Instant Takeaways From Virginia Tech Football's 51-28 Loss to SMU

Virginia Tech was routed 51-28 by SMU on Friday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, a loss with major ACC implications as the Hokies trailed by as many as 30. Virginia Tech’s offense struggled through the air, totaling just 132 passing yards across three quarters, despite quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer finishing 27-of-35 for 279 yards and 147 yards in the final quarter. The Hokies ran 23 times for 116 yards after three periods, but only Que’Sean Brown (nine catches, 37 yards) and Luke Reynolds (six, 67) topped 50 receiving yards. Defensively, SMU compiled 569 total yards, the most Virginia Tech has allowed since 2020.