James Duncan

James Duncan

Joined: Aug 18, 2025

James Duncan serves as a staff writer for Virginia Tech On SI, covering football, men’s and women’s basketball and recruiting. He is a 2026 Virginia Tech graduate, having majored in Sports Media and Analytics with a minor in Professional and Technical Writing. Duncan previously covered the Washington Commanders as a reporter for The Lead, where he reported on the team throughout an offseason.

Sep 19, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach James Franklin hugs Maryland Terrapins head coach Michael Locksley after their game at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Sep 19, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) runs for the end zone in the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Sep 19, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach James Franklin leads his team onto the field before their game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Sep 19, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) passes downfield in the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Sep 19, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach James Franklin celebrates with quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) after Grunkemeyer ran for a touchdown in the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Football

Virginia Tech is 3-0 and playing like it, but the AP poll math isn't on its side yet.

Sep 19, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) warms up before a game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Football

Luke Reynolds was targeted 12 times and caught every single pass.

Sep 12, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) throws a pass against the Old Dominion Monarchs during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Football

Malik Washington's hot start runs into the nation's sack leaders tonight, and something has to give in College Park.

Sep 13, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins defensive lineman Eyan Thomas (98) celebrates after sacking Towson Tigers quarterback Andrew Indorf (13) in the first half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Football

Maryland has allowed 7 points per game. These three are a big reason why.

Sep 12, 2026; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Malik Washington (7) throws a pass against the UConn Huskies in the first quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Football

The Terrapins have allowed one sack this season, and the Hokies arrive in College Park with more of them than anyone in the country.

Sep 5, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defensive lineman Mylachi Williams (37) celebrates a tackle for a loss during the second quarter against the VMI Keydets at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Football

The nation's sack leaders face a Maryland line that allowed just nine all of last season.

Sep 12, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Luke Reynolds (85) runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Old Dominion Monarchs at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Football

Franklin called the trio "problematic." Saturday, Maryland finds out why.

Sep 12, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. (16) runs the ball as Old Dominion Monarchs safety Lucas Struck (19) defends during the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Football

These three matchups will decide who remains undefeated after Saturday.

Sep 12, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Luke Reynolds (85) reaches for the end zone as Old Dominion Monarchs linebacker De'veion McLilley-Bulo (17) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech is 2-0 for the first time since 2021, and these five players are the biggest reasons why.

Sep 12, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) hands the ball off to running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. (27) during the first quarter against the Old Dominion Monarchs at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

What the first two weeks of the James Franklin era actually proved, and what they didn't.

Sep 12, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Luke Reynolds (85) runs with the ball as Old Dominion Monarchs safety Daevon Iles (2) pursues during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Eight ACC teams are 2-0, and that logjam is what decides where Virginia Tech spends late December.

Sep 12, 2026; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defensive lineman Mylachi Williams (37), defensive lineman Aycen Stevens (42) and linebacker Curtis Jones Jr. (30) celebrate a sack during the fourth quarter against the Old Dominion Monarchs at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech hasn't won a non-conference Power Four game since 2017, and Maryland hasn't lost a non-conference game in 20 tries.