With a hard-fought win over in-state rival Virginia Tech, the Virginia Cavaliers have punched their ticket to the ACC Championship Game - and they’ll be facing a familiar foe in the Duke Blue Devils. These two teams squared off just a few weeks ago on November 15, when Virginia pulled off a 34-17 upset that turned more than a few heads across the conference. Duke was favored in that one, but the Cavaliers didn’t just win - they controlled the game in a way that showed how far they’ve come this season.
That win over Duke wasn’t just another tally in the W column. It was arguably the most complete performance of the Cavaliers’ 2025 campaign.
For a team that’s struggled at times to get all three phases - offense, defense, and special teams - firing in sync, that game was a statement. And now, with a rematch looming in the ACC title game, Virginia has a golden opportunity to build on what worked and shore up what didn’t.
Let’s break down the three biggest takeaways from that earlier win over Duke - and how they could shape what happens under the lights in Charlotte on December 6.
1. The Cavaliers Don’t Care About the Odds - and They Shouldn’t
Heading into the first Duke matchup, the numbers weren’t on Virginia’s side. ESPN’s Football Power Index gave Duke a 60.7% chance to win, and sportsbooks had the Cavaliers as 4.5-point underdogs. But if there’s one thing this UVA team has shown all season, it’s that they don’t play like underdogs - and they don’t think like them either.
Time and time again, Virginia has defied expectations, leaning into a gritty, fourth-quarter mentality that’s become the foundation of their 10-2 season. This is a team that doesn’t panic late, doesn’t fold under pressure, and doesn’t give in to the narrative. They’ve made a habit of taking control of games when it matters most, and that mental edge is going to be crucial against a Duke team hungry for revenge.
2. Complementary Football Is the Blueprint
For most of the season, the Cavaliers have flirted with putting together a full 60 minutes of cohesive, balanced football. But against Duke, they finally got it. Offense, defense, and special teams all showed up - and they showed up together.
Head coach Tony Elliott made it clear after the game that this wasn’t just a good win - it was a complete one.
“I felt like this was probably the most complete game that we've played in all three phases,” Elliott said. “That’s really what you're talking about - being able to show up in all three phases and play complementary football.”
That kind of synergy is what separates good teams from championship-caliber ones. It’s one thing to have explosive plays or a strong defensive stand here and there.
It’s another to have every unit doing its job, feeding off each other’s energy, and sustaining momentum across all four quarters. If Virginia can replicate that formula in Charlotte, they’ll be a tough team to beat.
3. Complacency Can’t Creep In
Even with a double-digit lead in the previous Duke game, Elliott wasn’t ready to exhale - and for good reason. Football is unpredictable.
One play, one mistake, one lapse in focus can flip a game on its head. That’s why Elliott’s message to his team was clear: finish the job.
“It’s all the way until there’s all zeros on the clock,” Elliott said. “Football is a crazy game, and the ball can bounce any way.
I really wanted to challenge the team to take another step - to just finish. No relaxing on the sideline, because again, that’s how football works.
You relax for one play, and it could change the entire game.”
That mindset - the refusal to coast, even with a lead - could be the difference-maker in a championship setting. Duke is going to come out swinging, and Virginia can’t afford to let its foot off the gas.
The Cavaliers have the talent, the toughness, and now the experience. What they need is the discipline to stay locked in from the first snap to the final whistle.
The rematch is set for December 6 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with kickoff slated for 8 p.m. EST. The stakes couldn’t be higher - a conference title on the line, a shot at national recognition, and a chance for Virginia to prove that their win over Duke wasn’t an upset, but a preview.
This Cavaliers team has shown it can rise to the moment. Now, it’s about doing it one more time - when it matters most.