Virginia Tech-Miami Clash Could Be One of College Football's Best Games in 2026

New Hokies coach James Franklin has upgraded the roster, setting up a potential ACC showdown with the Hurricanes.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Virginia Tech has had a very successful offseason, hiring new head coach James Franklin and bringing in top recruiting and transfer classes. This sets the stage for a potentially high-stakes clash between the Hokies and Miami Hurricanes late in the 2026 season, which CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford has identified as one of the top 26 games of the upcoming college football season.

Why it matters

Dating back to their days in the Big East, games between Virginia Tech and Miami have typically had a lot on the line. That hasn't been the case for some years, but with Franklin as the new head coach in Blacksburg and Miami fresh off a national championship appearance, the rivalry has a chance to mean something once more. A Hokies upset over the Hurricanes would be their first win in the series since 2019.

The details

Franklin's hiring was a big win for Virginia Tech, as he is one of the most accomplished coaches in the country. He delivered by upgrading the Hokies' roster, taking them from a recruiting class ranked outside the top 100 to one of the ACC's best. Virginia Tech also brought in one of the top transfer portal classes in the conference. While this doesn't guarantee instant success, it puts the Hokies in a position to potentially make the College Football Playoff in Franklin's first season.

  • The Virginia Tech-Miami game will take place on November 20, 2026.
  • Franklin was hired as Virginia Tech's new head coach prior to the 2026 season.

The players

James Franklin

The new head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies, known as one of the most accomplished coaches in the country.

Mario Cristobal

The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, who is looking to build on the team's national championship appearance the previous season.

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What they’re saying

“Anyone else buying stock in James Franklin's first season with the Hokies? There's a small chance Virginia Tech is 7-0 going to Clemson at the end of October, thanks to a favorable early slate. By then, the Hokies will no longer be disguised under the cloak of anonymity as a team in the ACC driver's seat. And for Miami to match last season's success under Mario Cristobal, it may take a league championship to get there before the final CFP reveal”

— Brad Crawford, CBS Sports analyst (CBS Sports)

What’s next

If Virginia Tech is able to pull off an upset against the Hurricanes, it would be the Hokies' first win over Miami since the 2019 season. The Hurricanes have had the upper hand in this rivalry since the start of the decade, and Franklin will have an early chance to turn things around quickly.

The takeaway

This potential matchup between the Hokies and Hurricanes highlights the renewed significance of the Virginia Tech-Miami rivalry, with both teams looking to make a statement in the ACC. Franklin's roster upgrades have put the Hokies in position to challenge for conference and national titles, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash that could be one of the best games of the 2026 college football season.