Virginia’s season is down to the last three games, and the picture looks rough after the Cavaliers dropped to 4-5 with a historic smackdown against Wake Forest. The good news is that a bye week gives the team a chance to rest and recover after several key starters were injured.
The stretch run starts with a game against Cal, and the Golden Bears have already shown they’re one of the worst teams in the ACC. Virginia should handle No. 5 there. The problem is that it may be the last time the Cavaliers taste victory this season.
North Carolina is next, and the Tar Heels were a few plays away from beating two top-10 teams, Notre Dame and Miami. That makes them a tough matchup for a Virginia offense that has been sluggish.
Then comes Virginia Tech, and the Cavaliers still haven’t won away from Scott Stadium since last December. An underdog win there should not be expected.
That leaves Virginia staring at a 5-7 finish, which isn’t exactly a wild prediction given the circumstances. Still, it would be a jolt for a team that went 11-3 a season ago.
At quarterback, Tony Elliott has kept saying Beau Pribula has done what the staff has asked of him. The numbers don’t make him look terrible, but the film tells a different story.
Pribula has been taking sacks that aren’t on the offensive line and missing a few throws every game. More than anything, Virginia is 1-4 in its last five games with him starting.
If the Cavaliers drop one or both of the next two, Elliott might finally turn to Holstein for an early look at the 2027 starting job.
The coaching staff question is another one to watch, though it may not lead anywhere. Doubters of the Cavalier coordinators should remember that Des Kitchings and John Rudzinski were both quietly extended through the 2028 season. Elliott clearly values his assistants, and because of that, it would be surprising to see any of them let go after the Virginia Tech game.
If Kitchings or anyone else is removed, it may not be Elliott’s call. In the end, Dr. Carla Williams would need to put the program’s success ahead of staff continuity.
In Other News...
Virginia Opened Strong But One Rotation Question Already Stands Out
Virginia opened its 2026-27 season with a convincing 87-45 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore, and the early signs were encouraging. Kymora Johnson set the tone with 21 points, while Breona Hurd gave the Cavaliers a strong interior presence with a double-double, helping Virginia look sharp on both ends in a game that never felt in doubt for long.
Still, even in a comfortable opener, the rotation picture deserves a closer look. Virginia had plenty of production across the roster, but the way players were used and where the minutes settled could matter as the schedule gets tougher, especially for a team trying to balance proven veterans with the right mix around them. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias Opener Could Shape More Rotation Roles Than Fans Realize
Virginias season opener against Drexel is shaping up as more than just a routine home game. With the Cavaliers heavily favored, the staff has a chance to treat the night like an early laboratory, using the matchup to sort through rotation options and get a better read on the younger and less proven pieces before the schedule tightens.
Silas Barksdale, Martin Carrere, Gertrude and freshman Ibe are among the players who could benefit most from the extra runway. For a team that expects to win comfortably, those minutes can matter just as much as the final score, especially if the staff wants to learn which combinations can hold up once the games start carrying more weight. [Read more 🡒]