In a Friday night thriller under the lights, it was Virginia Tech football that reigned supreme. The Hokies edged by California, 42-34, in double overtime Saturday evening. It was the program's first win in extra time since 2019, in the infamous six-overtime triumph against North Carolina.

Why did Virginia Tech football's Brent Pry era not work out and what should the Hokies look for in a new coach? As VT's coaching search approaches November with a crowded 2025-26 FBS carousel, 247Sports surveyed established high school coaches from the region.

We found out a way to win, and that’s the sign of a good team and an improved team is finding out ways to win no matter the circumstances.”

Any member of Tech’s eight-person search committee with a preconceived notion of who the next coach should be is doing the process a disservice.

In Pina’s commitment tweet, he named tight ends coach Brent Davis, not interim coach Philip Montgomery. Pina is commitment No. 9 in the 2026 class for the Hokies. Tech has had multiple decommits since Pry’s firing, most notably four-star offensive tackle Thomas Wilder.