Much of the buzz around Virginia has centered on a defense that sits near the top 10 nationally in several major categories, and for good reason. But the Cavaliers’ offense has been humming, too, putting up 46.5 points per game and clearing its projected scoring total in both outings so far. With West Virginia next on the schedule, Virginia has a chance to keep that fast start rolling.
A few offensive names stand out as the Cavaliers prepare for the Mountaineers, starting with running back J’Mari Taylor Middlebrook. He won the starting job over five other talented backs, but the production has been modest so far. Middlebrook has 18 carries for 79 yards, a 4.4-yard average, plus one catch for five yards.
That line looks a little strange for a player known as a dangerous receiving back. Through two games, Middlebrook has only one reception, and his 18 rushing attempts also feel light. Virginia has played with an early lead in both games, but it still seems like the Cavaliers haven’t fully turned him loose yet.
If that changes Saturday, it would not be a surprise. Xavier Brown, Xay Davis and Noah Vaughn have each already gone over 90 total yards in a game this season, so Middlebrook may be the next back to pop.
The receiving group has been quieter overall, but Trell Harris Martin has made his touches count. He has scored a touchdown in each game, including a 47-yard strike against NC State and a 27-yard grab against Norfolk State. He also added a 14-yard run against the Spartans.
Martin has only touched the ball three times this season, and every one of those plays has resulted in a first down. Even without a starting role, he may have been Virginia’s most productive wideout so far. Another touchdown Saturday would put him in rare air.
He could also see more opportunities against West Virginia, even if presumed top receiver Rico Flores Jr. is back on the field.
Then there’s Tyler Twitty, who has been on the field plenty but hasn’t shown up much in the box score. He has one catch for five yards in two games and has mostly been used as a blocker, but Virginia still leans on him heavily. That makes his near-invisibility as a pass catcher stand out all the more.
With the Cavaliers spreading the workload on offense, there may not be room for everyone to pile up touches. Even so, Twitty feels overdue for a bigger role in the passing game. A few catches and more than 50 receiving yards should be within reach soon.
In Other News...
Virginia Defense Faces A Saturday Night Test It Can't Fake
Virginias defense is about to get an early-season stress test against a West Virginia offense that does not give opponents much time to breathe. The pace alone changes everything, because the Cavaliers cannot count on getting fresh bodies on and off the field the way they normally might. Tony Elliott has already pointed out how hard it is to stay assignment sound against a group that keeps moving, keeps pressing, and forces a defense to react instead of settle in.
For Virginia, the challenge is as much mental as physical. The Cavaliers will need speed, depth and discipline to survive the kind of night where one missed fit or late adjustment can quickly snowball. The cleanest answers are the ones defenses always hope for in a game like this: force incompletions, get ball-carriers out of bounds and find any clock stoppage possible to reset personnel. Against this kind of offense, though, even those small wins can feel hard-earned. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville's Quarterback Standing In The ACC Is Suddenly Worth Watching
Road wins over Big Ten opponents have a way of changing the conversation fast, and Week 2 of the 2026 college football season gave the ACC several quarterbacks a little extra runway. Walker Eget, Gio Lopez and Mason McKenzie all helped their teams earn those kind of victories, while other league results, including Virginia Techs win over Old Dominion and Californias trip to Syracuse, kept the conferences quarterback race crowded with fresh data points.
For Virginia, the early-season backdrop only gets more interesting after a lopsided win over Norfolk State, where the offense barely had to blink to put the game away. The Cavaliers now step into a Power Four matchup with West Virginia in Charlotte this weekend, which should offer a far better read on where the passing game stands and how quickly the offense can translate that opener into something more revealing. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces One Big Test As Key Cavaliers Still Loom
Virginias climb into the AP top 25 has been built on two dominant wins, but the first real measuring stick is here with West Virginia on deck. The Cavaliers have looked efficient and organized through the opening stretch, with quarterback Pribula setting the tone, and now the challenge shifts from looking sharp against lesser opposition to proving it can carry over when the matchup gets faster and less forgiving.
John Rudzinskis defense will be asked to handle a West Virginia offense that brings an agile quarterback in Michael Hawkins Jr. and a dangerous back in Cam Cook, which is enough to test Virginias front on its own. On the other side, there is still some uncertainty around a few pieces that could change the balance for Virginia, including the status of its star linebacker and whether receiver Flores is ready to enter the mix, leaving the Cavaliers with a little more intrigue than their early rankings would suggest. [Read more 🡒]