After taking care of business in a pair of overtime thrillers against then No. 8 Florida State and Louisville, the Virginia Cavaliers went into last weekend’s bye with a 5-1 record (3-0 ACC), a recalibrated
set of expectations, and in need of some well-deserved rest.
Now, Tony Elliott and company will kick off the second half of the regular season on Saturday night with their final non-conference matchup of 2025, a homecoming game against one of the two teams in the current Pac-12 — the Washington State Cougars (3-3).
With a win over Washington State in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs, Virginia would be bowl-eligible for the first time since 2021. Kickoff from Scott Stadium is set for 6:30 PM with coverage on The CW.
Let’s break down what the ’Hoos should be expecting on Saturday evening:
Two players to watch
QB Zevi Eckhaus
Virginia is set as a 17.5-point favorite heading into Saturday, but the Cougars have been a much-improved football team over the past few weeks, thanks in large part to the switch to redshirt senior quarterback Zevi Eckhaus.
Standing at 6-foot, 209-pounds, Eckhaus spent his first three collegiate seasons lighting up the Big South at Bryant. Named the 2023 Big South Offensive Player of the Year, Eckhaus set Bryant’s program record for most career touchdown passes (75) before taking his talents to WSU last offseason.
After backing up John Mateer (the current Oklahoma starting QB) in 2024, Eckhaus was expected to take over the starting job this season, but he was beaten out by redshirt sophomore Jaxon Potter in training camp.
Potter, however, struggled with ball security to begin the season, throwing three interceptions in Washington State’s first three games. After a 59-10 drubbing at North Texas, head coach Jimmy Rogers decided to turn to the veteran Eckhaus, who hasn’t looked back.
The Cougars are just 1-2 in Eckhaus’s three starts, but the former Bryant standout has injected new life into the offense. He’s thrown for 758 yards and six touchdowns with only two interceptions through three (and a quarter) games, and Eckhaus helped the Cougars keep up last week against then-No. 4 Ole Miss, throwing for 218 yards and two touchdowns in WSU’s shockingly narrow 24-21 loss.
Eckhaus can beat you through the air, but he’s a threat on the ground as well. He’s rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns on the season and has a knack for getting outside the pocket to extend plays.
DE Isaac Terrell
Junior defensive end Isaac Terrell is a talented pass-rusher who has been the Cougars’ best defensive player through six games. Although Virginia’s offensive line has been a strength — the ’Hoos have only allowed five sacks on the season — Terrell is a game-wrecker with 4.5 sacks and three quarterback hits on the season.
Virginia left tackle McKale Boley, who exited with an injury against Louisville, was back at practice this week and is ready to roll for Saturday. He’s been strong for the ’Hoos this season protecting Chandler Morris’s blind side, and he’ll get the bulk of the work against Terrell on Saturday night.
Washington State’s defense has been pedestrian on the season, allowing 348.3 yards and 28.0 points per game. If the ’Hoos make it a point of emphasis to slow down Terrell, the Cougars don’t have many other game-changers on that side of the ball.
One key to victory
Establish the run
The Cougars have been solid against opposing aerial attacks, allowing just 192 passing yards per game. Last week against then-No. 4 Ole Miss, WSU limited the Rebels’ quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, to just 253 passing yards after he had thrown for at least 307 yards in each of his previous starts on the season.
Where the Cougars’ defense can be exploited, however, is on the ground. WSU is allowing 156.3 rushing yards per game, a mark that would be third-worst in the ACC. Idaho (188 rushing yards), North Texas (163 rushing yards), Washington (173 rushing yards), and Ole Miss (186 rushing yards) have each dominated the Cougars on the ground — Virginia needs to do the same.
With center Brady Wilson likely back in action after missing UVA’s past two games, the offensive line should be as close to full strength as we’ve seen it this season, making it the perfect time to push around a susceptible WSU defensive front. Look for J’Mari Taylor, the ACC’s third-leading rusher on the season (465 yards), to break out for a few big runs once again on Saturday night.
One prediction
Virginia is looking to win six of its first seven games in a season for the first time since 2007. And although Washington State has looked better recently, it’s still a team that lost by 35 to Washington and by 49 to North Texas.
Eckhaus and company gave then-No. 4 Ole Miss a scare down in Oxford last weekend, but Virginia has had two weeks to prepare for Saturday’s game, and the ’Hoos are 4-0 coming off bye weeks under Tony Elliott.
With a healthy offensive line ready to bolster Virginia’s already potent rushing attack, I think the offense should have no problem running all over WSU’s defense. I like J’Mari Taylor to top 100 yards for the second time this season, and the No. 18 ’Hoos to roll in front of an expected homecoming crowd of more than 50,000.
Prediction: UVA 35, WSU 17
