Can money buy wins? Virginia Tech pours $229 million into athletics​​​​​​​

BLACKSBURG, Va. (Oct. 12, 2025)- At Virginia Tech, winning might come with a price tag. On Sept. 30, the Board of Visitors approved a budget adjustment plan that will infuse the athletics department with $229 million over a four-year period. Several members of the student media believe the investment could be valuable for the football program and the university as a whole. 

“More money into the program is only going to help the program,” Tech Sideline Reporter Robert Bateman said. “Especially in the era of NIL, if you don’t have money, you can’t compete with the other big programs.” 

The previous budget was $122 million, ranking 14th in the ACC. 

“We cannot keep taking pride in doing more with less,” Athletics Director Whit Babcock told the board. 

By improving athletics funding, the university aims to become more competitive, which leaders believe will also have a positive impact on the school’s appeal to potential students and the surrounding Blacksburg region. 

Virginia Tech’s Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Simon Allen emphasizes that an appealing athletics program entices students and visitors all over the country, which positively influences the school and local economy. 

“It might help students in general come here (to Virginia Tech) because if a student is on the fence and they see there’s good athletics, that might encourage them to go to Virginia Tech,” Playfly Sports and ACC Network Reporter Riley Klaus said. 

After starting the football season 0-3 for the first time since 1987, the former head football coach, Brent Pry, was fired. Part of the new budget will go toward hiring and retaining coaches. In addition, it will go towards funding for improved recruiting, operations and infrastructure. 

“I think there will start to be more momentum behind sports,” Tech Sideline and 3304 Sports Reporter Cody Wagner said. “I think the people are more excited about sports, which is a tough thing here at Virginia Tech to get excited about.”