The 2025 college football season is on the horizon, and it’s time to gather all the hope you can muster up before the season begins because it is only a matter of time before you find yourself face down on the living room floor, asking yourself why you care so much.
The Virginia Cavaliers have a favorable schedule, a fresh roster, and the same coaching staff from last season as they enter their fourth year under Tony Elliott. Only a fool would predict how this season is going to go given those circumstances,
so here we go.
Game #1: 8/30 vs. Coastal Carolina
Virginia must win this game. The Chanticleers are coming off their first losing season since 2019 and lost some significant pieces that helped them win the six games that they did. Head coach Tim Beck enters his third year as the head man in Conway this year, being picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt East.
The ‘Hoos got the better of Coastal Carolina last year in Conway by a score of 43-24, and with being close to a two-touchdown favorite at home, Virginia will look to replicate their dominant performance from last year.
Prediction: Virginia 35, Coastal Carolina 17
Game #2: 9/6 @ NC State (non-conference)
Yes, a non-conference game against NC-State. Welcome to college athletics in the big 2025, love it or hate it, you’ll watch.
NC State is, in my opinion, borderline unpredictable this year with a new offensive and defensive coordinator. They could get off to a slow start with new schemes on both ends, or they could mesh from the jump and be the surprise team in the ACC. All I know is that CJ Bailey is back with veteran weapons surrounding him for the Wolfpack, and they will be a tough test for the ‘Hoos to gameplan against.
Virginia may be able to expose NC State defensively with their new-look secondary. Still, the Cavaliers will have to be a brick wall in the trenches, as D.J. Elliott is known for bringing the heat and rushing the quarterback.
Prediction: NC State 27, Virginia 24
Game #3: 9/13 vs. William & Mary
This is what any other fan of any other school would call a “cupcake” game, but Virginia fans know better than to say or even write that word.
Former cop, Mike London, will lead the Tribe to Charlottesville to take on his former team. London enters his seventh year as head coach for William and Mary and is a big reason for the Tribe’s four consecutive winning seasons.
Tony Elliott will be looking to dominate at home for the second time in the young season and walk away with a 2-1 record.
Prediction: Virginia 38, William & Mary 10
Game #4: 9/20 vs. Stanford
With an interim head coach (Frank Reich) and three straight years of concluding the season 3-9, the Cardinal are on life support and have brought in their secret weapon to help revive their program. Andrew Luck has been named the GM of Stanford’s football program and is tasked with returning Cardinal football to its winning ways…..starting in 2026.
Stanford lost key pieces to the transfer portal on offense, but most importantly, lost their star quarterback and wide receiver, Emmett Mosely V, after a promising freshman season. They return a significant portion of their defense, which finished 17th in the ACC in passing defense, 8th in rushing defense, 17th in touchdowns allowed, and 13th in sacks.
Prediction: Virginia 27, Stanford 21
Game #5: 9/26 vs. Florida State
Friday night lights in the land of milk and honey (Charlottesville). Last year, the Seminoles went 2-10 and only defeated one FBS football team (California). This year, they have a coach on the hot seat and have a hot head at QB. What could go wrong when the tensions are high on the sidelines, and the locker room could be in shambles by halftime of their first game against Alabama?
Mike Norvell took “clean slate” to a whole new level, bringing in a new roster and a new coaching staff. There is no doubt that this team possesses skill, as it has brought in many notable players from the transfer portal, including Tommy Castellanos from Boston College, Duce Robinson from USC, and Squirrel White from Tennessee. However, there isn’t a soul out there who can tell you with a straight face that they trust Florida State.
That being said, you can bet your house on this being an extremely tough game for Virginia to win, even at home. After all…it is Florida State.
Prediction: Virginia 21, Florida State 20
Game #6: 10/4 @ Louisville
Another Cardinal, this one representing an entirely different mascot and team. Jeff Brohm led Louisville to the ACC Championship game last year and is aiming to do the same again in 2025.
Currently, Louisville is ranked #29 in the AP poll, but it will undoubtedly find itself in the top 25 by the time November rolls around. Miller Moss, a USC transfer, was a top portal quarterback that Brohm landed, and the Cardinals have key returners all around their offense, including those who were top five in scoring, rushing, and passing in 2024.
