Fresh off Virginia’s 28-25 comeback win over Syracuse, Coach’s Corner with Tony Elliott is back on the air Tuesday night from Dairy Market in Charlottesville.
The weekly show, hosted by John Freeman, the “Voice of the Cavaliers,” runs from 7-8 p.m. on Oct. 13. This week’s guest will be Makilan Thomas, the graduate offensive lineman who arrived at UVA in the spring of 2025 after spending four years at Arkansas State from 2021-24.
Thomas has been in the lineup at right guard in all six games for Virginia this season. He missed last year with an injury, but he’s already made his presence felt in 2025. In UVA’s 59-3 win over Norfolk State on Sept. 11, he posted a career-high 88.2 offensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
Fans tuning in will have a few ways to get involved. Ticket and merchandise giveaways are planned for each show, and there will also be chances to win items signed by Elliott. Questions can be submitted by mentioning @JohnFreemanUVA on X.
Virginia, now 4-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC play, heads to No. 24 SMU on Saturday, Oct.
- Kickoff from Gerald J.
Ford Stadium is set for noon ET on The CW and the Virginia Sports Radio Network.
The full 2026 Coach’s Corner schedule, with all shows airing live at 7:06 p.m., lists appearances by Maddox Marcellus on Aug. 25, Xavier Brown on Sept.
1, Ethan Minter on Sept. 8, Fisher Camac on Sept.
15, Will Bettridge on Sept. 22, Jekail Middlebrook on Sept.
29, Omillio Agard on Oct. 6, and Thomas on Oct. 13.
The final two dates, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, are still on the calendar, though dates are subject to change.
In Other News...
Virginia Fans Have A New Name To Watch In This Weeks Poll
Virginia high school football turned in another busy stretch from Oct. 8-10, and the latest batch of standout performances gives fans around the commonwealth plenty to sort through. The weekly High School On SI Virginia Football Player of the Week poll is once again packed with eye-catching names after a slate of games that produced big passing nights, explosive receiving totals and plenty of momentum-shifting plays across the state.
The field includes several players whose efforts stood out well beyond the final scores, with Ryan Turpin and Xavier Price among the headliners from a statistical standpoint. Voting runs through Oct. 11, and the winner will be revealed in next weeks poll, so Virginia fans have a short window to make their choice among a deep list of performances that made this one of the more competitive weeks yet. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces A Real Road Test Against A Flawed ACC Threat
Virginia is heading into a tricky ACC road trip with enough flaws of its own to keep the spotlight on the details. The Cavaliers have dealt with penalties, injuries and uneven play on defense, and they still have not won away from home this season. They are also coming off a game against Syracuse that left several injuries to monitor, adding another layer of uncertainty as they prepare for a matchup that asks a lot of their coverage unit and run defense.
SMU has looked beatable despite its 4-2 start, with close calls against weaker opponents and a turnover problem that has kept a few games tighter than expected. The Mustangs have had extra time to sort through those issues after an early bye week, which makes Virginias task even less forgiving. For a Cavaliers team trying to steady itself on the road, this is the kind of test that can expose whether the progress is real or still more promise than proof. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces The ACC Test That Could Define Its Season
Virginia heads into a defining ACC matchup against 24th-ranked SMU with the kind of stakes that can shape the rest of its season. An upset would keep the Cavaliers in the hunt for the league championship and also preserve a path to a top-tier bowl, which gives this one a different edge than a typical conference game in October. For Tony Elliott, it is also another checkpoint on where this team stands against a ranked opponent that brings a different style and a bigger margin for error than Virginia can afford.
The Cavaliers will try to lean on their running game and control the pace, but the challenge only grows from there because SMU can put pressure on a defense in a hurry through the air. Virginias pass rush has been limited, and the injury picture in the secondary adds another layer of concern after the Syracuse game. How well the Cavaliers hold up on the back end may go a long way toward deciding whether this turns into the kind of statement win Elliott needs, or another reminder of how narrow the margin is in the ACC race. [Read more 🡒]