Virginia Tech’s head coach, James Franklin, is shaking up the Hokies’ offense, and it’s all because he knows one specific Clemson staff member way too well. We’re talking about Tom Allen, the Tigers’ defensive coordinator, who used to be Franklin’s defensive coordinator back in 2024 when Franklin was at Penn State. That’s a deep-seated connection right there, and it’s setting the stage for a seriously tactical showdown.
The Chess Match: Franklin vs. His Old DC
This isn’t just some random game for Franklin. He knows Allen’s defensive philosophy inside and out because, well, he employed the guy! Allen ran a tight ship at Penn State, leading one of the nation’s best defenses in 2024, holding opponents to just 294.8 yards per game. That’s elite. So, when Franklin says “tweaks” are coming to the Virginia Tech offense, it’s not some throwaway line. It’s a calculated move against a coach he respects and, more importantly, understands.
“We’ll Probably Have a Few Extra Tweaks This Week”
Franklin isn’t holding back on why these changes are happening. He’s openly admitted that he and Allen know each other’s tendencies, their philosophies, their whole playbook, really. “We see some things that we understand that he likes to do, understand his philosophy and how he goes about things,” Franklin said on October 19. But here’s the kicker: Franklin knows Allen knows that Franklin knows! That’s why he added, “He also knows that we know those things, right? So (we’ll) probably have a few extra tweaks this week too. We know who Tom is, and the type of coach he is and the type of man he is, and I know he’ll have them ready to play. I would say we’re probably similar.” Man, talk about a head coach going deep into the strategy. This isn’t just football; it’s a battle of minds.
So, get ready for an intriguing matchup when the Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2, 2-2 ACC) hit Memorial Stadium to face the Clemson Tigers (4-2, 2-1) on October 24 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. With Franklin pulling out all the stops and changing things up, you know Allen is going to have something cooked up too. This one’s going to be a fun one to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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