Prediction: Louisville 31, Virginia 20
Game #7: 10/18 vs. Washington State
They lost their coach to Wake Forest, they lost their star QB to Oklahoma (venmo: @John-Mateer-5), and they are in a dying conference, but the Cougars seem to prevail against all odds as of late, as this has been the story for them in basketball and football the past couple of years.
Washington State brought in Jimmy Rogers to be the head coach after helping build one of the top programs in the FCS at South Dakota State University. He spent 12 seasons there, including two as the head coach, during which he led the Jack Rabbits to a 27-3 overall record.
He brought a number of his players over from South Dakota State, and he aims to replicate the success of former JMU head coach Curt Cignetti, who is currently leading Indiana. Prove that his top FCS players can compete at the FBS level as well.
Prediction: Virginia 27, Washington State 21
Game #8: 10/25 @ North Carolina
Chapel Bill vs. Tony Elliott. Not much else to say here. Although it may be a complete circus at North Carolina right now, I find it hard to believe the Virginia Cavaliers staff will outcoach Bill Belichick and his.
With that being said, North Carolina is one of the youngest teams in the conference, and a significant portion of their roster was assembled using the transfer portal. This whole season could blow up in their face, but I believe that one of the best football coaches in history will be able to string together some wins with a talented yet unproven team.
Prediction: North Carolina 28, Virginia 17
Game #9: 11/1 @ California
Virginia will be traveling 2,800 miles to play this conference game against the California Golden Bears. Love it or hate it, you’re going to watch.
California will bring in a somewhat new look on the field this season after losing QB Fernando Mendoza to the transfer portal and addressing specific needs at the running back and offensive line positions.
Ron Rivera was brought in as the GM of football to help the Golden Bears after Coach Justin Wilcox’s group underperformed in 2024.
This is a coin flip game for Virginia; on paper, they are better, but Virginia fans know that isn’t always a telltale sign as to what is going to happen.
Prediction: California 24, Virginia 21
Game #10: 11/8 vs. Wake Forest
The Demon Deacon faithful were rewarded with a breath of fresh air in the Jake Dickert hire after finishing their second straight year with a 4-8 record. Dickert comes from Washington State, where he achieved success throughout his four years, including bowl appearances in three of the four years and an 8-1 start to the 2024 season.
Virginia traveled to Winston-Salem last year in a game that put every fan on both sides into a state of near cardiac arrest. Virginia came out on top after a late turnover by Wake Forest, and the ‘Hoos moved on to 2-0 on the year.
Wake will be looking for revenge this season, but they will do so with a completely new staff and a new look offense, as the staple Dave Clawson slow-mesh offense left when he did.
Prediction: Virginia 34, Wake Forest 27
Game #11: 11/15 @ Duke
Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils are coming off a nine-win season in 2024 and continue to quietly establish good standing in the ACC standings year after year. They have a talented team again this year and have found a massive upgrade at the quarterback position in Darian Mensah from Tulane.
Mensah takes over for Maalik Murphy, who struggled at times despite Duke’s success. They lost two of their top rushers from the previous year, along with their top two receivers, but, like every team, they dove into the transfer portal and recruited players to fill the needed spots.
Prediction: Virginia 35, Duke 31
Game #12: 11/29 vs. Virginia Tech
Honestly, I don’t see much point in breaking down this one like the others, because this particular game never unfolds like the others. Yet again, this game will come down to who wants it more come gametime. The Hokies have completely dominated this matchup my whole life, and I genuinely believe it is because they care about this rivalry more than Virginia seems to. They take pride in winning this football game, as they should.
The only good news for Virginia here is that Bhayshul Tuten will be in Jacksonville, Florida, for this game, far away from Charlottesville. That, and if Virginia can stay within one score of the Hokies (a tall task) late into the fourth quarter, Brent Pry seems to spill his guts all over the field, as he is 1-9 in one-score games as head coach for the Hokies.
Brent Pry and Tony Elliott are both on the hot seat this coming year, and this game could very well be loser leaves town.
Prediction: Virginia 24, Virginia Tech 13
That’s 8-4. Book it.
