One year ago, Virginia football stood on the edge of what looked like the worst possible ending to an already frustrating season. What originally seemed like a solid beginning for Coach Tony Elliott and his program had collapsed quickly, and by the time the Cavaliers traveled to Virginia Tech, they had dropped five of their previous six games. Virginia entered that cold night in Blacksburg with a 5–6 record and a slim chance to reach bowl eligibility, but things unraveled almost immediately.
The Cavaliers never held a lead in that matchup, and the loss summed up a year overwhelmed with missed chances — falling by three touchdowns to a quarterback making his debut, adding yet another defeat to a long, lopsided rivalry trend, and missing the postseason for the third straight year under Elliott. What could have been a lifeline to salvage the season slipped away, leaving Virginia adrift.
But fans know circumstances are very different in 2025.
Instead of scraping for a bowl berth, this year’s Virginia squad is contending for something far greater. With a win Saturday night, the Cavaliers can lock in a berth in the ACC Championship game. They enter their regular-season finale ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll and chasing a 10-win season — something the program has not enjoyed in more than 35 years.
Across the state, Virginia Tech sits near the bottom of the ACC standings and has already begun turning the page to the incoming tenure of Coach James Franklin, their newly hired leader. On paper, everything points toward a strong Virginia advantage.
Elliott, however, insists none of that matters.
“I don’t know the stats,” Elliott said. “I don’t know the tiebreakers for the championship, and I don’t even look at our ranking. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is finding a way to win.”
The weight of the moment is amplified by last season’s sting and the renewed championship hopes driving this Virginia team.
Graduate tight end Sage Ennis explained the mindset that has carried the Cavaliers through the year. “We talked all summer about finishing,” Ennis said before the Duke game. “That was our motto — we were going to finish.”
That theme has shaped nearly every Virginia performance in 2025. In eleven games, the Cavaliers have been outscored in the fourth quarter only twice. Their late-game composure is no accident — it is the result of persistent focus.
Every practice, players watch the same fourth-quarter hype video that plays at Scott Stadium. Coaches and players raise four fingers both at practice and on game day. Asked why, Elliott explained, “Most games are decided in the fourth quarter. The halftime score doesn’t matter. What matters is putting yourself in position to win the fourth.”
If quarters shape games, rivalry finales shape seasons. A late-season defeat can derail an entire campaign or cast a shadow over months of strong play. That reality makes Saturday’s contest with the Hokies even more critical.
Central to that effort is graduate quarterback Chandler Morris, who will face a Virginia Tech defense ranked near the bottom of the ACC in points allowed. Elliott praised Morris for understanding the magnitude of the moment, especially with this being his final appearance at Scott Stadium.
“Morris talked about how significant this game is — his last time here, the importance to him and to the guys who were here before him,” Elliott said. “It’s a rivalry. It’s like a state championship.”
Morris’s performance will be pivotal, especially against a Hokie secondary that has struggled, providing an opportunity for Virginia’s passing attack to thrive. Winning the so-called “state championship” has been one of Virginia’s five stated goals this year, and even though Morris is new to the program, he fully grasps what the matchup means after years of Cavalier losses.
“He wants to play well because he loves his teammates,” Elliott said. “He understands what the rivalry means to everyone connected to Virginia football.”
The push to “finish” extends across the roster. It’s not driven by rankings or playoff debates — it’s driven by loyalty.
“That’s what makes me push harder,” Ennis said. “I don’t want to let down the guys who have worked with me all year.”
As Virginia prepares for its biggest game in years, Elliott reminds his team of their opportunity. They carry the weight of past shortcomings, but now they have a chance to reshape the program’s future.
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