Virginia Tech's 2026 Hopes Ride on QB Iowa Once Held to 93 Yards
When Virginia Tech quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer faced Iowa last season, the Hawkeye defense made its presence known. Grunkemeyer managed just 93 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions in that early matchup.
Now, as the Hokies look to bounce back in 2026, Grunkemeyer's development could determine whether Virginia Tech returns to relevance or continues to struggle. For Iowa fans, it's worth watching the quarterback they once dominated.
Grunkemeyer's Rough Start Included Iowa
Virginia Tech hasn't finished more than a game above .500 since 2019, and the program hasn't hit the eight-win mark in any of the last eight seasons. That's a far cry from the Hokies' days as a consistent ACC contender.
Grunkemeyer's first two starts were rough. After Iowa held him to 93 yards, he threw for just 145 yards against then-No. 1 Ohio State, again with no touchdowns and three picks. It looked like the Penn State transfer might be in for a long season.
But here's where the story shifts. Grunkemeyer didn't fold. He got better.
A Quarterback Who Found His Footing
At his best, Grunkemeyer can compete with elite competition. Last season at Penn State, he posted 1,339 passing yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
The most telling performance came against then-No. 2 Indiana, the eventual national champions. Grunkemeyer posted an 81.0 QBR, going 22-for-31 for 219 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. For comparison, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in April's NFL Draft, went 19-for-30 for 218 yards, a touchdown, and a pick with a 79.9 quarterback rating.
Grunkemeyer matched the eventual No. 1 draft pick nearly stat for stat. That's not nothing.
He continued to shine as the season progressed. He went 11-for-12 against Nebraska for 181 yards, 17-for-21 against Rutgers for 209 yards, and 23-for-34 for 260 yards against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Depth Concerns Behind the Starter
While Grunkemeyer's improvement is encouraging for Virginia Tech, the depth chart behind him raises questions. None of the other three quarterbacks on the roster have logged snaps in regular-season games.
UNC transfer Bryce Baker is the presumed backup. Ranked as the No. 155 national recruit by 247Sports in the Class of 2025, Baker was rated the No. 12 quarterback in his class and the No. 5 recruit in North Carolina.
247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins described Baker as a