Virginia Tech upsets No. 20 Clemson on the road

Hokies hand Tigers their first ACC loss of the season

Feb. 12, 2026 at 2:31am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Virginia Tech's men's basketball team defeated No. 20 Clemson 76-66 on the road, knocking the Tigers out of a first-place tie in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. Jailen Bedford scored 23 points for the Hokies, while Ben Hammond added 19 points, including 17 in the second half.

Why it matters

This victory is a major resume-building win for Virginia Tech, which is looking to secure an NCAA Tournament bid. Clemson had been tied for first place in the ACC with No. 4 Duke, so this loss drops the Tigers out of that top spot in the conference standings.

The details

Virginia Tech used a balanced scoring attack and strong second-half performance to pull off the upset over Clemson. Bedford led the way with 23 points, while Hammond scored 17 of his 19 points after halftime to help the Hokies secure the victory.

  • The game was played on February 12, 2026.

The players

Jailen Bedford

A key player for Virginia Tech, scoring 23 points in the upset victory.

Ben Hammond

Scored 19 points for Virginia Tech, including 17 in the second half to help the Hokies pull away.

Clemson Tigers

The No. 20 ranked team in the country, who were previously tied for first place in the ACC standings before this loss.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for our team and our program. We knew we had to come in here and play our best basketball to have a chance, and the guys really stepped up.”

— Mike Young, Virginia Tech Head Coach

What’s next

Virginia Tech will look to build on this signature win as they continue their push for an NCAA Tournament berth, while Clemson will try to rebound from this loss and regain their spot atop the ACC standings.

The takeaway

This victory demonstrates that Virginia Tech is a team on the rise in the ACC, capable of knocking off highly ranked opponents on the road. It's a major boost to the Hokies' postseason aspirations and shows they can compete with the conference's elite teams.