Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin criticised officials after his team was penalised for celebrating a touchdown by high-fiving members of the university's military cadet corps during a 73-3 rout of VMI. Franklin called the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty "un-American," questioning why players should not be allowed to celebrate with servicemembers. The incident stood out as a rare point of contention in what was otherwise a dominant debut win for Franklin as Virginia Tech's head coach.

Running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. was flagged after scoring his third touchdown of the game, when he ran to the crowd and high-fived cadets while still holding the ball, seemingly breaching NCAA Rule 9-2 against prolonged or attention-seeking celebrations and the requirement to hand the ball back to officials immediately. Despite the penalty, Virginia Tech dominated statistically, amassing 619 yards to VMI's 83. The Hokies' Corps of Cadets has existed since 1872, and Virginia Tech remains one of few public universities to maintain both an active cadet corps and a civilian student body.