Every UVA-Tech football game is a highlight of the season, but this year might be the most historic in recent memory. The Hoos are on the cusp of contending for the ACC championship for the first time since 2019, and punch their ticket with a victory against the Hokies. A loss, however, would not only let Tech take home the bragging rights, but UVA’s magical season and chance for an ACC championship berth are slashed to less than 2%. Despite the Hokies’ struggle this season, the recent hiring of a new head coach James Franklin and the possibility of dumping freezing cold water on a packed UVA stadium will absolutely make this game competitive.
For the Hoos, this season has been entirely defined by their play in crunch time. The “Cardiac Cavs” are 4-2 this year in one score games, with their only losses coming early in the season to NC State and a recent game against Wake Forest, when Quarterback Chandler Morris exited in the second quarter due to injury. The clutch play in these types of games has masked some deficiencies — despite being first in the ACC, UVA ranks fourth in scoring offense and fifth in defense overall within the conference.
Still, their metrics across all conferences have significantly improved in comparison to past years, and several victories have been powered by an offense that has exploded for 500 plus yard games. The broad measurements for the Hoo’s high-flying offense this Saturday are also positive: against UVA’s No. 52 rushing offense will be Tech’s No. 83 rushing defense, and No.49 passing attack will be tested by Tech’s No.84 defense.
On the other hand, Tech’s season has been characterized by six losses by more than one score. Their passing offense is an abysmal No. 119 nationally, but their rushing attack has actually been quite prolific, clocking in at No. 25 across all College football. This is where the game will likely be won or lost. Virginia’s No. 25 rushing defense, which nearly has a college football best 63 yards allowed per game over the last three weeks, will be tasked with smothering the one potentially threatening area of Tech’s offense.
Tony Elliot, UVA’s head coach, stressed on the intensity that will be met with for both sides at his weekly press conference, “We’re anticipating that we’re going to get their best effort, their best focus, their best attention to detail in this game.” For UVA fans expecting a blowout, Elliot warned the opposite. “I think ideally you want to get off to a fast start, but this is going to be a four quarter game and we’re anticipating that it’s going to come down to one possession regardless of what everybody else may think.”
The fall sports season at UVA can basically be split between before and after the FSU mayhem. Since then, UVA athletics, from soccer to field hockey have achieved incredible success, and football is now just a game away from capping off a season no one saw coming. At 7 p.m. on national TV, we’ll see if the magic continues, or if Tech walks away from Charlottesville with the upset and rivalry victory of the decade.
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