DALLAS — Virginia Tech suffered its most lopsided loss of the season on Friday night, falling 51-28 against SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Following the blowout, head coach James Franklin took full responsibility for his team’s breakdown across every phase of the game.
“We did not play well at all,” Franklin told reporters, as reported by Sports Illustrated. “We did not play up to the standard. Ultimately, I’m responsible for that. Give SMU a ton of credit, give [SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee] a ton of credit. They played really well. And we did not play well, really in all three phases — offense, defense and special teams.”
Defensive breakdowns against the Mustangs
The Mustangs dominated offensively from the opening kickoff, rolling up 569 total yards and scoring on their first eight possessions. Senior quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 350 yards on 24-of-32 passing, connecting on three touchdown strikes with wide receiver Yamir Knight, who finished with 103 receiving yards. SMU also caused havoc on the ground, adding 219 rushing yards.
The 51 points conceded marked the highest total surrendered by Virginia Tech since the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl, according to Sports Illustrated. It also marked the first time an opponent scored at least 50 points against a Franklin-coached roster since the 2017 Rose Bowl, when Southern California defeated Penn State 52-49.
Franklin cited major struggles defending SMU’s run-pass option concepts, explaining that the Mustangs repeatedly put defenders in conflict. He noted that the Hokies failed to generate pressure, bat passes down, or properly execute crack-replace responsibilities when SMU blocked Virginia Tech’s safeties.
A critical shift occurred in the second quarter with Virginia Tech down 13-7. Defensive tackle Kemari Copeland was whistled for offside, wiping away a sideline interception by cornerback Jaquez White. Shortly after, SMU senior defensive end Marques White strip-sacked quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, scooped up the loose ball, and Jennings promptly hit Knight for a 46-yard score on the ensuing snap.
Protection problems and third-quarter collapse
The Hokies remained within striking distance at halftime, trailing 23-14. However, the game spiraled away in the third quarter, where SMU outscored Virginia Tech 14-0. The Hokies have been outscored 58-10 during the third quarter in Atlantic Coast Conference play this season, Sports Illustrated reported.
Grunkemeyer finished 28-of-38 for 291 yards with one touchdown pass, one interception, and a rushing touchdown, though SMU brought him down for four sacks. Grunkemeyer also visibly limped during the final period but remained in the game, waving off reserve Bryce Baker.
Sophomore running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. provided a bright spot for the Hokies, rushing 13 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Still, Virginia Tech failed to convert a crucial fourth-and-1 in SMU territory during the third quarter when fullback Marcellous Hawkins Jr. was dropped for a loss by linebacker Brandon Miyazono.
“We’ve got to be more consistent in protection,” Franklin said, according to Sports Illustrated. “We’ve got to be more consistent in decision-making and timing. We made things a lot more difficult tonight than it needed to be in ways that we really haven’t done all year long.”
What comes next
The loss dropped Virginia Tech to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in ACC play, effectively extinguishing its chances of reaching the league championship game. The Hokies return home to Lane Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, to face Stanford before closing the regular season against Miami and Virginia. Meanwhile, SMU improved to 7-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play, preparing to host No. 16 Wake Forest next weekend.
