Virginia’s unbeaten start is gone, and the way it disappeared in Charlotte made the loss sting even more. West Virginia beat the Cavaliers 38-27 on Saturday night, handing Virginia its first defeat of the season and doing it by controlling the game for long stretches.
The biggest issue was on the defensive side, where Virginia never looked settled. West Virginia kept the Cavaliers from getting comfortable, and when the Mountaineers forced long third downs, Virginia struggled to get off the field. The blitzes that were supposed to create disruption didn’t consistently land, and quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. spent much of the night looking at ease.
Virginia’s pass rush never really showed up, and that left the defense chasing. With pressure not coming naturally, the Cavaliers leaned on extra blitzers, but that opened things up behind them. The result was a defense that looked shaky in both the front and the back end, and it produced the most points Virginia has allowed since its upset win over Florida State early last season.
Offensively, the Cavaliers never quite took advantage of a West Virginia defense that was there to be had. Des Kitchings has drawn criticism at times for his play calling, and those questions only grew louder Saturday night as Virginia failed to make enough happen despite having the edge in size, strength, speed and experience. The Cavaliers simply couldn’t execute.
West Virginia made a clear point of taking away the run, and that forced Virginia into tougher passing situations. Once the Mountaineers pushed the Cavaliers into those longer third downs, Pribula and his receivers had a hard time syncing up when plays broke down. On a key fourth down late, Pribula didn’t see the blitz and got sacked before he could even try to throw up a prayer.
Virginia’s identity under this offense is built around long, grinding drives that chew up the clock and finish in touchdowns. West Virginia answered with that same kind of approach at times, turning the Cavaliers’ strength back on them. And compared with last season, Virginia still hasn’t shown the quick-strike ability to score fast when it needs it.
The question now is whether Pribula can deliver when the offense needs a rapid response. So far, he hasn’t had to produce a 30-second scoring drive. That could change if the defense has another night like this one.
And the timing matters. With Virginia’s schedule not offering much room for error, this loss lands hard in the College Football Playoff conversation.
The Cavaliers likely need to win at least eight of their next nine games, and probably all of them, to stay in the mix. The other route is winning the ACC Championship Game.
That path is a steep one, and Virginia has now dropped two straight heartbreakers in Charlotte, N.C. There’s work to do - recovery, planning, realignment, all of it.
The one small relief is that this didn’t come in ACC play. Virginia is still 1-0 in the conference.
In Other News...
Virginia Just Relived A Problem Cavaliers Fans Know Too Well
Virginias latest trip outside the ACC brought back an all-too-familiar frustration for fans who have seen this movie before. In a 38-27 loss to West Virginia in non-conference play, the Cavaliers were pushed around in key areas, particularly on the ground and in the hidden moments that tend to decide games.
The defense had no clean answer for the Mountaineers, who moved the ball consistently and kept Virginia on its heels after the opening quarter. On the other side, the offense never found enough rhythm to keep pace, finishing just 6 of 16 on third down as the Cavaliers struggled to turn drives into real pressure on the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia's First Loss Exposed A Problem Fans Won't Ignore
Virginias first stumble of the season came with more than just a loss on the scoreboard. In the Dukes Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium, No. 25 Virginia fell 38-27 to West Virginia, a game that showed how quickly an opponent can seize control when a defense starts chasing the play instead of dictating it. For a Cavaliers team still trying to build on an early-season ranking, the test was as much about poise as execution.
West Virginia made the day belong to Michael Hawkins, whose all-around production kept Virginia under constant pressure and helped push Rich Rodriguezs team to 3-0. The Cavaliers had chances to stay within striking distance, but the Mountaineers kept finding answers at the right moments, leaving Virginia with an uncomfortable reminder that the margin for error shrinks fast against a team that can finish drives and close out games. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces An Early Test After Another Brutal North Carolina Loss
Coach Tony Elliott spoke after Virginias surprising loss at Bank of America Stadium, a result that added another rough chapter to the Cavaliers recent trips through North Carolina. The setback came at a time when Virginia is trying to build momentum toward a return to the ACC Championship game in December, and it followed a stretch of games in the state that has not gone the Cavaliers way.
There was no shortage of missed chances in the finish, and the kind of details Virginia usually leans on to steady itself never fully showed up. The Cavaliers now get a quick chance to reset before hosting Delaware at Scott Stadium, with the early part of the schedule already asking plenty of a team trying to prove it can move past these road issues and keep its bigger goals intact. [Read more 🡒]