​Roanoke, VA — We are officially in the middle of the college football talking season, and it is a massive week for the Virginia Tech football program. On Thursday morning in Charlotte, the team will participate in the ACC Kickoff to preview the upcoming season.The excitement kicked off Monday night at the Hotel Roanoke for the 15th annual Haley Toyota Roanoke Valley Hokie Club Tailgate Tour. This event successfully wrapped up the Hokie Club’s four-stop tailgate tour, giving head coach James Franklin and four Hokie football players the perfect opportunity to interact directly with Hokie Nation. Coach Franklin spoke about how meaningful it is to get up close and personal with the Virginia Tech football community.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe shared that it is a tremendous opportunity to get out in the community, connect across the state, and continue to build relationships, which is what the event is all about. He noted that the fan base is incredibly hungry and there is a massive amount of excitement and momentum right now. While they still have a lot of work to do, he mentioned that there are a lot of positive signs people are recognizing, and the goal is to keep that momentum going for as long as possible.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.