Story perspectives

Virginia Tech Crushes VMI 73–3 as Franklin Rotates QBs

9/7/2026

Summary

Hokies Crush VMI

Virginia Tech Hokies beat VMI Keydets 73-3 in Blacksburg.
The Hokies entered as 55.5-point favorites over VMI.
VMI, an FCS program, has won only one game in three of its last four seasons.
Head coach James Franklin gave redshirt freshman quarterback Bryce Baker playing time in the second half.
Franklin warned that any softness on tape will be targeted by opponents.

Summary

Grunkemeyer Dominates

Grunkemeyer completed 17 of 20 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns.
Reynolds caught five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, showing early chemistry with Grunkemeyer.
Freshman transfer Davion “Fatrat” Brown missed two deep targets but his speed impressed coaches.
Brown and Reynolds previously played together at Penn State, strengthening their connection at Virginia Tech.
Grunkemeyer relied on short-to-intermediate routes, letting receivers gain yards after the catch.

Summary

TechSideline Clarifies Independence

TechSideline.com says its opinions are independent and do not represent Virginia Tech officials.
All original material and images are copyrighted and cannot be reused without explicit permission.
The site uses responsive web design to display correctly on PCs, tablets, and mobile devices.
Its design ensures a consistent user experience across major operating systems and browsers.

History

Historical Context

On October 7 1916 Georgia Tech, coached by John Heisman, beat Cumberland 222-0—the most lopsided college football result on record, and highlighted enduring concerns about mismatched contests. Over a century later, Virginia Tech’s 73-3 win over VMI in 2024 revived that disparity, prompting calls for tighter scheduling and conference reforms to preserve competitive balance.

1 of 4

Hokies Crush VMI

Virginia Tech Hokies beat VMI Keydets 73-3 in Blacksburg.
The Hokies entered as 55.5-point favorites over VMI.
VMI, an FCS program, has won only one game in three of its last four seasons.
Head coach James Franklin gave redshirt freshman quarterback Bryce Baker playing time in the second half.
Franklin warned that any softness on tape will be targeted by opponents.

1 / 4