Could Virginia Tech Host College Gameday in 2026?

Virginia Tech hasn't hosted GameDay since 2017. Could 2026 change that?

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; From left: Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit on the ESPN Gameday set at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

When ESPN College GameDay shows up on a college campus, it means three things: a big game, national attention and an electric atmosphere. College GameDay has become part of college football culture, travelling each Saturday during the season to highlight the most compelling matchup or storyline of the week.

So could Pat McAfee and crew make a stop in Blacksburg during the 2026 season? The short answer is yes, but only under certain conditions.

Virginia Tech has a real history with the show. College GameDay made its first stop in Blacksburg in 1999 and most recently in 2017 when the No. 12-ranked Hokies hosted the No. 2-ranked Clemson Tigers. Those visits showed that ESPN trusts the environment that Blacksburg and Lane Stadium provide.

Where the show goes each week isn't based ona checklist with strict requirements. GameDay host, Rece Davis, has explained that the crew tries to "go where the best story is for that week."

Right now, the Hokies' 2026 home schedule isn't packed with guaranteed national spotlight on paper, but it has enough intriguing dates that a GameDay visit isn't out of the question. Virginia Tech opens its season against VMI and Old Dominion, two games ESPN is almost certainly not going to travel to. It is not until conference play starts that more intriguing matchups happen. The Hokies' ACC home opponents include: Pitt, Georgia Tech, Stanford and Virginia.

So what would it take to get GameDay to Blacksburg? First, the Hokies would likely need to be relevant in the national conversation. A string of dominating early wins and a ranking would help Virginia Tech's position as the focus of the week's storylines.

The Pitt and Georgia Tech games could draw attention if both teams are having strong seasons. The final game against Virginia could also be compelling if both teams are ranked and are fighting to make the ACC Championship game. However, that game happens the same day as Ohio State vs. Michigan and Auburn vs. Alabama, so ESPN would more than likely choose one of those games over Blacksburg.

Looking at Virginia Tech's entire schedule, the Hokies have a better chance at being featured on GameDay as an away team. Virginia Tech will travel to Clemson and Miami, both schools that have hosted GameDay many times. If the Hokies are in the national conversation and head into a potentially ranked opponent in Clemson or Miami, ESPN could very well choose that site to spotlight Virginia Tech as a featured team on the show.

In short, 2026 isn't a lock for Virginia Tech to host College GameDay, but it's not outside the realm of possibility either. If the Hokies can build momentum early and put together an eye-catching win streak, Lane Stadium could once again be part of college football's biggest Saturday morning show.