Virginia Tech and James Madison have canceled their football game for the 2026 season.
The cancellation is a result of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s decision to move to a nine-game conference slate beginning in 2026, which reduced available nonconference scheduling opportunities for league members.
VT and JMU were initially scheduled to play on Sept. 26, 2026 at Lane Stadium. Both institutions will continue to evaluate future scheduling opportunities between the two schools.
Tech will now play three nonconference games during the 2026 season, in addition to its nine-game ACC docket. The Hokies are scheduled to open the James Franklin era against VMI on Sept. 5 at Lane Stadium, host Old Dominion on Sept. 12 and travel to Maryland on Sept. 19.
Early reports say Tech had to pay JMU as much as $600,000 to cancel the game.
Virginia Tech Football’s 2026 Spring Game presented by Eagle Construction is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, with an afternoon kickoff time to be determined. The game will be free admission and open to the public.
Head coach James Franklin will open his inaugural season in Blacksburg with a reshaped roster that blends an experienced core of returning Hokies with an influx of transfers and a highly regarded recruiting class, expected to bolster depth and competition across the lineup.
Eighteen early enrollees from the program’s 22-member 2026 signing class will arrive on campus for the spring semester and take part in spring practice. Ranked No. 24 nationally by 247Sports, the class marks Franklin’s 14th consecutive top 25 recruiting haul.
“The spring game will be our first chance to take the field in front of our fans.” Franklin said. “When Hokie Nation shows up, it sends a message to recruits, opponents, and the country about how seriously Virginia Tech takes football. That environment lifts our players and fuels the way we compete. We look forward to seeing Hokie Nation pack the stands and bring the energy that makes this place special.”
A full Lane Stadium, 65,632 strong, would make the Spring Game one of the largest-attended spring football events in the country. Don’t miss the chance to be part of the energy, excitement, and tradition that makes Lane Stadium one of college football’s most electrifying venues.
Meanwhile the transfer portal has brought the Hokies a grand haul. This week, the school showed a roster of 100 players with as many as 30 new faces from both the portal and high school recruits.
Staff report
