Virginia Tech has proposed adding an extra $229 million to its athletics budget over the next four years to help position the Hokies to compete with the top programs in the ACC, a crucial moment with the hire of a new football coach looming.

The school’s board of visitors will hold a virtual meeting Sept. 30 to consider the adjustment. In materials posted on the board of visitors web page, Virginia Tech is asking for an additional $47.1 million for 2026-27, bringing the total athletics department budget to $190.1 million. That number would increase to $212.1 million for 2029-30.

Virginia Tech is facing a crossroads with its future, particularly in football. The Hokies fired coach Brent Pry last week after the team started 0-3, and they have not competed for an ACC championship since 2016. During a presentation to the board of visitors last month, athletics director Whit Babcock pointed out just how far behind Virginia Tech is financially compared with its ACC counterparts.

Its current athletics budget of $122 million ranks No. 14 in the ACC, and Babcock said that number needed to get closer to $200 million annually. The proposal the board will consider reflects that amount. Babcock told the board at the time, “We cannot keep taking pride in doing more with less.”

As for football funding, its current $41 million budget trails behind that of Clemson ($67.8 million), Florida State ($61.1 million) and North Carolina ($48 million) among public ACC schools. Though the materials released Monday do not include how much more football will get as part of the overall budget increase, Babcock said during the board meeting last month that football will need at least an additional $13.5 million.

This was before Virginia Tech made the move to fire Pry, who was making $4.8 million annually, which ranked ninth in the conference. Virginia Tech trails Clemson, Florida State and others in its assistant coaching salary pool and support staffing among key areas. Part of what Babcock presented last month included a “modernized structure built for success” to put football more in line with the NFL model other schools are now using.

To reach the $229 million goal, the school is looking to raise $120 million in new funding. Institutional support and bridge funding will make up the bulk of the remaining $109 million.

In a statement issued through the athletics department Monday, Virginia Tech said:

“The landscape of intercollegiate athletics nationwide has evolved dramatically over the past year. The gap between top-tier programs and all other programs has widened. Without additional investment, the university and the region risk declining revenues. Potential losses to existing university revenues such as media rights, ticket sales, and sponsorships, for example, would likely have a negative impact on non-revenue sports, brand value, and alumni connection.”

Chicago Cubs infielder Matt Shaw was away from the team on Sunday as they took on the Cincinnati Reds to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona, according to multiple reports.

The Cubs didn’t confirm that Shaw was away at Kirk’s service, but the Chicago Sun-Times reported that manager Craig Counsell mentioned to the media that Shaw was at a funeral for a friend.

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“Matt Shaw was unavailable today,” Counsell said. “He attended the funeral of a friend.”

The 23-year-old knew the conservative influencer personally. Kirk posted a photo of himself at Wrigley Field alongside Shaw and Michael Busch last month. Shaw was scratched from the lineup on Sept. 10 – the day Kirk was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University – for personal reasons. He later entered the game as a pinch hitter, according to The Athletic.

More than 90,000 attended Kirk’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

DODGERS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH IN CLAYTON KERSHAW’S FINAL REGULAR-SEASON HOME GAME

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) is interviewed after a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 26, 2025. (Patrick Gorski/Imagn Images)

The Cubs were among the teams in MLB to pay tribute to Kirk. The team called for an end to “all political violence.”

“May all of us as Americans come together in solidarity to strengthen our nation, end these senseless acts and turn to civil discourse to discuss our differences,” a message said before the game was said throughout the ballpark before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The flag at Wrigley Field was flown at half-staff in accordance with MLB’s request that teams follow President Donald Trump’s presidential proclamation.

The New York Yankees also paid tribute to Kirk at Yankee Stadium.

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Chicago lost to Cincinnati on Sunday, 1-0. The team has already clinched a playoff berth.

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Pakistan’s team management has filed a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the controversial TV umpire decision that declared opener Fakhar Zaman “out” incorrectly.

The complaint was sent via email, targeting the decision of the match manager, umpire, and referee.

According to sources, the Pakistani team stated in the email that “the TV umpire’s decision to rule Fakhar Zaman ‘out’ was incorrect and controversial.

The umpire failed to assess the catch accurately from all angles.”

The email further stated “that the benefit of doubt” of controversial catches always goes to the batsmen.

The Pakistani team management said that the TV umpire ignored all the solid and strong evidence and took the decision in favour of the fielding side.