The Virginia Tech Hokies and Maryland Terrapins have agreed to cancel two future football games, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Friday. The schools confirmed the report in separate announcements.
The 2026 contest in College Park, Md., will take place as scheduled, with the return game taking place at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., in 2029. The 2027 game in Blacksburg and 2028 contest in College Park have been canceled as part of a broader schedule restructuring.
Per InsideMDSports, the Hokies have agreed to pay the Terrapins a $500,000 for canceling the pair of games.
“These adjustments reflect our commitment to building a schedule that best serves Virginia Tech football and our fans,” said Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock. “We look forward to two great matchups in 2026 and 2029.”
“We’re pleased to keep the 2026 and 2029 games with Maryland on the schedule,” added Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin. “It’s a good regional matchup for our players and fans, and these adjustments give us valuable flexibility as we continue to position our program for long-term success.”
The Terrapins will replace the 2027 and 2028 games with contests against Baylor. Maryland will welcome the Bears to College Park on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2027, before traveling to Waco on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2028. The Terrapins and Bears will meet for the first time in 71 years, with both schools claiming one victory over the other.
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I will be happy to see Maryland play all three cupcake OOC games for example: Towson, Old Dominion & Eastern Michigan.
Maryland replaced VT with Baylor. It seems like this change was at VT's request. Maybe they need flexibility for the 9-game conference schedule. Perhaps it is Franklin looking for cupcakes.
Just being creative John M, everything is good.
Old Dominion is not a cupcake.
Strange. A nice, geographical OOC rivalry.
This will become rarer than a UMass victory in the next few years
Of note, VT did not have a slot left for FCS games in 2027 and 2028 with the ACC moving to nine conference games. It made more sense for them to pay a buyout for this series than the alternative of two G6 home games.
I'm surprised they didn't take the easy way of paying a school like Grambling State or Morgan State $15 and a Burger King gift card to play them.
Joseph, LOL. Even those teams command mid-high 6 figures to show up these days.
And it makes some sense: football teams have lots of people and travel ain't cheap.
No shade on ODU, please. "Narchs lost to Indiana, James Madison, and got boat-raced by the Herd. Other'nat- all wins, incl. good bowl W vs. USF. Fear the Commonwealth.
Maryland should have remained in the ACC, but took the money the Big 10 offered for an entry into the Washington DC market. The Terrapins should be paying Virginia, Virginia Tech and Navy every year instead having conference game against UCLA, Ohio State, Michigan and Southern Cal.
Sorry Charlie, Conference games are more meaningful no matter if it's Maryland, Michigan, Georgia, Oklahoma State or Syracuse.
Agreed Charles........Maryland and Rutgers have been overwhelmed ever since moving to the Big 10. You can always count on 3-0 starts and then see the Scarlet Knights and Terps fight for the 6-6 so they can go bowling. And being from the West Coast,no one cares about Maryland or Rutgers when they come to town.