The Virginia Cavaliers found the fire escape Saturday night, defending Scott Stadium with a second-half comeback to earn bowl eligibility and now sit at 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the ACC. As a result, the ‘Hoos earned a new spot in this week’s Associated Press poll, moving up two spots to No. 16.
The ‘Hoos entered the poll for the first time since 2019 in the week six edition at No. 24 after beating Florida State, and have moved
up with each passing poll to 19th, 18th, and now 16th as one of four ACC teams to be included this week.
Fueled by a gritty comeback, clutch defensive plays by Ja’Son Prevard and Kam Robinson, as well as scoring efforts from Will Bettridge and Harrison Waylee late in the game, the Cavaliers extended their unbeaten streak inside Scott Stadium to five. The crowd, which was announced at 56,048 strong, contained the second-most fans for any game during the Tony Elliott era.
The ‘Hoos travel to Chapel Hill next Saturday for a meeting with Bill Belichick and his struggling North Carolina team. And, while the Washington State game was obviously not a conference game, the Cavaliers enter next week sitting prettier than before this week’s games in the standings. With No. 9 Miami’s loss at No. 19 Louisville on Friday night and No. 7 Georgia Tech knocking off Duke this weekend, the ‘Hoos sit in second place as one of three teams undefeated in the ACC, while Georgia Tech remains unbeaten overall.
With the ’Hoos not slated to play Georgia Tech, SMU, Pitt, or Miami, the pressure to take care of business against shaky UNC and Cal teams only increases. UVA is set to travel to Duke on November 15th, a game that now looks all the more important as the race for December’s ACC title game ramps up in the remaining weeks.
