The Virginia Cavaliers closed out their regular season with a statement win - and not just any win. They took down Virginia Tech, 27-7, snapping the Hokies’ grip on the rivalry and punching their ticket to the ACC Championship Game.
For a program that’s spent the last few years trying to find its footing, this was more than just a victory. It was a message.
Virginia didn’t just beat their in-state rival - they outplayed them in every phase. The defense was locked in, limiting Tech’s offense to a single score.
The offense executed with purpose, and the energy on the sideline was unmistakable. This was a team that believed in its direction, and more importantly, in each other.
Head coach Tony Elliott has been preaching patience and progress since he arrived in Charlottesville. And after an offseason filled with questions and low expectations, his squad delivered.
“It gives us motivation. It gives us encouragement, a little bit of validation that we're definitely headed in the right direction,” Elliott said after the win.
“To make this a competitive rivalry and make Virginia a program of relevance locally and then also nationally.”
That kind of talk isn’t just coach-speak anymore. It’s starting to feel real.
Elliott’s belief in his players - even when the outside world didn’t share it - has been a driving force behind this turnaround. He’s talked often about the challenge of getting young athletes to believe in themselves, to take ownership of their growth.
“You can’t do it for them,” Elliott said. “But you can encourage them.
You can try to inspire them. And you can get them to that point - but man, they’ve got to do it for themselves.”
That’s exactly what they did this season.
Now, with the regular season in the books, the postseason picture is starting to take shape. And depending on which projection you look at, Virginia is in for some heavyweight matchups.
From ESPN’s perspective, Mark Schlabach sees Virginia squaring off with Ole Miss - currently ranked No. 6 in the AP Top 25 - in a December 20 bowl game. That would be a marquee matchup, and Schlabach is bullish on the Cavaliers’ chances to pull off the upset.
If that happens, he has UVA advancing to face No. 3 Georgia in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1.
That’s right - a potential New Year’s Day clash with one of the sport’s modern dynasties.
On the other side, ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura has a slightly different outlook. He also has Virginia playing on December 20, but against No.
6 Oregon - and in his scenario, the Cavaliers don’t reach the CFP Quarterfinal. Still, a bowl game against a powerhouse like Oregon would be a high-profile opportunity for this rising program to prove it belongs on the national stage.
CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford also projects a Virginia-Oregon showdown, slating it for either December 19 or 20. In his bracket, the winner would move on to face Indiana.
Oregon, with an 11-1 record and an 8-1 mark in conference play, would be a serious test - but this Virginia team has made a habit of rising to the moment. They’ve already shown they can go toe-to-toe with tough opponents.
This would be another chance to show they’re not just here to participate - they’re here to compete.
So here we are: Virginia’s regular season is done, but the journey is far from over. The Cavaliers have already exceeded expectations, but they’re not settling.
Not now. Not when the stakes are this high.
The postseason is where legacies are made, and Virginia has a shot to take another massive step forward.
No one’s handing them anything. They’ll have to earn it - just like they’ve done all year.
But if this team’s shown us anything, it’s that they’re not afraid of the moment. And now, with the college football world watching, they’ve got a chance to turn a strong season into something truly unforgettable.