Virginia is going with a full blue look for its Week 2 matchup against Norfolk State.
In a video posted by the team’s social media accounts, and also revealed by running back Xavier Brown, the Cavaliers showed off blue helmets, blue pants and blue jerseys for the first time this season.
All blue for game 2️⃣#GoHoos 🔶⚔️🔷 @FlowAutomotive pic.twitter.com/TTrwrOuDT1
That blue-blue-blue combination is not something Virginia has leaned on often lately. Outside of throwback looks or other uniform tweaks, the Cavaliers have not worn that setup in their last 24 games.
The last non-throwback version came on Sept. 14, 2024, against Maryland. Since then, Virginia has more often mixed in alternates such as a red, white and blue helmet or its navy throwbacks.
On the field, the expectation is a lopsided one. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Virginia a 99% chance to win, which lines up with an ACC team facing an FCS opponent that is among 2025’s worst teams.
That makes Friday night at Scott Stadium less about the result and more about the reps. Virginia should have a chance to get younger players on the field in meaningful minutes, with underclassmen in line for bulk snaps under the lights. One spot that could stay locked in from start to finish is kicker, where fifth-year Will Bettridge has a chance to make history.
With one field goal and a few extra points, Bettridge could break Virginia’s all-time scoring record. Connor Hughes has held the mark for a little over 20 years, but that could change quickly if Virginia’s offense does what it is expected to do and keeps putting points on the board.
There is also a statistical angle worth watching. If Virginia reaches 80 points, its offensive numbers would jump into the top tier nationally, the same kind of boost Syracuse, Virginia Tech and others have gotten after overwhelming FCS competition.
The matchup also underscores the gap between a team chasing the College Football Playoff and one trying to win consistently at the lowest level of Division I football. Virginia should feel that difference early and often, even after the starters give way to the deepest reserves.
Friday’s game is Virginia’s only FCS matchup of the season. After that, the Cavaliers head to Charlotte for a neutral-site game against West Virginia on Sept. 19 before coming back home to face Delaware.
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Elliott also used the moment to zoom out a bit, pointing to the bigger roster-building picture around the program. He stressed the importance of recruiting elite in-state talent and said Virginia recently hosted nearly 100 recruits at a game, a reminder that these early-season nights are about more than the scoreboard. The offensive line remains part of that long view too, with Elliott talking about the need for enough depth up front to withstand the grind of a full season. [Read more 🡒]
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The tricky part is that the answer still depends on a few things Virginia cannot fully control, from what happens elsewhere in the ACC to how the selection committee weighs strength of schedule against record. ESPNs Football Power Index has the Cavaliers at 10-2, which would already put them in a strong spot, and an 11-1 finish is the kind of outcome that would force a much bigger discussion about the College Football Playoff and the possibility of lining up against SEC powers if the path gets that far. [Read more 🡒]