The Shadow
BLACKSBURG, Va. (VR) – The Virginia Tech football team dropped its first contest of the 2026 season Friday night, a 35-33 thriller to the Pitt Panthers. A sold-out crowd at Lane Stadium was treated to a high-scoring back and forth affair, but the Hokies’ comeback attempt fell just short as a potential game-winning field goal was just wide. The loss drops the Hokies to 4-1 on the season and 1-1 in the ACC, while Pitt climbs to 5-0 (2-0).
The Hokies scored the first two touchdowns of the game, continuing a trend of hot offensive starts. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer found a variety of receivers to move the ball down the field, with Que’Sean Brown being his favorite target early in the game. Brown recorded a 38-yard score and Grunkemeyer himself found the end zone with a one-yard rush to give Tech a 14-0 lead just five minutes into the game.
Pitt would find a footing and score three times in the first half, cutting into the Hokies’ lead which was 24-21 at the half.
The Panthers would go on to build a 35-24 lead.
Tech’s regained momentum when the defense forced a safety on a tackle by Noah Chambers to cut the deficit to nine points. Jeffrey Overton, Jr. had a return of 62 yards that set up the Hokies in plus territory. On the ensuing possession, Davion Brown caught a 28-yard touchdown, his first as Lane Stadium roared back to life.
The Hokies had a chance to put together a game-winning drive and moved the ball down the field and into position for a field goal that would be the last play of the game. A 36-yard field goal attempt as time expired missed to the left of the uprights.
Grunkemeyer had a historic evening, throwing for more than 400 yards, just the third instance in recorded program history.
Game Notes
•The opening touchdown was scored in 1:16 by the Hokies’ offense, the quickest opening scoring drive of the season for the Hokies.
•Grunkemeyer’s rushing score was hir third such touchdown of the season. With his 434 yards he now has three games of 300+ yards passing this season. The last Tech quarterback to accomplish the feat was Jerod Evans in 2016. He became the third quarterback in Virginia Tech history to pass for 400 or more yards since at least 1987. His total of 434 is the second-most on record.
•DE Aycen Stevens owns five consecutive games with at least one solo sack. He had one for a nine-yard loss against Pitt.
•Que’Sean Brown’s recorded six catches for 142 yards and a score in the first half. He finished the game as the Hokies’ leading scorer.
•Wide receiver Ayden Greene recorded his first receiving touchdown of the season. He had four catches for 88 yards.
•The Hokies’ safety in the fourth quarter was the first for the program since the Louisville game in 2025.
•For Davion Brown, the reception in the fourth quarter was the first touchdown score of his career. He had two receptions for 42 yards in the game.
Up Next
The Hokies will head west for their first trip to Berkeley on Saturday, October 10 at 3:30 p.m. That game will be televised on either ESPN2 or ACC Network.
