The date was August 25th, 2025. First-years were making their way onto Grounds, the summer heat transitioning into an autumn breeze, and football fans were itching for the first game of the season. The Cavaliers had shown little success over the past few years, not having a winning record since 2019. Preseason rankings projected the Hoos to finish No. 12 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and No. 75 in the nation. Yet something felt different. Incoming transfers quarterback Chandler Morris from North Texas and J’mari Taylor from North Carolina Central were set to make their debut in orange and blue, and fans were pumped.
Week 1: Coastal Carolina
The home opener, against Coastal Carolina. Fans sauntered over to Scott Stadium, decked out in bright orange, ready for action… and action they got — two passing touchdowns from Morris, a kickoff return to the house, a one-handed catch for 48 yards from Trell Harris, two fumble recoveries, and an interception to top it off, the Hoos dominated 48-7. What was expected to be a relatively close matchup turned out to be a masterclass on both sides of the ball. However, the first true test of the season was just coming up. In Week Two, the Cavaliers had to take on NC State and the Wolfpack on the road, with fans more ready than ever.
Week 2: North Carolina State
In a tough non-conference matchup, the Hoos headed over to Raleigh to take on the pack. The Hoos entered as underdogs but inquisitive eyes were looking to see if Virginia could replicate their talents from Week One, and for the first half, they did. J’Mari Taylor produced a phenomenal offensive output, averaging 8.8 yards per carry, building Virginia to a 24-14 lead at half. However, in the second half, Virginia’s offense was unable to keep up, only scoring one touchdown to NC State’s three. In the last minutes of the game, Chandler Morris recorded his first interception and Virginia took their first loss. However, even in defeat, a 31 point showcase against a team like NC State implied great promise for the Cavaliers.
Week 3: William & Mary
The Hoos were back in Scott Stadium, against William & Mary for UVA Strong Day, a day honoring the legacy of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler, and D’Sean Perry, three football players tragically murdered in an on-grounds shooting in 2022. Tony Elliot wanted to “bring glory to [their] legacy,” and the Cavaliers responded with a 55-16 win. The Cavaliers set a program record for most yards in program history with a staggering 733. An absolute clobbering on offense, Virginia recorded six rushing touchdowns, and a passing touchdown. Over the first three games, the Cavaliers were averaging nearly 45 points per game — a stat they hoped to continue, heading into its ACC opener against Stanford.
Week 4: Stanford
For their first ACC Matchup, the Cavaliers took on Stanford University, where Chandler Morris took the opportunity to show what he really brings to the table. With 400 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero turnovers, Chandler Morris proved that defenses needed to be worried about more than just the run game. Hand-in-hand with a suffocating defense recording five sacks, Virginia cruised to a 48-20 win, recording their first ACC win of the season. But up next would be their biggest challenge yet: No.8 Florida State University.
Week 5: Florida State
Going into Week Five, the football world was ready to see Virginia get put in their place. Florida State (“FSU”) was a top ten team on a 3-0 run with a dominating win over Alabama, it seems fair to say Virginia was the heavy underdog. Yet, Virginia took the first quarter lead 7-0. FSU struck back in the second scoring three touchdowns, putting the game 21-21 going into half. A similar back-and-forth second half battle ended in 35-35 after regulation. With the entire world watching, Virginia and No. 8 Florida State were heading into overtime.
The first overtime concluded with field goals from both. In the second overtime, Virginia successfully scored the touchdown and the two-point conversion. When Florida State had the ball, on fourth-and-12 from the 27 yard line, Florida State’s quarterback Thomas Castellanos took a shot to the end zone , and was intercepted by cornerback Ja’Son Prevard. 50,000 fans stormed the field as the Cavaliers repeated the legendary 1995 victory over FSU, with a 46-38 victory. For the first time since 2019, UVA entered the AP Top 25.
