CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Duke spent much of Friday night chasing Virginia on the scoreboard. With just over a minute remaining, the Blue Devils turned to an unlikely passer to complete the comeback.

Sophomore running back Nate Sheppard connected with Brody Keefe on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 1:14 remaining, lifting Duke to a 19-16 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over Virginia at Scott Stadium. Patrick Smith-Young intercepted a pass on the Cavaliers' final possession to preserve the win, giving Duke its first victory in Charlottesville since 2013.

The Blue Devils improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in ACC play, while Virginia fell to 4-4 and 2-3. The victory also gave Duke consecutive wins over the Cavaliers for the first time since 2012-14, following last season's 27-20 overtime victory in the ACC Championship Game.

Friday's finish required a dramatic reversal for a Duke offense that had not reached the end zone since its opening possession.

Trailing 16-13 with three minutes remaining, quarterback Walker Eget took over at his own 25-yard line and began moving the Blue Devils downfield. Eget completed four of five passes for 45 yards during the possession, putting Duke in position for one final scoring opportunity.

Then came the play that decided the game.

Eget threw a backward pass to Sheppard, who found Keefe open in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown. The trick play capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive that consumed just 1:46 and gave Duke a 19-16 lead.

Freshman kicker Gavin Strange missed the extra point, leaving Virginia an opportunity to tie with a field goal. But the Cavaliers never reached scoring range.

Smith-Young intercepted Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula with 36 seconds remaining, ending the final threat and securing Duke's seventh ACC road victory in its last eight conference games away from home.

The late heroics followed a game in which Virginia controlled possession for nearly 39 minutes and outgained Duke 353-327.

Sheppard had provided the Blue Devils with an early advantage, scoring on a 32-yard touchdown run with 10:59 remaining in the first quarter. The four-play, 78-yard drive included a 35-yard reception by Jonah Burton and gave Duke a 7-0 lead.

Virginia answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive of its own, capped by Jekail Middlebrook's 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal. The score tied the game at 7-7 late in the opening quarter.

The Cavaliers took control in the second quarter, using a pair of Will Bettridge field goals to build a 13-7 halftime lead. Bettridge connected from 21 yards with 9:06 remaining before adding a 32-yarder as time expired.

Duke's offense struggled throughout the first half after its opening touchdown, managing just 37 yards on its next four possessions.

The Blue Devils began working their way back after halftime.

CJ Campbell Jr. returned the second-half kickoff 33 yards, and Duke moved into position for a 39-yard field goal by Strange, cutting the deficit to 13-10.

Virginia threatened to extend its advantage later in the third quarter, but Duke's defense prevented the Cavaliers from adding to their lead.

With Virginia facing third-and-11 at the Duke 30, Ché Ojarikre sacked Pribula for a five-yard loss. Bettridge subsequently missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, keeping the Blue Devils within three points.

Strange tied the game at 13-13 with another 39-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter. A 43-yard reception by tight end Jake Taylor, his longest career catch, helped set up the kick.

Virginia responded with an 11-play, 62-yard drive that reached the Duke 11-yard line. The Blue Devils prevented a touchdown, however, forcing the Cavaliers to settle for Bettridge's 30-yard field goal with exactly three minutes remaining.

That defensive stand proved critical, leaving Duke within one possession and setting up Sheppard's game-winning touchdown pass.

The Blue Devils' defense was particularly effective after halftime, allowing just three points while recording four of its five sacks.

Ojarikre finished with two sacks, while Kobe Smith, Tyshon Reed Jr. and Kevin O'Connor each added one. Nick Morris Jr. led Duke with 11 tackles, followed by DaShawn Stone with nine and Smith-Young with eight.

Duke also forced a third-quarter fumble, with Will Felder Jr. knocking the ball loose from Pribula and Reed recovering.

Virginia's rushing attack presented a persistent challenge. Middlebrook finished with 117 yards on 24 carries, while Pribula added 66 rushing yards despite being sacked five times.

