Dissecting Virginia football’s status mid-season
By Xander Tilock , Ben McNiff , Theo Moll and Ryan Weiner | October 15, 2025Beat writers discuss key storylines.
Beat writers discuss key storylines.
"It was definitely uncomfortable because people were squeezing in really tight. The people working there kept saying, ‘It’s not our fault, it’s our bosses,’ but they also kept telling us to ‘scoot back,’ and if we did that, it would’ve made us even more cramped.”
“At the end of the day, it’s all belief,” Elliott said. “The heart of a champion doesn’t mean you’re perfect… but you believe beyond your circumstances.”
With a forced fumble, a redzone interception, a missed kick and an overtime field goal, the Cavaliers took down the No. 8 team in the country — here’s how they did it.
This game proved Virginia’s toughness.
“First thing I’m thinking is, oh my god, we did it,” fourth-year College student Joey Burch said. “The second thing I’m thinking is, wow, this goalpost has to come down.”
“[Playing with passion and precision is] something [Elliott] talks about a lot,” Josey said. “You have to play with a lot of aggressiveness, but if you don't play with details, you're not going to win.”
To quote Coach Tony Elliott, “Adversity is the companion of the champion, the enemy to the weak.”
Virginia Athletics lost $50,000 yesterday. But no one is really complaining.
Tony Elliott and his Cavaliers just won the big one.
The stakes are very clear — if Virginia beats the Seminoles on primetime national television, it will have a very strong chance of being ranked for the first time since 2021.
Trell Harris and company lit up the scoreboard.
Chandler Morris threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns, decimating the Cardinal defense.
Virginia takes on Stanford Saturday, with a flaming-hot offense.
On U.Va. Strong Day, Virginia's win was about more than football.
Virginia's offense registered 700 total yards, a single-game program record.
"It's made a big difference."
As Virginia enters its game Saturday against William & Mary, it will be critical that it right the wrongs of the previous week so that it can enter ACC play on the right foot.
The Cavaliers faltered in the game's final minutes.
Traits like discipline and maturity are often associated with upperclassmen, as veterans have generally played more downs and dealt with more adversity.