Virginia’s defense didn’t just handle NC State in the opener - it set a tone. The 34-8 win came with 168 yards allowed, two turnovers forced, and a few individual plays that were easy to miss in the blowout. One of them came from Jaylen Jones, whose third-quarter sack flashed the kind of relentlessness this group is built around.
On a 2nd-and-12 at the UVA 13-yard line, Jones came after CJ Bailey from his SPUR safety spot, got knocked off balance, then rolled through the fall, popped back up, and finished the play with a 9-yard sack. Caleb Hardy had the other sack in the first half. NC State still converted the next third-and-21 and scored its only points on that drive, but the effort fit the bigger picture: Virginia’s defense is deep, experienced, and wired to keep fresh bodies coming without losing intensity.
That approach comes straight from defensive coordinator John Rudzinski, who made it clear that effort is the baseline for playing time.
“Guys are fighting for their reps. They’re fighting for time,” Rudzinski said.
“They know that’s the one thing that should be non-negotiable as far as how hard are you going to play. We’re going to have an empty the tank type of mentality at every snap and if we’ve got to get somebody fresh in there to go because somebody doesn’t have anymore in the tank, we’re going to get somebody fresh in there.
He’s just another one of those guys we’re fortunate to coach that’s going to go 100% on each and every snap.”
That same edge should show up again when Virginia faces Norfolk State at 7 p.m. at Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers are heavy favorites, but the defensive standard doesn’t figure to change.
There are a few trends worth tracking before the second game of the season.
For one, Tony Elliott has been perfect coming out of bye weeks. Virginia is 6-0 under Elliott immediately after a bye, including last year’s wins over Washington State and Virginia Tech. This year’s setup was unusual, since the Week 0 meeting with NC State created an early built-in break even after the game moved from Brazil to Charlottesville.
Kicker Will Bettridge is also closing in on a major program mark. He has scored in all 46 games of his career and added 2 field goals and 4 extra points against NC State.
Bettridge now has 327 career points, leaving him 6 shy of Connor Hughes for the program record. The rest of the top 10 includes Wali Lundy (312), Gene Mayer (293), Rafael Garcia (272), Thomas Jones (240), Brian Delaney (236), Robert Randolph (225), Ian Frye (218), Frank Quayle (2010), and Tiki Barber (210).
Turnovers have been another defining part of Virginia’s recent run. Against NC State, Fisher Camac tipped a pass that Brandyn Hillman intercepted, and Hillman later forced a fumble that Landon Danley recovered. That gave UVA 20 turnovers forced over its last 12 games, with at least one takeaway in 11 of those 12.
The ball security piece matters here because Norfolk State has shown it can create problems. The Spartans have forced 5 turnovers in two games, including Josiah Davis’ interception and Jordan Saunders’ forced fumble and recovery against ODU. Virginia can’t make this harder on itself.
Offensively, the Cavaliers will also have to sort through a defense that likes to present different looks up front. Norfolk State is expected to mix its fronts and bring eight men into the box at times, but not always from the same alignment.
That puts the burden on Virginia’s line and quarterbacks to identify the picture quickly, sort out the run fits, and keep the pocket clean. If they do, the explosive plays should be there.
Virginia also needs to handle Deljay Bailey, another quarterback with enough versatility to stress a defense. He has 213 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, plus 68 rushing yards and 2 scores, while completing 67.5% of his throws with only 1 interception.
Bailey’s path has taken him from Ole Miss, where he redshirted in 2023, to Grambling State and Itawamba Community College in the JUCO ranks. The Cavaliers did a solid job on NC State’s CJ Bailey in the opener, limiting him to 84 passing yards on 12-of-23 passing with 1 interception and just 33 rushing yards.
Virginia will be aiming for a similar result.
A few individual calls stand out for this week. Jekail Middlebrook ran 15 times for 64 yards in his Virginia debut, and after scoring 8 touchdowns at Middle Tennessee State, he’s picked to find the end zone for the first time as a Cavalier. Jason Hammond, who had 32 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season, is also expected to get on the board in the sack column after opening with a tackle for loss wiped out by an NC State penalty and a quarterback hurry.
As for the final score, the pick is Virginia 59, Norfolk State 13. The thought is that a big day is still on the table, even if a heavier run load makes it tougher to pile up points at the same pace. Virginia had two touchdowns of 40-plus yards against NC State, and another burst-filled outing could push the offense well into the 50s.
In Other News...
Virginia Gets A Needed Boost But Cazeem Moore's Status Looms
Virginia will get a welcome sight on the defensive line when Cazeem Moore is eligible and dressed for the Cavaliers upcoming game against Norfolk State. Moore was a steady presence last season, appearing in all 14 games, and his experience is a useful addition for a Virginia front trying to settle in and stack dependable depth early in the year.
What makes the situation more complicated is how he got here. Moores eligibility came through his inclusion in the Wells vs. NCAA lawsuit, which challenged age-based limits on college football eligibility and opened the door for some extra time on campus after a court ruling. The Cavaliers can use the help now, but the legal picture remains unsettled enough that his availability may not be as straightforward from week to week. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Contender Talk Is Growing As Beau Pribula Grabs The Spotlight
Virginias season-opening statement has put the program back in the national conversation, and the early spotlight has followed it straight into the rankings. After the win over NC State, the Cavaliers are back in both the AP and Coaches polls at No. 25, a quick reminder that Tony Elliotts team can look the part when it starts fast and plays with the kind of edge that got people talking in the first place.
Beau Pribula has been at the center of that attention, popping up in media appearances alongside Elliott as Virginias culture and performance get a closer look from outside the program. There is also a broader Cavaliers note worth tracking off the field, with Chris Longs Waterboys marking its 10th anniversary while continuing its clean water work, another example of a former Virginia player keeping a meaningful connection to the school alive. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Will Learn Fast What Ryan Odoms First Team Can Handle
Ryan Odoms first Virginia team is not easing into the job. The Cavaliers non-conference schedule is stacked with a mix of familiar regional names and heavyweight national tests, with eight home games, a lone true road game and a set of neutral-site stops that should tell a lot about how quickly this roster is coming together. The slate also includes preseason exhibitions against Vanderbilt, Richmond and Villanova, giving Virginia a few early chances to see what pieces fit before the games start counting.
Beyond the usual tune-up stage, the schedule quickly turns into a measuring stick for where this group really stands. Matchups with Arkansas, Maryland, Marquette, Xavier and Kentucky give the new staff a wide range of styles to handle, and the trips to Washington, D.C., Madison Square Garden and the Battle 4 Atlantis will test the Cavaliers away from the comfort of home. For a program trying to establish Odoms first identity in Charlottesville, this is the kind of schedule that can reveal strengths early and expose the areas that still need work. [Read more 🡒]