Week 6: Louisville
With national attention on Virginia after the stunning upset over FSU, the Cavaliers went on the road for another ACC matchup against the Louisville Cardinals. Yet, despite proving in the last five weeks that UVA is a force to be reckoned with, the Cavaliers were 6.5 point underdogs going into the game. But once again, Virginia proved that they could not be overlooked. With not one, but two defensive touchdowns and J’Mari Taylor scoring his ninth touchdown of the season in overtime, Virginia earned a 30-27 win, improving to 3-0 in the ACC and No. 18 in the AP rankings.
Week 7: Washington State
Homecoming weekend, the Hoos were up against the Washington State Cougars. Despite coming off of two big wins, Washington State took a 17-7 lead in the first half. Would Virginia have the grit to strike a comeback? After trading field goals in the third quarter, the defense locked down. Keeping Washington on zero points in the fourth, Virginia scored a touchdown and a field goal, bringing the score to 20-20, and with a safety with fourteen seconds left, the Hoos won 22-20. At 6-1, Virginia was bowl-bound with its best start since 2007.
Week 8: North Carolina
The No. 16 Cavaliers were now facing Bill Belichick’s UNC Tar Heels. With a usual back-and-forth fight in the first half, the Hoos went into the locker room tied 10-10. Neither team scored in the entire second half and for the third time this season, the Hoos were heading into overtime. Virginia scored first in overtime with a direct snap to J’Mari Taylor, producing a touchdown, and UNC responded with one of its own, leading to an attempt for two to win the game, and with a stop inches from the goal line. The Cavs won 17-16, improving to 4-0 in the ACC. This overtime win marked the origin of the nickname “Cardiac Cavs.”
Week 9: Cal Berkely
The Hoos were looking for another easy ACC win in this Week Nine matchup, and the first quarter had been looking strong. J’Mari Taylor’s touchdown and Will Bettridge’s field goal led the Cavaliers to an early 10-0 lead. But trading touchdowns, the Cavaliers were only up by three late in the fourth quarter, and Cal had the ball. But a pick from Kam Robinson returned for a touchdown, sealing Virginia to a 31-21 win and improving to 8-1 and remaining among the best in the ACC at an undefeated 5-0. For the first time since 2019, the Hoos were eyeing the ACC Championship.
Week 10: Wake Forest
Going into Week 10, spirits were riding high for the Hoos. Unfortunately, struggling on offense, the Hoos were only up 6-0 when Chandler Morris suffered a concussion, taking him out of the game. Three turnovers from the Cavaliers and an 88-yard punt return touchdown from Wake Forest led to a crushing loss. However, the Hoos had no time to wallow. Week 11 was a crucial matchup against Duke, a 4-2 ACC team also gunning for a shot at the Championship.
Week 11: Duke
Chandler Morris returned heroically to the field, making the most out of it, throwing two touchdowns and rushing for two more. Virginia was leading 31-3 going into the fourth. The defense once again showed out with an interception, and a Will Bettridge field goal. The Cavaliers earned a 34-17 victory over Duke, a necessary win. Tony Elliot commented after the game, “I felt like this was probably the most complete game that we’ve played in three phases… It was just good to see them out and just play free and not really focus on what’s at stake.”
Week 12: Virginia Tech
In a battle for an ACC Championship berth, the Cavaliers took on the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Commonwealth Clash. Despite being only 3-9, the Hokies have won 23 of the last 25 meetings, and they were ready to take another. The Hoos needed to be focused. For four quarters, the Hoos dominated, not allowing a single point from Virginia Tech until two minutes left in the fourth. Dominant from all sides of the ball, the Cavaliers took a 27-7 win over the Hokies, earning themselves a spot in the ACC Championships in Charlottesville and finishing the regular season 10-2, the best record since 1989.
This 2025 season, full of highs and lows, is one of the best seasons in Cavalier history. Fans have been able to witness an offense that can put up as many as 50 points in a game in part with a defense that can hold teams to single digits and clutch up in key moments. Rising from bottom of the preseason rankings to AP Top 25, the Cavaliers have proven they are a team to fear and that a playoff run is far from a fantasy. With records broken, postseason titles within reach, and one of the largest field storms in college history, the 2025 Cavaliers are sure to go down in the history books.
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