Virgina Tech Aiming to See if Money Equal Winning in College Football

• Virginia Tech is asking for just under $230 million for its athletic budget, with much of that likely going to football.
• Virginia Tech is well behind other schools financially, and believes more money would help improve their fortunes.
• The top teams in the country do spend the most money, but winning isn’t guaranteed.

Virginia Tech is putting forward a motion to grant a $230 million injection into their athletic budget, as they have fallen behind in the ACC, particularly in football.

The school believes that they could compete better in this new NIL world. Looking at the rankings, they might not be wrong, but it doesn’t guarantee a championship.

Virginia Tech Trying to Stay Afloat in ACC After Firing Pry

It was revealed on Monday morning that Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors is suggesting an influx of $229 million for their athletic budget.

This would be for the entire athletic department at Virginia Tech, but it appears that improving the football team is the main motivation. The Hokies parted ways with head coach Brent Pry after an 0-3 start, and Pry didn’t make it out of his fourth season. Virginia Tech hasn’t had a ten-win season since 2016, and only one since 2011.

The Hokies are behind Clemson, Florida State, and North Carolina in their football budget, while Pry’s salary of $4.8 million per year was ninth in the ACC. They have certainly fallen behind the rest of the conference since NIL has changed the way players are recruited.

The Hokies also now need to find a new head coach, and there are rumors that they were interested in Michael Vick. He was a legend at Virginia Tech and was well on his way in the NFL before a dog-fighting scandal. But Vick is now coaching at Norfolk State, and probably needs more experience.

In a statement, Virginia Tech said:

"The landscape of intercollegiate athletics nationwide has evolved dramatically over the past year. The gap between top-tier programs and all other programs has widened. Without additional investment, the university and the region risk declining revenues. Potential losses to existing university revenues such as media rights, ticket sales, and sponsorships, for example, would likely have a negative impact on non-revenue sports, brand value, and alumni connection."

Virginia Tech wants to spend money. But does that equal winning?

Does Money Equate to Winning in College Football?

According to a report from March 2024 on revenues and expenses, the usual suspects topped the athletic list. Out of the top ten, which was led by Ohio State, four made the 12-team playoff, which was won by the Buckeyes.

Yet, it doesn’t always mean that winning is a surefire thing. Alabama is always among the top spenders in college football, and Kalen DeBoer seems to be coaching for his job every week. With money comes expectations, and if you’re going to spend millions of dollars, schools, and fans expect winners.

There are plenty of big spenders at the top of the college football championship odds, such as Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, and Oregon. The Hokies would like to be able to simply compete in the ACC with Clemson, Florida State, and North Carolina.

It takes more than money to build a winning program. You need to know how to spend the money wisely. However, having the money at your disposal certainly helps, and that’s what Virginia Tech would like to find out!