Virginia Tech is looking to get back on the path to being an elite program.

That journey starts with new head coach Brent Pry, who took the Hokies’ job this summer after serving as a defensive coordinator for James Franklin at Penn State and Vanderbilt.

ESPN’s FPI isn’t optimistic about Virginia Tech piling up wins this season. The model gives the Hokies just a 42.1% chance to reach 6 wins. FPI is projecting Virginia Tech to win just 5.2 games this season.

Here’s a game-by-game projection — along with the Hokies’ chance of winning each game — from FPI:

  • Sept. 2: at Old Dominion — 66.3%
  • Sept. 10: vs. Boston College — 51.1%
  • Sept. 17: vs. Wofford — 91.7%
  • Sept. 22: vs. West Virginia — 43.7%
  • Oct. 1: at North Carolina — 14%
  • Oct. 8: at Pittsburgh — 13.4%
  • Oct. 15: vs. Miami — 17.6%
  • Oct. 27: at NC State — 16.9%
  • Nov. 5: vs. Georgia Tech — 56.3%
  • Nov. 12: at Duke — 60.1%
  • Nov. 19: at Liberty — 43.4%
  • Nov. 26: vs. Virginia — 46.5%

Virginia Tech’s nonconference slate includes a potentially difficult road game at Old Dominion, a home contest vs. West Virginia and another road game vs. Liberty in November.

If the Hokies are going to make a bowl game, pulling off slight upsets vs. West Virginia, Liberty and Virginia will be crucial. Wofford is the only opponent Virginia Tech is a major favorite against, per FPI.

Virginia Tech is favored in just 3 ACC games — vs. Boston College, vs. Georgia Tech and at Duke.

Longterm, hopes and expectations are high in Blacksburg. But for 2022, Pry is just hoping to re-establish Virginia Tech’s identity.

Virginia Tech and Old Dominion kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET on Sept. 2.