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Today’s edition · Wed., Nov. 4

Hokie football heads to SMU Friday; basketball opens with a rout

Plus, Carilion's $5 million Huckleberry Park purchase and $11.8 million in rural care grants.

The Daily Blacksburg team2 stories14 sources5 min read

Hokie SportsTop story

Virginia Tech heads to SMU on Friday to face quarterback Kevin Jennings

Both teams are 6-⁠2, but SMU has one more ACC win

6Wins6
2Losses2
3ACC wins4
2ACC losses2

Source: Daily News-Record

If you're planning your Friday around Hokie football, Virginia Tech is back after an open week that let the coaches alter the practice schedule. The Hokies play at SMU, their first meeting with the Mustangs since SMU joined the in 2024.

  • Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m., at SMU
  • Receivers Knight, Smith and Cooper: 98 catches, 1,349 yards, six touchdowns
  • Running back Kendrick Raphael: 692 rushing yards, nine touchdowns
  • Franklin's Penn State beat SMU 38-10, 2024 playoff first round

SMU's offense runs through Jennings, a third-year starter. Tyson Flowers, a fifth-year Tech safety, watched him come off the bench in 2023 when Flowers was at Rice, and he says the secondary is "excited for the challenge that he brings."

Jennings has put up big numbers this season

2,414
passing yards
21
touchdown passes
5
interceptions
73.7%
of his passes completed

Source: Daily News-Record

Hokies coach James Franklin said Monday it's "going to be a real challenge" to face a quarterback with that much experience and talent around him.

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Hokie Sports

Virginia Tech men's basketball opens its season with an 88-⁠54 win over Coppin State

If you missed the opener, the Hokies rolled past Coppin State 88-54 on Tuesday night in Blacksburg. Ben Hammond had 20 points, eight assists and seven steals, and seven steals is not a typo. Jaylen Curry added 19, and Amani Hansberry had 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Four Hokies scored 13 or more points

Source: WCYB

View as table
Value
Ben Hammond20
Jaylen Curry19
Amani Hansberry16
Tyler Johnson13

Tech led 45-27 at halftime and made half of its 58 shots. Coppin State's Brendan Johnson led the Eagles with 17 points.

Virginia Tech made 13 of 28 3-pointers

13 of 28

  • 3-pointers made
  • 15 3-pointers missed

Source: WCYB

View as table
CountShare
3-pointers made1346%
3-pointers missed1554%
  • Next up: Virginia Tech hosts Mercer on Thursday
  • Coppin State next: at George Mason on Friday
  • Last season: Hokies went 19-13, after 13-19 in 2024-25

Coming in, Tech was looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. Coach Mike Young said Hansberry could play more at power forward with San Diego State transfer Miles Heide on the roster.

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News Notes

Zoning

Blacksburg is amending its Zoning Ordinance ahead of state legislation to regulate specific marijuana uses and vape sales. The state code allows the marijuana uses effective July 1, 2027. New River Valley News

World champ

Blacksburg's Sam Bassett is a world champion. The Virginia Tech freshman won the 65-kilogram bracket of the 2026 Wrestling Championships before ever wearing the Hokie singlet. Montgomery County Virginia News

Carilion

Carilion Clinic is buying two lots at the edge of Christiansburg's , about five acres of land near Peppers Ferry Road, for $5 million. Christiansburg's town council approved the sale on a 6-0 vote. Carilion is exploring ambulatory services such as imaging and outpatient care, and plans remain subject to state approval. Montgomery County Virginia NewsCardinal News

Grants

If you work in rural health care, about $11.8 million in mobile and hybrid care grants is open to applicants in the New River Valley, Roanoke/Alleghany and Central Shenandoah regions. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2026, and awards are expected in early 2027. Montgomery County Virginia News

Women's hoops

Freshman Jessica Dimaro had 13 points and 13 rebounds in her debut, the first double-double by a Tech true freshman in a college debut. Virginia Tech beat NC Central 85-39 on Monday at . Daily News-Record

Virginia Tech women won their opener by 46 points

  • NC Central39
    Virginia Tech85
    FinalJessica Dimaro had 13 points and 13 rebounds in her debut.

