The Virginia Cavaliers kicked off training camp on Wednesday, but the news of the day came off the field as the ’Hoos were predicted to finish just 14th in the ACC Preseason Media Poll.
All eyes on kickoff
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) July 30, 2025
The 2025 ACC Preseason Poll has arrived. pic.twitter.com/kGdWOF7mp6
Obviously, preseason polls don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but Wednesday’s predictions show that the national media’s view of this year’s UVA squad doesn’t align with some cautious local optimism.
According to 247Sports,
Virginia’s work in the transfer portal, an incoming class that included 31 total commitments and was highlighted by North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris, Louisville offensive tackle Monroe Mills, Miami cornerback Emmanuel Karnley, and Alabama defensive lineman Hunter Osborne, ranked 26th nationally and 4th in the ACC.
In today’s era of college football, one huge offseason in the transfer portal can flip a program overnight. Yet despite Virginia’s loaded class, the ACC media clearly isn’t yet ready to anoint the ’Hoos as a serious contender in the conference.
In his media availability this afternoon, however, Tony Elliott wasn’t worried about the outside noise.
“We’re not going to let that poll define us,” Elliott said. “The only poll that matters is the one that comes out at the end of the season.”
“We’re not going to let that poll define us. The only poll that matters is the one that comes out at the end of the season,” Head Coach Tony Elliott after preseason poll is released ranking UVA Football No. 14 out of 17 in the ACC #uvafootball #uva #ACCfootball pic.twitter.com/X5uaeYcOIu
— Madelyn Frentress (@madfrentress) July 30, 2025
While the ’Hoos were voted to finish fourth-to-last in the conference, the Clemson Tigers are considered the runaway league favorites, receiving 167 of a possible 183 first-place votes. After a trip to the College Football Playoff last season, Dabo Swinney’s Tigers return 80% of their production from last year’s team, including quarterback Cade Klubnik.
Miami (7), SMU (2), Georgia Tech (2), Florida State (4), and Virginia Tech (1) split the remaining share of first-place votes. Meanwhile, Cal, Wake Forest, and Stanford made up the bottom three spots in the poll.
Wednesday’s poll also confirms that the ’Hoos, on paper at least, should have a very favorable schedule in what will be year four of the Tony Elliott era. Virginia avoided matchups with Clemson, Miami, SMU, and Georgia Tech (the top four squads in the preseason poll), while drawing games against each of Cal, Wake Forest, and Stanford.
Virginia hasn’t had much on-field success lately, so it’s not surprising that very few outside Charlottesville see the potential in this year’s squad. For Elliott and the ’Hoos, however, it’s about controlling what you can control and trying to take consistent steps in the right direction.
“Because where we want to go,” Elliott said in a video shared on UVA football’s social media, “it’s going to take us, day after day, going 1-0.”
#GoHoos ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/k8gysbWWSp
— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) July 30, 2025
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