Six days after opening the 2025 season with a 13-point loss to South Carolina in Atlanta, Virginia Tech returned to Lane Stadium on Saturday night for what felt like a must-win matchup against Vanderbilt.
Instead of answering the call, the Hokies collapsed. After taking a 20-10 halftime lead, Virginia Tech was steamrolled in the second half, being outscored 34-0 in a 44-20 defeat that further clouded Brent Pry’s job security.
Here’s how the Hokies graded out in their loss to the Commodores:
Offense: D
The first half showed promise, with the Hokies reaching the red zone on four of their first five possessions. But the second half was an unmitigated disaster. Virginia Tech mustered just 21 total yards after halftime and didn’t earn a first down without the aid of a penalty until garbage time. Injuries, play-calling, and execution all played a role, but the bottom line is the offense disappeared when it mattered most.
Defense: D
Even with a 10-point lead at the break, the defense looked shaky. Vanderbilt handed Tech opportunities with two first-half turnovers, but otherwise moved the ball consistently. In the second half, things spiraled. Quarterback Diego Pavia and the Commodores did whatever they wanted, and first-year defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes had no answers. “Bad” doesn’t begin to capture it.
Special Teams: B-
Kicker John Love was steady, converting both field goals and extra points. Outside of that, there wasn’t much to note—Vanderbilt never punted, which says plenty about how the game unfolded. On the bright side, Tech wasn’t beaten in the “Beamer Ball” department. Small victories.
Coaching: D-
Everyone expected Vanderbilt to adjust after halftime. Virginia Tech, however, looked unprepared and unresponsive. Clark Lea and his staff orchestrated a second-half clinic, while the Hokies showed little in the way of counterpunches. Siefkes’ defense looked overwhelmed, and Pry’s staff once again appeared outcoached. The optics are getting worse by the week.
Overall: D-
Onlytwo touchdowns off first-half turnovers kept this from being a failing grade. Beyond that, there’s little to cling to. Virginia Tech now faces a pivotal matchup with Old Dominion at home, and the question remains: how do the Hokies recover from this?
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