Virginia Caps Historic Season with Gritty Gator Bowl Win Over Missouri
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Tony Elliott stood in the postgame locker room and delivered a message that said it all: “Welcome to the 11-win club.” For a program that’s been playing football for 122 years, that’s rarified air.
Virginia’s 13-7 win over No. 25 Missouri in the Gator Bowl wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of tough, resilient performance that defines a team’s identity.
The No. 20 Cavaliers, still stinging from an overtime loss to Duke in the ACC Championship that knocked them out of College Football Playoff contention, bounced back in a big way - short-handed, underestimated, and undeterred.
Let’s be clear: few expected this. Virginia came in as a four-point underdog and was missing key pieces on both sides of the ball.
Star running back J’Mari Taylor - the ACC’s leading rusher - didn’t suit up after spending the week deliberating whether to play. Top receiver Trell Harris and linebackers Kam Robinson and Maddox Marcellus were also out.
That’s a lot of firepower to leave on the sideline.
But as they’ve done all season, the Cavaliers found a way.
Ground Game Delivers When It Matters Most
With Taylor out, the backfield duties fell to Harrison Waylee and Xay Davis, and they answered the call. The duo combined for 109 yards on 32 carries, leaning on physicality and patience.
The defining moment came early in the third quarter - a marathon 19-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 10 minutes of clock and ended with Waylee punching it into the end zone. That touchdown proved to be the difference.
“That was a huge drive in the game,” said quarterback Chandler Morris, who threw for 198 yards. “To be able to go out there and really take over the line of scrimmage and punch it in the end zone, putting seven points on the board was really big.”
Morris managed the game with poise, spreading the ball around and avoiding costly mistakes - exactly what Virginia needed in a game where every yard mattered.
Defense Clamps Down in the Clutch
If the offense set the tone, the defense sealed the deal.
Virginia’s defense held Missouri to just 260 total yards, forced four punts, picked off a pass, and came up with three critical fourth-down stops - two of them in the game’s closing moments. With Missouri threatening late, freshman quarterback Matt Zollers was stuffed on a fourth-and-2 scramble, coming up a yard short. On the Tigers’ final drive, with Zollers briefly sidelined, backup Daniel Kaelin’s fourth-and-10 pass into the end zone fell incomplete.
That was the ballgame.
Virginia’s defensive front held its ground even without Robinson and Marcellus. They managed to limit the damage from Missouri’s standout tailback Ahmad Hardy, who finished with 89 yards on 15 carries - enough to break the school’s single-season rushing record, but not enough to spark a comeback.
Missouri’s Offense Comes Up Short
Missouri came into this one looking for its first three-year streak of nine-win seasons in school history. That goal will have to wait.
Zollers, making his third start in place of Beau Pribula (who entered the transfer portal), showed flashes but struggled to find rhythm. He finished 12-of-22 for 101 yards and an interception. It was a tough spot for a freshman, especially against a defense that came in playing with something to prove.
“There’s a lot to build on,” said head coach Eli Drinkwitz. “Obviously a lot of growth. Everybody’s got to grow and learn from the reps.”
Hardy was the bright spot for Missouri, breaking Cody Schrader’s single-season rushing record from 2023. But outside of that milestone, the Tigers’ offense never found its footing.
Zion Young Returns to Action
Missouri defensive end Zion Young returned to the field two weeks after an arrest on charges including driving while intoxicated. The senior made his presence felt, recording four tackles and two quarterback hits. It was a notable performance amid a challenging backdrop.
What’s Next
Virginia now turns its attention to the NCAA, awaiting a ruling on whether Morris will be granted a rare seventh year of eligibility. His college journey has already taken him from Oklahoma to TCU, North Texas, and now Virginia - and he’s been a steadying force throughout this season.
As for Missouri, the focus shifts to 2026. Hardy is expected to return for his junior year, and with Zollers gaining valuable experience, the Tigers will look to reload and make another run at that elusive nine-plus-win streak.
But Saturday night belonged to Virginia. In a season where they were doubted, depleted, and denied a shot at the playoff, they still found a way to make history.
Eleven wins. One unforgettable year.
And a program that just raised the bar.