Virginia’s defense won’t get a pass on Saturday, and the rematch with NC State in Charlottesville is going to put a few specific Cavaliers right in the spotlight.
That was the lesson from last season’s Week 2 meeting in Raleigh. Virginia’s defense had one of its rougher nights of the year, giving up 216 rushing yards and 200 through the air in a 35-31 NC State win. CJ Bailey was the engine for the Wolfpack, running for two touchdowns and throwing for another.
If Virginia wants a different result this time, it can’t just be about the defense in general. It has to start with a few key players who can tilt the field.
One of the biggest issues in that loss was the lack of disruption up front. Virginia got credit for five quarterback hurries, but Bailey was never actually sacked. That’s the sort of near-miss that can haunt a defense, because pressure that doesn’t finish rarely changes the game the way it should.
That puts a lot on Camac, Virginia’s most accomplished returning edge rusher. The 6-foot-7, 262-pound fifth-year senior will be part of a front line that faces an inexperienced NC State offensive line.
Virginia needs him and the rest of the defensive line to keep Bailey contained, force him off his spot and, if possible, make life miserable in the backfield. The Cavaliers will rotate six defensive ends who are at least 6-foot-3, and if they can’t get to the 6-foot-6 Bailey, they’ll need to do the next best thing: get hands up, clog lanes and disrupt his vision.
Kam Robinson is the other obvious name, even if his availability is not settled. He’s Virginia’s All-America candidate at linebacker and might be the one defender on the roster best equipped to stay with Bailey.
That’s why defensive coordinator John Rudzinski could use him as a spy. But Robinson is coming back from a torn ACL, so there’s no guarantee he plays at all, and even if he does, he’s unlikely to be on the field for every snap.
NC State can also try to work away from him or use motion to keep him from causing problems.
That opens the door for Marcellus to handle a different kind of load. He’ll have plenty to sort out on the other side, especially when it comes to Duke Scott. If Marcellus can help limit Scott and force NC State into obvious passing downs, that’s when Virginia’s front four can really pin its ears back and go after Bailey.
Then there’s Minter, who may not get as much attention as transfer Brandyn Hillman in the secondary but still matters plenty. At free safety, Minter is the last line of defense, and that job becomes huge against a group of NC State receivers that can stretch a play into a bigger one in a hurry.
Bailey has size to work with in Keenan Jackson and Jo Jo Trader, both 6-foot-3, along with Chance Robinson at 6-foot-2. Those targets can turn short throws into chunk gains, which makes Minter’s tackling and field awareness essential.
Virginia doesn’t need one defender to save the day. It needs Camac, Robinson, Marcellus and Minter to each do their part, because that’s the only way the Cavaliers turn last year’s loss into something different on Saturday.
In Other News...
Virginia Faces An Early ACC Test Fans Cant Ignore
Virginia gets an early chance to see where it stands when NC State comes to Charlottesville in a matchup that carries a little more weight than a typical September opener. The weekend slate around college football is full of attention-grabbing games, but this one matters directly to the Cavaliers because it gives them a first look at an ACC opponent before the league table has really taken shape.
The broader context makes it even sharper, because the conference calendar is already starting to narrow the margin for error. Virginia can set an early tone at home, while NC State is in the same position of trying to avoid an immediate setback in a race that will feel harder to climb if it starts badly. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia May Open The Season Missing A Key Piece On Offense
Virginias first injury report for the 2026 season opener against N.C. State already gives the game a different feel, with 16 Cavaliers listed out before the teams even take the field. The most notable name on that list is Rico Flores, the projected No. 1 wide receiver, who is dealing with a hamstring injury and appears set to miss the matchup as Virginia tries to settle in for the start of the season.
Kam Robinson adds another layer of uncertainty on the defensive side, since the linebacker is listed as questionable and wont be finalized until closer to kickoff. Several other Virginia and N.C. State players are also working through out or questionable tags, leaving both sidelines to sort through availability late in the week before anyone can really know what the opener will look like. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Defense Faces Early Test It Cant Afford To Fail
Virginias defense is getting an early measuring stick this week, and defensive coordinator John Rudzinski is treating it like one. As Virginia gets ready for NC State, he pointed to the challenge of C.J. Bailey, whose dual-threat skill set can stress a defense in more than one way and force disciplined play on every snap. Rudzinski said the Cavaliers have already put in work this offseason against similar quarterbacks, which has helped the defense sharpen its approach.
The bigger concern is making sure that preparation holds up once the game gets rolling. Rudzinski also stressed the need to keep the defensive line fresh through rotation, a detail that matters in a matchup like this where pace, scrambling and extended plays can wear a group down quickly. For Virginia, the assignment is clear: translate the offseason progress into a performance sturdy enough to withstand an opponent that can attack from multiple angles. [Read more 🡒]