Brent Pry’s tenure at Virginia Tech hit another low point after an embarrassing 45 to 26 loss to Old Dominion, dropping his record in Blacksburg to 16 and 24. The defeat was more than symbolic as it marked the Hokies’ first home loss to a non Power Four opponent since 2018 when they also fell to Old Dominion.
If Virginia Tech decides to part ways with its head coach following the 2025 season, the school would owe him $6 million. The buyout would not be paid in a single lump sum but instead in equal quarterly installments spread across the remainder of his contract, which runs through December 31 2027.
Pry arrived in Blacksburg in December 2021 after a successful run as defensive coordinator under James Franklin at Penn State. His reputation as a defensive mind and recruiter carried weight when athletic director Whit Babcock made the hire, but results have not matched expectations in the ACC.
Enter Sandman ✅#ThisIsHome | #TeamOverMe pic.twitter.com/XDnrlFPCY9
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) September 13, 2025
The contract guarantees rising compensation with just under $5 million in 2025 and 2026 and $5 million in 2027. Standard offset language could reduce the payout if Pry lands another coaching position, but the initial obligation is still significant for a department balancing NIL demands, facility projects, and the ever growing arms race in college football.
As always, timing is a critical factor. If Pry were dismissed after the 2026 season, the buyout would fall to roughly $2.5 million, a number far easier to absorb. Yet after the latest setback, people’s patience is likely starting to wear thin.
Fans on social media have clearly made their opinions known. One name that continues to surface is South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, the son of Virginia Tech legend Frank Beamer. Beamer only fueled that speculation when he led his Gamecocks to a 24 to 11 victory over the Hokies on August 31 in the Aflac Kickoff in Atlanta, a result that highlighted the contrast between the two programs. Whether such a reunion could realistically happen remains uncertain, but the speculation underscores the hunger for a fresh direction.
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