Pribula completed 15 of 24 passes for 158 yards and an interception. John Rogers led Virginia with five receptions for 65 yards.

Duke managed just 71 rushing yards, with Sheppard accounting for 55 on 15 carries. His performance nevertheless carried historical significance, as he surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards in just his 21st game, becoming the 10th player in program history to reach the milestone.

Only one Duke player has reached 2,000 rushing yards faster.

Eget finished 14-of-25 passing for 211 yards and an interception, while Dan Mahan completed two of five attempts for 17 yards. Sheppard's lone pass attempt supplied Duke's only passing touchdown.

Burton led the Blue Devils with four receptions for 59 yards. Keefe added three catches for 48 yards, including the game-winner, while Jared Richardson contributed four receptions for 47 yards.

The victory also continued a strong stretch for Duke under head coach Manny Diaz, who earned his 23rd win with the program and moved into sole possession of seventh place on the school's all-time coaching victories list.

Duke has now won at least five games in five consecutive seasons, just the third such stretch in program history and the first since 1949-58.

The Blue Devils have also recorded 40 victories since the beginning of the 2022 season, three more than they managed during the previous seven seasons combined.

Friday's win was particularly significant given the circumstances. Duke had been outgained on the ground, struggled to sustain drives and trailed for most of the final three quarters.

But the Blue Devils held Virginia to field goals when touchdowns could have put the game out of reach, then produced their most important offensive play when the outcome depended on it.

A running back's touchdown pass and a safety's interception were enough to send Duke home with a conference road victory that had eluded the program for 13 years.

CHARLOTTESVILLE – NC State opened the 2026 season with a 34-8 loss to Virginia, falling to 0-1 for the first time since 2018. The Wolfpack was shut out in the first half and managed only one touchdown as Virginia built its lead with a steady running game, timely passing and short fields created by NC State turnovers and punts.

The Wolfpack offense struggled from the start, opening with a three-and-out and punting again on its next possession. A tipped pass on another early series became an interception by Brandyn Hillman, giving Virginia the ball at the NC State 32. Four plays later, Xavier Brown scored on a one-yard run.

The sequence put NC State in a 10-0 hole after Virginia had already opened the scoring on Will Bettridge’s 47-yard field goal. The Wolfpack punted again, and the Cavaliers answered with another touchdown when Beau Pribula connected with Brown for a 45-yard score.

NC State quarterback CJ Bailey finished 12 of 23 for 84 yards with one interception and added 33 yards rushing. The Wolfpack generated little through the air, with tight end Vander Ploog’s 21-yard catch standing as the longest completion. Ploog finished with two catches for 35 yards.

Ploog’s biggest play came during NC State’s best first-half opportunity. Trailing 17-0, the Wolfpack converted a third-and-21 and moved to the Virginia one-yard line, but Bailey fumbled on a quarterback run. Virginia recovered, ending NC State’s first trip into the red zone.

NC State entered halftime scoreless for the first time in a season opener since 2009 against South Carolina. The 17-0 deficit reflected a first half in which the Wolfpack reached the Virginia seven-yard line but came away empty.

Virginia widened the margin immediately after halftime. Pribula completed passes to TyLyric Coleman and Kameron Courtney before finding DaShawn Martin for a 47-yard touchdown, capping a three-play, 75-yard drive that made it 24-0.

NC State finally scored on its next extended opportunity. Will Wilson entered at quarterback and finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run after Ploog’s fourth-down reception moved the Wolfpack to the Virginia one. NC State added a two-point conversion pass to Deandre Desinor, cutting the deficit to 24-8.

Wilson provided one of NC State’s few offensive bright spots, rushing six times for 21 yards and the Wolfpack’s only touchdown. Bailey remained NC State’s leading passer, while Jayden Scott added 20 yards on seven carries. The Wolfpack finished with 76 net rushing yards.

