Virginia’s first loss of the season opened the door to a long list of questions, and the biggest one starts with how different the Cavaliers looked in Charlotte.
Entering Saturday night as double-digit favorites against West Virginia, Virginia walked away with a performance that bore little resemblance to the one it had put together over the first two weeks. The result left the Cavaliers with more to sort through than just a defeat.
On the latest Good Ole Podcast, Wahoos247’s Jacquie Franciulli and The Daily Progress’ Greg Madia dug into the breakdown, starting on the defensive side of the ball. Virginia had been quick and disruptive early in the season, but that edge was missing against the Mountaineers. West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and running back Cam Cook each ran for 123 yards, and the Mountaineers piled up 437 yards of total offense.
Hawkins’ night stood out for a reason beyond the box score. He became the first quarterback to rush for more than 100 yards against Virginia since 2021, and his mobility caused problems throughout the game. West Virginia also found repeated explosive plays through the air, producing an offensive showing that was far removed from what Virginia has typically allowed under defensive coordinator John Rudzinski.
That led to the obvious follow-up: was this just a rough night, or did West Virginia reveal something future opponents can use? The discussion also weighed the absence of defensive tackle Jason Hammond and how much that mattered against a quarterback who could extend plays and stress the defense on the move.
Virginia’s offense had issues of its own. Starting left guard Noah Josey left during the second quarter, and the Cavaliers clearly looked different without one of their most experienced linemen. The podcast examines how Virginia adjusted in his absence, what it meant for a rushing attack that had been finding success behind the interior of the line, and what it could mean if Josey is out longer.
The Cavaliers also left production on the field in the passing game. West Virginia had come in having given up explosive plays through the air, but Virginia did not challenge the Mountaineers vertically much early on. Rico Flores Jr. eventually came through with a big fourth-down catch, but the downfield passing game never became the weapon Virginia may have expected it to be.
There were bright spots, too, and Jekail Middlebrook was one of them. He emerged as Virginia’s clear hot hand at running back, playing 40 snaps and showing why the coaching staff has been so high on him as both a runner and a receiver. The podcast also breaks down what that workload might mean for Virginia’s running back rotation going forward.
Franciulli and Madia finish by looking past one loss and ahead to what comes next, with trips to Florida State and SMU looming.
In Other News...
Virginias Early ACC Hype Just Took A Painful Hit
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For Virginia, the disappointment carried a little extra sting because this was the kind of game the Cavaliers were supposed to handle. Instead, a favored team took a major step backward and absorbed a loss that undercut some of the optimism building around the program, leaving an early ACC storyline suddenly looking less secure. The broader standings picture can still change quickly, but this was the kind of outcome that lingers when a team is trying to establish itself in September. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Fans Get A Bigger Meaning To This Week's Home Game
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The game carries a UVA Strong theme, a nod to Davis Jr., Chandler and Perry, which gives the afternoon a different kind of weight for fans headed to Scott Stadium. Virginia Athletics is also planning a giveaway for the first 30,000 in the building, adding another layer to a day that is shaping up to feel bigger than a standard nonconference home date. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Has No Room For Another Flat Performance Against Delaware
Virginia is coming out of the West Virginia loss with plenty to clean up, and there is little margin for another uneven showing when Delaware comes to town. The defeat knocked the Cavaliers out of the national rankings and put a sharper spotlight on a team that still needs steadier play on both sides of the ball. For Virginia, this is the kind of game that can either help settle things down or keep the questions hanging around.
Delaware arrives with enough of a passing threat to keep Virginia honest, led by quarterback Nick Minicucci and receiver Sean Wilson, while the Blue Hens have also shown some toughness in recent weeks. The Cavaliers will be trying to tighten up defensively and get their offense moving more cleanly, especially on the ground, because a flat start against a team like this could make for a much longer afternoon than Virginia wants. [Read more 🡒]