinator. Over the next two months, Franklin worked relentlessly to elevate a bottom‑tier recruiting class into a top‑25 group, then attacked the transfer portal with a focus on long‑term roster building.

The Hokies’ top incoming transfer is redshirt sophomore quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, and optimism in Blacksburg has surged. Tech not only landed Grunkemeyer but also added former four‑star UNC quarterback Bryce Baker and signed Troy Huhn in the 2026 class. Just last week, the Hokies secured one of the nation’s top 100 players, quarterback Peter Bourque, in the 2027 class.

Now attention turns to 2026 and what Franklin can accomplish in his first season. He has made it clear he is not planning a long rebuild. While he is constructing the program for sustained success, Franklin is also aiming to win immediately — a message that has energized a fan base eager for a return to relevance.

After a year defined by disappointment, Virginia Tech suddenly finds itself with momentum, direction and renewed belief. The Hokies may not be all the way back yet, but for the first time in a long time, Blacksburg feels like a place where big things might be possible again.