The Shadow
BLACKSBURG, Va. — A new era of Virginia Tech football will begin exactly the way it should — under the lights, in front of a packed Lane Stadium.
Virginia Tech Athletics announced Monday that the Hokies’ 2026 season opener against VMI on Saturday, Sept. 5, is officially sold out, setting the stage for an electric opening night in Blacksburg and the highly anticipated debut of head coach James Franklin.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
The sellout is the latest reflection of the momentum surrounding Virginia Tech football entering Franklin’s inaugural season. Tech and VMI are set to meet for the 80th time in series history and for the first time since 1984.
The VMI contest marks the second announced sellout of Tech’s 2026 home schedule, joining the Hokies’ Friday night matchup against Pitt on Oct. 2.
Demand remains high for Tech’s remaining home games, and fans are encouraged to secure their seats as soon as possible. The Hokies’ home slate also features Old Dominion on Sept. 12, Georgia Tech on Oct. 17, Stanford on Nov. 14 and Virginia in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Nov. 28.
Fans still seeking tickets for the sold-out VMI and Pitt matchups are encouraged to visit SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace of Virginia Tech Athletics.
