Virginia’s trip to SMU is now locked in for a noon kickoff on Oct. 17, with the ACC sending the game to the CW Network.
It’s a matchup that looked much bigger a few weeks ago. At one point, Virginia’s visit to Dallas felt like one of the defining games in the ACC race, with both teams positioned as possible contenders for the league championship game in Charlotte on Dec.
- But early conference losses have changed the shape of the thing, and this one now stands as, at best, an elimination game for both sides.
Virginia enters at 3-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play after a rough 38-7 loss at Florida State last Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers were shut out over the final three quarters, getting outscored 38-0 after halftime.
SMU sits at 4-1 and 2-1 in the league. The Mustangs opened with a 27-24 road win over Florida State, but they also took a 41-31 loss at Louisville in their third game. Since then, they’ve posted a 34-24 win over Missouri State and a 25-16 victory over Boston College, though neither came with much room to spare.
With Miami at 3-0, Pittsburgh at 2-0 and defending champion Duke at 1-0, there isn’t much slack left for either Virginia or SMU. Both teams are part of a crowded group of eight with one conference loss, so the margin for error is thin.
The Cavaliers and Mustangs have only played once before, when SMU beat Virginia 33-17 at Scott Stadium in 2024, the Mustangs’ first year in the ACC. Under fifth-year coach Rhett Lashlee, SMU made the ACC title game that season and has gone 16-3 in conference play overall, the most league wins by any team in that span.
SMU will have extra time to get ready, too. The Mustangs are off this coming weekend before facing Virginia for the first time in Ford Stadium.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings has thrown for 1,588 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, while running back Kendrick Raphael has rushed for 418 yards and six touchdowns. Eight different Mustangs have already caught at least one touchdown pass.
Virginia will get one more ACC test before heading to Dallas. The Cavaliers host Syracuse on Saturday night in their annual Homecoming game, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. on the ACC Network. Former All-America receiver Herman Moore, who was recently named to the College Football Hall of Fame, will be honored during the break between the first and second quarters.
In Other News...
Virginia Fans Get A Fresh Homecomings Storyline On Tony Elliotts Show
Virginia football fans will have a familiar midweek touchpoint back on the calendar when Tony Elliotts Coachs Corner returns Oct. 6 at Dairy Market in Charlottesville. The hourlong show runs from 7-8 p.m. and will come with the usual extras, including ticket and merchandise giveaways, while supporters can send in questions through social media as UVA builds toward its annual Homecomings game against Syracuse at Scott Stadium.
This weeks edition also gives the program a chance to spotlight a newcomer who has quickly become part of the conversation around the team. The student-athlete guest is Omillio Agard, a third-year transfer cornerback in his first season at Virginia, and his appearance adds a fresh layer to a homecoming week that already carries extra energy for the Cavaliers and their fans. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias ACC Hopes Now Ride On A Brutal Remaining Stretch
Virginias 3-2 start has kept the season on the edge of real ACC relevance, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. With conference title hopes still technically alive, the Cavaliers are now staring at a schedule that leaves little room for a misstep, and the path forward looks less like a push and more like a grind through a series of must-hold games.
Syracuse appears to be the most manageable of the group, but the rest of the slate asks for more caution, especially with North Carolina and Wake Forest in the mix. The most daunting tests still loom beyond that, with Duke and Virginia Tech standing out as the kind of matchups that can turn a hopeful September into a much steeper climb by November. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Fans Will Get To Celebrate A Cavaliers Legend This Season
Virginia fans will have a chance to celebrate one of the programs greats next fall, when the University of Virginia and the National Football Foundation bring an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute to Scott Stadium. The honor is set for the Cavaliers home game against Syracuse on Oct. 10, 2026, and it will recognize Herman Moore as part of the NFFs tradition of celebrating College Football Hall of Fame electees on their own campuses during home dates.
Moore is a 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee, and the day will come with a permanent plaque that will remain at Virginia. It is another reminder of how deeply Moores career still resonates in Charlottesville, where his place among the schools all-time football figures continues to grow with each new honor. [Read more 🡒]