ODU Football 2025 Opponent Preview - Virginia Tech

Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography

By David Asbury

The Elevator Brawl
When ODU moved up to the FBS in 2014, the Virginia Tech Hokies quickly scheduled a series with them.  At the time, the much bigger program thought the games against lil' brother ODU would be an easy cost-effective series that gave them the opportunity to showcase to recruits from the coveted 757.  But it quickly turned into a nightmare when ODU upset them in 2018 and then again in 2022, both wins in Norfolk.  Virginia Tech now leads the series by "only" 4-2.  Following two embarrassing losses in Norfolk, VT opted to no longer play games at the Castle.  They decided they would rather pay ODU $2.7 million dollars to host them in Blacksburg in 2025, 2026 and 2031 and cancel games scheduled for 2027, 2029, and 2031 in Norfolk (and a 2028 game in Blacksburg).  Those dates are now open for both schools to find contracts with other opponents.  However, the series is still alive and the Monarchs have a chance to get their first-ever win in Blacksburg on September 13th this season.

The Virginia Tech Hokies are led by fourth-year head coach Brent Pry.  Pry worked knows Ricky Rahne really well.  They both worked together at Penn State when Pry was the Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator and Rahne was the offensive coordinator.  Now, they face-off as rival head coaches.  Pry is 2-1 against the Monarchs but is 16-21 overall in his tenure.  That's simply not good enough for Virginia Tech.  Their fanbase wants to compete for the ACC and Pry just cannot seem to get them over the hump even when he has a very talented roster.  Last season, the roster was primed to have a breakout season.  Yet, they disappointed with a 6-7 season, ending it with a loss in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.  Pry's seat is certifiably hot and he cannot expect to keep his job if he turns in another losing season.  That's why he is pushing all his chips into the center of the table this season with a staff overhaul including 2 new coordinators.

With all the coaching turnover, Pry will at least have continuity at quarterback.  Kyron Drones returns after a banged up season in 2024.  He needed a little recovery time in the offseason but he should be healthy by September.  If he is he will be one of the ACC's most dangerous weapons.  He threw for 27 touchdowns over the last two seasons and added nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.  He also takes care of the ball, throwing only nine interceptions over the last two seasons.  The dual-threat quarterback can beat you in the air or on the ground and did just that against the Monarchs last season at the Castle.  He threw for 176 yards against the Monarchs and then ran for 117 more yards to score twice.  It was his third-best QBR for the 2024 season.   

Drones' 53-yard run to set up a touchdown which was the nail in the coffin for the Monarchs who would lose the 2024 match 17-37. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography.

The quarterback remains the same but the Hokies will have new playmakers on offense.  They recruited some familiar foes to run the ball.  The Monarchs faced off against running back Terion Stewart when he played for Bowling Green last season.  ODU limited him to 67-yards and a score in a Monarchs victory.  ODU is also familiar with their other transfer running back Braydon Bennett who scored two touchdowns against the Monarchs last season while playing for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.  These running backs are fine additions but could be a step behind last year's start studded running back room.  The same could be said about the wide receiver room.  After losing their top four receivers, in comes Cameron Seldon (Tennessee-he was actually a RB for the Vols) and Donavon Green (Wake Forest). The latter should play a huge role as the veteran in the group.  Green started games since arriving to the Demon Deacons in 2019 and finished his Wake Forest tenure with 13 career touchdowns. He is still playing football due to missing the 2021 and 2023 seasons due to injury.  Ayden Greene returns after he showed the potential to become a star with his first 100-yard receiving game in their bowl game.  Tight-End Benji Gosnell is also back after catching 32 catches and two touchdowns.

 
Tackle Johnny Garrett (79) and Tight End Benji Gosnell (82) return for the Hokie offense. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography.

How good this offense will be will likely be determined by the offensive line.  The Hokies were dreadful upfront in 2024, allowing masses of sacks and tackles for loss.  It may not be better in '25 because they lost their top tackle and starting center to SEC teams in the portal as well as the other tackle to Oklahoma State.  The Hokies essentially raided West Virginia's offensive line bringing in the WVU line coach as well as WVU's center Kyle Altuner, tackle Lucas Austin and guard Thomas Rimac.  Returning tackle Johnny Garrett did not start for the Hokies last season but had significant playing time and is expected to start this year.  It is clear that most of the question marks on this roster are on the offensive line.  If the line can work, Drones can have an All-ACC season.  If the new line is a failure, then expect Drones to get banged up yet again and a repeat of last season's mediocre offense (8th in ACC conference games).  Pry's job may depend on how well built this new offensive line is.  It's the top worry.

Turning to the defense, it actually still looks solid despite some key losses.  The good news for Hokie fans is the linebacking corps is stacked.  Jaden Keller is a big 6-3, 235-pounder with range and pop. He’s a strong middle linebacker and led the team in tackles.  Caleb Woodson on the outside was second in tackles and had 7.5 tackles for a loss.  Transfer Jordan Bass (Pitt) comes in and is built to be a pass rusher and playmaker at the other outside spot.  The Hokies lost some playmakers in the secondary but brought in good transfer prospects to pick up the slack.  The same is true for the defensive line after super senior Anwtaun Powell-Ryland ran out of eligibility. 

The defense is primed to have another good season (3rd in 2024 ACC points per game, 7th in 2024 ACC yards per game).  The Monarchs offense will have a very big challenge ahead of them when facing this defense in Blacksburg.

Keller (24) led the Hokies with 83 tackles in 2024. Photo courtesy of CB Sports Photography.

Overall, expectations for Virginia Tech are average for a P4 team.  Phil Steele ranks them ninth out of 17 teams in the ACC, tied with Duke and NC State.  CFBudge ranks them a little higher at seventh.  Vegas set the win total at 6.5 wins.  That is very doable since they miss SMU and Clemson in their conference schedule.  However, it will still not be a cake-walk having to face Miami, FSU and Georgia Tech.  The non-conference schedule also includes tough opponents from the SEC with South Carolina and a Diego Pavia-led Vanderbilt team.  With so much turnover on the coaching staff and offensive line, combined with Pry's underperformances thus far, I prefer just the under.  I was very high on Virginia Tech last season and believed the roster was good enough to hit the over on the 7.5-win prediction.  They underperformed and went 6-7.  This year's roster is arguably worse and the schedule is not easy.  Their ceiling appears to be 8-4 with a bowl berth but their floor is 4-8 with a new head coaching search.

Old Dominion at home may be one of the Hokies' easiest games of the season and they will be heavy favorites to win it.  But there are some things going in the Monarchs' favor.  First, the Monarchs may be more talented than they were a season ago while the Hokies are arguably less talented or the same.  Second, the Hokies will be coming off two weeks against SEC teams, South Carolina and Vanderbilt, before facing the Monarchs.  They could be a little beat up from facing such tough competition so early in the season.  Finally, the Monarchs will be coming off an easier opponent in an FCS team.  Essentially the schedule lines up for a potential upset here.  The Hokies should know that they cannot afford to overlook the Monarchs.  If they do, they could be in trouble and Pry's hot seat could get get scorching.