Marty Gordon
Virginia Tech has announced a change in a future football opponent. A home game against state-foe James Madison had been scheduled for the 2025 season but is now moved to 2026.
Wofford will replace the Dukes on the 2025 slate. The Hokies and Dukes were scheduled to meet on Sept. 20, 2025 but will now play on Sept. 26, 2026.
“We appreciate the James Madison football program’s flexibility in accommodating a new trip to Blacksburg in 2026 and are pleased to welcome Wofford back during the 2025 season,” said Babcock. “Keeping both home dates on our schedule was a priority and we are eager to continue providing great Lane Stadium experiences to Hokie Nation during the seasons to come.”
The Hokies only meeting with Wofford took place on Sept. 17, 2022, a 27-7 Tech win in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech and JMU have played seven times previously, with the last meeting in Blacksburg in 2010. The Hokies own a 6-1 advantage in the series.
The 2024 schedule includes a visit to Vanderbilt. In 2025, the Hokies will play South Carolina at a neutral site, Atlanta, Ga., and a Vandy trip to Blacksburg. Year 2026 will include contests against VMI and Maryland.
Baseball intra squad
Looking ahead to a full, fun home weekend of Virginia Tech baseball in the New River Valley, head coach John Szefc is excited to welcome everyone to share in the program at events surrounding the Hokies’ annual intrasquad Fall World Series, this weekend.
Virginia Tech will split its roster into two sides, Maroon and Orange, during its three-game fall finale at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. First pitch times are currently scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Entry to English Field is free to all fans while ballpark seating is general admission.
Throughout the series, fans are encouraged to participate in the Hokies’ food drive in support of Micah’s Backpack, a local volunteer organization that strives to provide direct food assistance to Blacksburg students who are experiencing food insecurity. All food and/or donations are accepted, although preferred food items include canned pasta, canned soup, canned beanie weenies, canned tuna, canned chicken, individual mac and cheese cups, peanut butter, 100% juice boxes, milk boxes, individual oatmeal, canned veggies, fruit cups (in juice or lite syrup) and individual wrapped snacks.
Additionally, at the conclusion of Sunday’s Fall World Series action, members of the Virginia Tech baseball team will host a free, one-hour youth clinic from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Swimming top times
In the Hokies’ ACC opener at the Christiansburg Aquatics Center, Tech defeated Duke, 166-120, on the men’s side, while the women dropped a 117-183 decision.
Chase Travis dominated in the distance events. She started with the 1000 free and placed first with a time of 10:03.03. She then placed first in the 500 free with a time of 4:55.22. Freshman Kate Anderson also excelled in the 1000 free, placing third with a time of 10.16.81.
Carmen Weiler Sastre has continued to be fast in the pool throughout the season. She placed first in the 200 free with a time of 1:48.87. She followed that performance with a second place finish in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:57.09.
In the 100 free, Emily Claesson claimed first place with a time of 50.95. She was closely followed by Fanni Gyrinovics. Gyrinovics also placed second in the 50 free with a time of 23.52. Behind Gyrinovics in the 50 free was Parker Bolduc. She placed third with a time of 23.70.
The Tech women finished strong in the 200 free relay. Weiler Sastre, Gyurinovics, Bolduc and Claesson swam the 15th-fastest time in the country with a time of 1:32.35.
Miah Fisher showed off her dives today in the 1-meter. She placed second with a score of 298.58.
The men started the meet on a high note in the 400 medley relay. Youssef Ramadan, Carles Coll Marti, Mario Molla Yanes and Brendan Whitfield swam the 11th-fastest time in the country with a time of 3:12.49.
Nico Garcia proved he is valuable in both distance and sprint races. He placed first in the 1000 free with a time of 9:21.57. He followed up with a first place performance in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:46.54.
The Hokie men swept the 100 and 200 breaststroke. In the 100, Coll Marti placed first with a time of 53.90. He was followed by Joseph Hong with a time of 56.07. Within a second of Hong, AJ Pouch placed third with a time of 56.29 and Cobi Lopez Miro placed fourth with a time of 56.50. In the 200, Carles Coll Marti placed first with a time of 1:57.47. In second, Pouch finished with a time of 2:03.30. Hong then finished third with a time of 2:03.44.
Freshman Brendan Whitfield continues to show why he is a great addition to the team. Whitfield placed first in the 100 free with a time of 44.03. Ramadan was close behind in second with a time of 44.36. Tanish George Mathew rounded out the Hokie sweep in third with a time of 45.19.
George Mathew placed first in the 50 free with a time of 20.45. Within a second, William Hayon placed second with a time of 20.75.
In the 100 backstroke, Gabriel Yuk finished first with a time of 48.94. Forest Webb was close behind finishing second with a time of 50.37.
The Hokie men finished up the meet with the eighth-fastest time in country with a time of 1:19.97. The relay consisted of Coll Marti, Whitfield, George Mathew and Hayon.
Drones fourth highest
Earning his second conference win against Wake Forest, quarterback Kyron Drones’ masterful performance garnered extra notoriety. The Pearland, Texas native threw a season-high 321 passing yards and two touchdowns, recording his first 300-yard passing game of his career.
Drones’ production in week 7 resulted in him being the fourth-highest graded (87.6) quarterback, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). The Baylor transfer graded higher than Ohio State’s Kyle McCord and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, two signal callers on teams currently vying for spots in the College Football Playoffs.