Analysis from Virginia’s massive upset win.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Virginia Cavaliers faced No. 8 Florida State on Friday in one of the most anticipated UVA football games in recent memory and it lived up to the hype.
The Cavaliers’ offense fluidly moved the ball the entire game and beat the Seminoles 46-38 in a 2OT thriller.
With the win, we have five takeaways for the Wahoos:
Virginia and Tony Elliott earn a statement win
It’s taken until year four, but Tony Elliott and his Wahoos have an absolute statement victory to stamp their names alongside.
By toppling the No. 8 ranked ‘Noles, UVA has announced itself as a player in the ACC and a relevant team in the national college football landscape. In prime time on ESPN, the Cavaliers battled and beat one of the biggest brands in college football.
UVA’s beautiful throwback jerseys were far from the only part of Friday’s win reminiscent of the 1995 upset of the Seminoles in Charlottesville. At 4-1 and 2-0 in the ACC, Virginia is here to make a real run at a season to remember in 2025.
‘Hoos take advantage of Seminole’s early mistakes
It started with an offensive pass interference against junior Florida State wide receiver Duce Robinson on the first drive of the game and then it snowballed. The Seminoles fumbled on the second play of their second drive when Anthony Britton stripped Gavin Sawchuk and the ‘Hoos took over at the Seminoles’ 38-yard line.
Two plays later, Florida State was called for unnecessary roughness, which set up a six-yard touchdown pass to Sage Ennis. That play got the ‘Hoos on the board with a 7-0 lead. On the Seminoles’ ensuing drive they drove right down the field, until quarterback Thomas Castellanos was met with immediate pressure off his weak side by Ja’Son Prevard, who tipped Castellanos’ pass to himself and intercepted it.
The ‘Hoos took over at their own 19-yard line and traveled 81 yards to the end zone. Chandler Morris went 7-8 passing for 66 yards on that drive before recording an 11-yard scramble for a touchdown. Virginia entered Friday’s game with four caused turnovers and finished with seven.
Even in the third quarter, Florida State kicker Jake Weinberg missed a 45-yard kick, which led to a 74-yard touchdown drive for the ‘Hoos.
Virginia had no answer for Duce Robinson
It’s the last thing on anyone’s mind at this point, but Duce Robinson was an issue for the Cavalier defense for most of this game.
Robinson’s 47-yard catch and run in the second quarter was the play that sparked a 21-0 run for Florida State and he didn’t stop there. The 6-foot-6 playmaker caused fits for Virginia’s defense all night, but especially in the first half. He notched five catches for 100 yards in the first half including a six-yard catch on a crucial 4th-and-four, which led to the Seminoles’ third touchdown of the game.
After that drive the ‘Hoos switched his matchup from Emmanuel Karnley to Jordon Robinson, which helped for a couple possessions before Robinson snagged a pop pass for a touchdown at the end of the third quarter.
Robinson also grabbed a 30-yard backshoulder pass during the beginning of the Seminoles’ second to last drive. Entering Florida State’s last possession of the game he had accumulated 144 of the Seminoles’ 210 passing yards.
Virginia’s offensive line is elite
The ‘Hoos dominant offensive line was in effect all night, in pass protection and run blocking. The group was particularly great during Virginia’s touchdown drive in the third quarter. The ‘Hoos marched 74 yards down the field on the backs of the big men up front.
11 of their 12 plays were runs as Virginia tore through the Seminoles’ defensive front for 66 rushing yards and a touchdown. That drive also took nearly half of the third quarter off the clock, chewing down six minutes and 13 seconds. Crucially, the offensive line also took pressure off Chandler Morris who was dealing with a hand injury after hitting a helmet on his follow through near the beginning of the possession.
The big men also came up big in short yardage situations. During the Wahoos’ initial drive of the fourth quarter, they helped J’Mari Taylor pick up a key first down on a fourth and one and on a third and three in the red zone. Those blocks eventually set up a 15-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Brown for Virginia to gain a 35-28 lead.
That drive lasted even longer than the previous one, taking seven minutes and 58 seconds off the clock.
Morris overcomes mistakes
Chandler Morris giveth and Chandler Morris taketh, but he’s always an entertaining and inspiring watch. The North Texas transfer has been a sensation for the ‘Hoos so far this season and, even though the gunslinger threw three interceptions on Friday night, he stepped up when it mattered most.
Morris’ ill-advised throws into double coverage will long be forgotten in place of his game-deciding touchdown run in double overtime. He is fundamentally a play maker, and he made more plays than Castellanos and the Seminoles on Friday night.
Morris wasn’t perfect, but he was exactly what UVA needed to stage a program-defining upset.
Category: General Sports
