James Franklin’s move to Virginia Tech has been one of the most fascinating storylines of the college football offseason. And at his first ACC Media Days appearance, the former Penn State coach wasted little time ratcheting up expectations for his new program.“We’ve been sprinting really since we arrived in Blacksburg,” Franklin said to reporters in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday. “I think I would describe it as we have won the offseason.”That’s a bold claim and one that prompts the follow-up: Is Franklin right?There’s no doubt the Hokies had an encouraging offseason and Franklin should elevate things based on precedent from his time leading Vanderbilt and Penn State.Ethan Grunkemeyer followed Franklin from Penn State to be Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback. Talented tight end Luke Reynolds is also among the dozen transfers who left Happy Valley to join Franklin in Blacksburg. Receiver transfer Que’Sean Brown posted 64 receptions for 846 yards and five touchdowns at Duke in 2025, and Troy cornerback transfer Jaquez White was second-team All-Sun Belt last fall.“We’ve had a great offseason in terms of implementing our standards and our expectations and our culture,” Franklin also said Wednesday. “We are bigger, we are stronger, we are faster than we have been. There’s no doubt about that.”Pablo Torre and Dan Soder on CFB 27 and the "ugly face of capitalism"The Hokies’ transfer class ranked No. 20 in The Athletic’s top 25 transfer portal rankings. That is fourth in the ACC behind Miami (fifth), Louisville (No. 14) and Cal (No. 15).