Source: Daily News-Record

Home

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Around Virginia

School tax

Voters in more than 40 Virginia communities decided Tuesday on an additional 1% sales tax for school construction. As of 9:10 p.m., eight had approved it, 16 had rejected it and 23 were still pending. Cardinal News

As of 9:10 p.m., 16 localities had rejected the school sales tax

Source: Cardinal News

View as table
Value
Approved8
Rejected16
Pending23

Water supply

The told Roanoke City Council on Monday it's reevaluating its water supplies, well ahead of schedule. Executive director Mike McEvoy said the James, Roanoke and New rivers, multiple reservoirs and local quarries are all under consideration. WVTF

Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

The Buy

Asked

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Asked

Which Saturday plan sounds best to you?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

Blacksburg, VA

Wednesday, Nov. 4

See every Blacksburg eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

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The Wrap

A Blacksburg farm just grew the top pumpkin in Virginia, and it's a whopper. David and Gwen Harris's 1,861.8-pound pumpkin took second at the North Carolina fair, behind a 2,123-pound pumpkin from West Virginia. That's a lot of pie, and we're impressed.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Hokies women open with an 85-39 rout; Election Day is here

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition14 links · 10 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Daily News-Recorddnronline.com
  3. Martinsville Bulletinmartinsvillebulletin.com
  4. WCYBwcyb.com
  5. CBS Sportscbssports.com
  6. New River Valley Newsnrvnews.com
  7. Montgomery County Virginia Newsmontcova.com
  8. Montgomery County Virginia Newsmontcova.com
  9. Cardinal Newscardinalnews.org
  10. Montgomery County Virginia Newsmontcova.com
  11. Daily News-Recorddnronline.com
  12. Cardinal Newscardinalnews.org
  13. WVTFwvtf.org
  14. Blacksburg events calendardailyblacksburg.com

Past issues

  1. Tues., Nov. 3Hokies women open with an 85-39 rout; Election Day is here
  2. Mon., Nov. 2Hokies QB Grunkemeyer chases records; Tuesday's ballot has three amendments
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Daily Blacksburgto me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

Hokie football heads to SMU Friday; basketball opens with a rout

Plus, Carilion's $5 million Huckleberry Park purchase and $11.8 million in rural care grants.

The TLDR

  1. Hokie football plays at SMU on Friday at 7 p.m.
  2. Virginia Tech men's basketball beats Coppin State 88-54
  3. Blacksburg is amending zoning for marijuana uses and vape shops
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Daily Blacksburg’s other editions

All the news
Hokies BasketballVirginia Tech women open the season with an 85-39 win over NC CentralVirginia Tech women's basketball opened the 2026-27 season Monday night with an 85-39 win over NC Central at Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies (1-0) led 32-10 after the first quarter and 47-14 at halftime.Tuesday’s editionRead Hokies FootballVirginia Tech QB Ethan Grunkemeyer is on pace to rewrite the Hokies' record bookIf you've watched the Hokies this fall, you've seen Ethan Grunkemeyer stay cool. His last pass in the 20-16 win at Clemson was a 5-yard touchdown to Luke Reynolds on fourth-and-1, and he kept celebrating after taking a hit. Quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien needed one word for how he's played: "Unflappable."Monday’s editionRead Election DayVirginia voters decide three constitutional amendments and a Senate race on Tuesday, Nov. 3Voting Tuesday, Nov. 3? We suggest reading the ballot first. Along with three constitutional amendment questions, voters pick a U.S. Senate winner and a Ninth District House member.Monday’s editionRead

Around Blacksburg

From WSLS, Roanoke Times and 4 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. WSLS6 hours ago

    Christiansburg volleyball among local teams to advance to region semifinals

    Gretna defeats defending Class 2 state champion Radford, 3-2.

  2. Roanoke Times7 hours ago

    Kanipe, Stewart win Radford City Council seats; Gillespie elected mayor

    Doug Kanipe and Jonathan Stewart won Radford City Council seats, while Vice Mayor Seth Gillespie won the uncontested mayoral race.

    Also reported byCardinal News

  3. WCYB7 hours ago

    Hammond, Curry lead Virginia Tech to 88-54 victory over Coppin State in season opener

    Ben Hammond had 20 points, Jaylen Curry scored 19 and Virginia Tech rolled to an 88-54 victory over Coppin State on Tuesday night in a season opener.Hammond mad

    Also reported byThe Register-Herald

  4. Roanoke Times7 hours ago

    Tim Brown defeats Robert Page in Montgomery sheriff's race

    Tim Brown defeated Robert Page Tuesday night in the race for Montgomery County sheriff, winning 62% of the vote.

  5. Cardinal News8 hours ago

    Less than a third of localities approve new sales tax to fund school construction

    As of 9:10 p.m., 16 localities had rejected the additional sales tax and eight had approved it. Results in another 23 were pending.

  6. Martinsville Bulletin9 hours ago

    Virginia Tech football aims to build off signature win in matchup at SMU

    The Hokies had the open week to enjoy a big win at Clemson. Now the goal is to build on the win and not fall into the recent trend of faltering after the triumph.