Virginia is back in the Queen City, and this time the Cavaliers arrive with a little more confidence and a much bigger measuring stick.
Nine months after the sting of last season’s ACC Championship game, Virginia will face West Virginia in the “Who Was John Denver Really Singing About Bowl.” It’s the first time these programs have met since Virginia’s 48-22 win over the Mountaineers in the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl, and that one also came in the same stadium. Nothing says a battle of the Virginias quite like it happening in North Carolina.
Both teams come in at 2-0, but this feels like a real checkpoint. Virginia has rolled through its first two games, yet this is its first true road test away from Charlottesville.
West Virginia has also handled business, though the Mountaineers needed only a touchdown margin to get past Coastal Carolina and then crushed UT Martin 52-7. By the end of this one, the picture around both teams should be a lot clearer.
Is Virginia really a dark horse CFP team? Can West Virginia be a legit contender in the Big 12?
Those questions won’t be fully answered here, but they’ll at least be sharper.
Virginia opened as an 8.5-point favorite, and the line has moved to 10.5 points.
For the Cavaliers to walk out with a win over Rich Rodriguez and the Mountaineers, a few things have to go right.
First, Virginia has to win the turnover battle.
This doesn’t look like the kind of game where either side runs away with it. A two-possession result feels more likely, and in a tight game like that, one forced turnover can swing everything.
Virginia has already been on the positive side of the turnover ledger twice this season, going +2 against NC State and +2 against Norfolk State. The Cavaliers have picked off four passes, which is tied for second-most in the country, and John Rudzinski’s defense has forced at least one turnover in 12 of its last 13 games.
West Virginia has had its own ball-security issues, losing one fumble per game so far, but Michael Hawkins Jr. has not thrown an interception yet. For Virginia, the key is creating pressure and making Hawkins uncomfortable when he has to drop back.
The Cavaliers also need to force Hawkins to win with his arm.
Rodriguez clearly wants this offense built around the run, and that’s where Hawkins is most dangerous. He’s a strong athlete and a very good runner, but the passing game still has room to grow.
Through two games, he has ten more carries than pass attempts, which says plenty about where West Virginia feels best. Virginia’s job is to make the Mountaineers abandon that comfort zone by putting them in passing situations they’d rather avoid.
That doesn’t mean Hawkins can be ignored when he does throw. He may be less confident as a passer, but he’s not helpless. If Virginia gets the offense out of rhythm and forces the ball into the air, the defense still has to stay disciplined and clean.
Then there’s the other side of the ball, where Virginia has to keep West Virginia guessing.
The Cavaliers had success against NC State because the Wolfpack weren’t ready for how often QB Beau Pribula would keep the ball and run. That surprise factor won’t be there against West Virginia, but offensive coordinator Des Kitchings can still make life difficult for the Mountaineers.
Pribula has been efficient as a passer, hitting 21 of 25 throws for 317 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also added 102 rushing yards across the first two games.
With Virginia’s offensive line doing its job and the skill talent around him, the Cavaliers can create problems by getting the ball out quickly and making smart decisions. Use Pribula’s legs when it fits.
Lean on the ground game when needed. Keep the passing game selective, but effective.
That’s how Virginia can keep West Virginia’s defense on its heels.
In Other News...
Virginia Gets A Big Reason For Confidence Against West Virginia
Virginias season has a little extra optimism attached to it heading into the West Virginia game, thanks to ESPNs Football Power Index. The predictive model likes the Cavaliers in the matchup and points to a strong year ahead, with the offense led by quarterback Beau Pribula providing one of the main reasons for the confidence.
Still, FPI is only a projection, not a guarantee, and games like this tend to be shaped by how well the quarterbacks settle in early. West Virginia brings Michael Hawkins Jr. into the spotlight on its side, which gives this meeting a familiar kind of tension even if the numbers lean Virginias way. The Cavaliers have reason to feel good, but the real answer will come on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia's 2027 Schedule Still Has One Big Piece Missing
The ACC has already mapped out Virginias conference slate for 2027, and it gives the Cavaliers a pretty clear picture of the road ahead. Louisville, SMU, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech are slated to come to Charlottesville, while Virginia is set for trips to Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina and Stanford as part of the leagues new nine-game model.
What remains unresolved is the last piece of the non-conference puzzle, even with Arkansas State and William & Mary already on the schedule. Virginia still needs one more Power Four opponent to round out the year, and that final addition could end up having a real say in how the rest of the home schedule settles in for the Cavaliers. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Just Built Real Momentum Ahead Of North Carolina
Virginia kept its footing at Klckner Stadium with a 3-0 win over Miami, a result that gives the Cavaliers a little more spring in their step heading into the next stretch. Aniyah Collier opened the scoring, and Addison Halpern took over from there with a pair of goals that helped turn a solid performance into a comfortable night for Virginia.
Victoria Safradin also had a calm one in goal, collecting the clean sheet as Virginia controlled the match from start to finish. For a team looking to build real momentum, the timing matters, and this one offered the kind of complete showing that can travel well into a bigger test ahead. [Read more 🡒]