James Franklin Is Building a Sleeper Beast at Virginia Tech, and Nobody in College Football Is Ready For It

Alright, Seattle, listen up! You know how we love an underdog in the Emerald City, right? That feeling of watching a team nobody expects suddenly dominate, that’s what we live for. ESPN just dropped their "Way Too Early Top 25" for the 2026 college football season back in April, and honestly, it felt like the same old song and dance. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Michigan, all the usual suspects are up there, chilling at the top. But if you’re like me, you’re looking past the predictable. You're hunting for the squads nobody’s talking about, the ones who are gonna cause absolute chaos. And let me tell you, there are a couple of teams out there ready to blow everyone's minds and challenge for a College Football Playoff spot, proving that the transfer portal and smart coaching can absolutely shake things up and create an instant contender!

Dillingham's Portal Magic Has Arizona State Eyeing a Comeback

First up, we gotta talk about the Arizona State Sun Devils. After snagging a Big 12 championship in 2024, their 2025 season was a bit of a letdown. But come on, defending a Big 12 title in that conference is brutal. Nobody's repeated since Oklahoma ripped off five straight from 2015-2020! So, what did head coach Kenny Dillingham do? He went to work, unleashing his absolute magic in the transfer portal. He replaced first-round NFL pick like wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with Colorado's Omarion Miller and Boston College's Reed Harris. These guys are legit weapons, ready to light up scoreboards!

Quarterback Cutter Boley, who came over from Kentucky, definitely has big shoes to fill after Sam Leavitt's departure. But with Miller and Harris at his disposal, he’s set up for serious success. Their schedule is no joke, with matchups against powerhouses like Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and BYU. But if Dillingham's crew can pull off big wins against those juggernauts, they'll be right back in square contention for the Big 12 title game and a true shot at the College Football Playoff. You love to see a team climb back to the top!

Virginia Tech's Fresh Start Under Franklin Is Dangerous

And then there’s Virginia Tech, y'all. This feels like one of those perfect marriages that just clicks. A new partnership with head coach James Franklin? Franklin gets a fresh start, maybe with a little less pressure than before, and the Hokies get a massive injection of life with some of Penn State's best remaining talent coming with him. We’re talking about QB Ethan Grunkmeyer, who's gonna be slinging it to guys like wide receiver Que'Sean Brown and tight end Luke Reynolds, another Nittany Lion. Franklin must be absolutely salivating at that kind of offensive firepower!

The ACC is more wide-open than it's been in years, even if everyone else is quick to crown national runners-up Miami as the automatic champs. Forget that noise! I'm not saying Virginia Tech is a lock to run the table in their first year, but do not be surprised if they're bowl-eligible by Week 8. Seriously, watch them push hard for a CFP at-large bid come rivalry week. Franklin knows how to light a fire under his players, and perhaps he'll find even more success taking down the big dogs here instead of just falling to them in those crucial moments.

This early season buzz around teams like Arizona State and Virginia Tech is exactly why we, as fans, devour every single game. Forget the preseason rankings, the real story is always in the unexpected upsets, the surprise contenders, and the teams nobody believes in. Keep your eyes peeled, 12s, because 2026 is already shaping up to be wild, and these underdogs are absolutely ready to make some serious noise on the national stage!

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.