After Virginia Tech’s elimination from the NIT by Ohio State last March, head coach Mike Young faced a major roster overhaul. Along with losing players who exhausted their eligibility, several key contributors opted to leave via the transfer portal, forcing Young and his staff to rebuild the roster for the 2024-25 season through transfers.
When the season began, there were plenty of questions about how the new-look Hokies would perform. Virginia Tech struggled through non-conference play with a 5-6 record, and heading into ACC competition, expectations were low.
This season, with the addition of Stanford, SMU, and California to the ACC, the conference implemented a rule preventing the bottom three teams from qualifying for the ACC Tournament. Early on, it seemed likely the Hokies could end up in that group, but they have exceeded expectations with a young and relatively inexperienced squad. Heading into the final week of the regular season, Virginia Tech has secured a spot in the tournament and has won eight of its last 10 games.
Several younger players have emerged as promising contributors, but with NIL opportunities playing a major role in roster retention, keeping them in Blacksburg could be a challenge. However, that situation appears to be improving.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 reported Monday that Young will return next season with an increased NIL budget. Young had hinted at his return last month, but the boost in NIL funding is a significant development for the program. Compared to other ACC schools, Virginia Tech’s NIL resources have been relatively limited, but the Hokies’ unexpected success has caught the attention of athletic director Whit Babcock and university leadership.
A larger NIL budget will give Young a better chance to retain key players while also making competitive offers in the transfer portal. While some departures are inevitable in today’s college basketball landscape, an increased NIL package provides Young with the tools to strengthen the roster and build on this season’s momentum.
