Virginia’s path to an upset at SMU looks even narrower after the Cavaliers piled up injuries on defense, but there are still a few players who will be asked to carry a heavy load on Saturday.
The list of unavailable defenders is long enough to change the shape of the game. Defensive linemen Devon Baxter, Jason Hammond, Jewett Hayes, Bull Richardson, Chase Morrison and Tyler Simmons are out, along with defensive backs Omillio Agard and Alex Dunn and linebacker Isaiah Reese. Safeties Brandyn Hillman and Corey Costner are doubtful.
With the short-handed group heading into a matchup against the ACC’s top passing offense, defensive coordinator John Rudzinski is facing a tough assignment. The Cavaliers, listed as 9.5-point underdogs by DraftKings, will need big performances from a few of their healthiest defenders if they want to leave with an upset.
One of the biggest names in that group is interior lineman Antonio Clary Britton. Coach Tony Elliott has said Britton can become one of the ACC’s best interior defensive linemen, and he has been pushing the fourth-year player to tap into that ceiling. Britton arrives at this one after what may have been the best outing of his career, a nine-tackle performance against Syracuse that led the team.
Saturday’s test is a stiff one. Britton will spend plenty of time matched up with SMU senior center Joshua Bates, a preseason first-team all-ACC pick who also landed on watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy. Pressure from the middle can be just as damaging as edge heat, and if Britton can bother Kevin Jennings’s rhythm, Virginia’s hopes improve.
Another player Virginia needs is Robinson, who appears to be getting faster and healthier each week. The Cavaliers need him close to full speed, and there’s a good chance he’ll be used aggressively.
He could be blitzed more often than he has been all season in an effort to force Jennings off his spot and disrupt the timing of SMU’s passing game. Robinson also gives Virginia its best shot at slowing Kendrick Raphael and keeping short completions from turning into bigger gains.
At safety, Williams may be forced into an even larger role if Hillman and Costner can’t go. It’s unlikely either one will play, which would put major responsibility on the sophomore in his third start of the season.
Williams will have his hands full with tight end Theo Melin Ohrstrom, who leads SMU with four touchdown catches. He’ll also need to help against the run and could be used on the occasional safety blitz.
In Other News...
Anthony Britton Has Become A Virginia Bright Spot Up Front
Anthony Britton has quietly turned into one of Virginias most encouraging stories up front. The defensive tackle arrived in 2023 as a raw prospect, but his development has been steady enough to make him a real factor on the Cavaliers line, the kind of interior presence coaches can lean on as the season wears on.
His rise has also come with opportunity, as Britton moved into a starting role after an injury opened the door. The more he has played, the more dependable he has looked, and he was recognized after the 2023 season as Virginias most improved defensive player, a label that now feels like a sign of what the Cavaliers may have found in the middle of their defense. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces A Massive ACC Test Against SMUs Biggest Strength
Virginia and SMU meet in Week 7 with both teams sitting at 2-1 in ACC play, and the matchup brings one of the conferences more interesting strength-on-strength battles. The Mustangs have leaned heavily on the passing game, while Virginia has made life difficult through the air for opposing offenses, giving this one a clear backbone even before the odds and the surrounding buzz around the game come into focus.
Yamir Knight has emerged as SMUs clear go-to receiver and will be central to everything the Mustangs want to do, especially against a Cavaliers defense that has quietly been one of the toughest in the nation against the pass. Virginias challenge is obvious, though, because SMUs ground game has not been nearly as dependable, which leaves the Cavaliers trying to control a matchup where both defenses may know exactly what is coming and still have to stop it. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Still Has One Road Problem To Solve At No. 24 SMU
Virginia heads into its matchup at No. 24 SMU with a 4-2 record, but the bigger concern is still the same one it has carried on the road all season: the Cavaliers have not yet found a way to win away from home. This trip offers a chance to change that against an opponent with enough firepower to make any defensive lapse expensive, and Virginia knows it will need a cleaner performance outside its own stadium to come home with a result.
Much of the challenge starts with SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, who has piled up passing yards and touchdowns at a national level while also giving defenses some opportunities with turnovers. Virginias task is straightforward in theory and difficult in practice, slow the Mustangs best playmakers and avoid the kind of mistakes that can turn a close road game into a long night. [Read more 🡒]