No NC State receiver reached 40 yards. Jojo Trader had two catches for 19 yards, Davion Dozier caught two passes for 14 yards and Ploog led the team with 35 receiving yards. The lack of explosive plays left the Wolfpack with few chances to climb out of the early deficit.

The NC State defense faced a heavy workload, especially against the run. Virginia finished with 251 rushing yards on 53 attempts, the most rushing yards NC State had allowed against the Cavaliers since last season’s meeting in Raleigh. It was also the first time since 2020 that the Wolfpack allowed an opponent to run the ball more than 50 times.

Linebacker Popo Aguirre led both teams with 18 tackles, NC State’s highest single-game total since Peyton Wilson recorded 19 against Duke in 2020.

Ronnie Royal III and King Mack each added seven tackles, while Harvey Dyson III and LaCorian Hodge combined for the Wolfpack’s only sack.

Virginia responded to NC State’s touchdown with a 23-play, 75-yard scoring drive that put the game out of reach. The Cavaliers converted three fourth downs during the possession before Xavier Davis scored on a one-yard run.

Bettridge later added a 42-yard field goal, his second of the game, to close the scoring. Virginia scored in every quarter, while NC State scored only in the third.

The final numbers reflected NC State’s offensive struggles. Virginia outgained the Wolfpack 413-168, held an 18-10 edge in first downs and controlled the ball for 38:04 compared with NC State’s 21:56.

NC State punted seven times and committed two turnovers, Bailey’s interception and fumble. Virginia turned both into scoring chances, with the interception leading directly to Brown’s touchdown.

The result also ended several streaks in the series. Virginia beat NC State for the first time since 2012 and won in Charlottesville for the first time since 2006. The Wolfpack still leads the all-time series 38-23-1 and is 4-1 against Virginia under Dave Doeren.

NC State will look for its first win when Richmond visits Carter-Finley Stadium on Friday, Sept. 11. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.

CHARLOTTE – Duke won its first ACC Championship Game in program history, defeating Virginia 27-20 in overtime Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium to claim the conference title and deny the Cavaliers an automatic berth in the College Football Playoff.

The Blue Devils, who entered as significant underdogs after sneaking into the championship via a five-way tiebreaker, sealed the victory when linebacker Luke Mergott picked off a pass on the first play of overtime. Duke had scored on its overtime possession when Darian Mensah found Jeremiah Hasley for a one-yard touchdown pass on fourth down.

The championship marks Duke's first outright ACC title since 1962 and its second ACC Championship Game appearance. The Blue Devils lost to Florida State in their only previous title game appearance in 2013.

Virginia, which finished the regular season 10-2 and was seeking its first ACC Championship Game victory in three attempts, forced overtime when Morris connected with Eli Wood on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining in regulation. The drive covered 96 yards in 10 plays and was kept alive by two Duke pass interference penalties on defensive back Caleb Weaver.

Duke's path to Charlotte came through one of the most complicated tiebreaker scenarios in conference history. The Blue Devils finished 6-2 in ACC play, tied with Miami, Pittsburgh, SMU and Georgia Tech, but emerged from the five-way tiebreaker to earn the championship game berth opposite Virginia, which finished 7-1 in conference play.

The game featured two teams heading in opposite directions. Virginia entered having completed just the second 10-win regular season in program history and first since 1989. Duke, meanwhile, had lost to Virginia 34-17 during the regular season and finished 7-5 overall.

Mensah completed 19 of 25 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns despite being sacked once and throwing one interception. His counterpart, Morris, finished 21 of 40 for 216 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Morris was sacked once and faced consistent pressure from Duke's defensive front.

Nate Sheppard provided the offensive foundation for Duke, rushing 21 times for 97 yards and a touchdown while adding five receptions for 31 yards. His 16-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave Duke a 14-7 lead. Cooper Barkate led all receivers with five catches for 91 yards, including a crucial 38-yard reception in the third quarter.

For Virginia, J'Mari Taylor rushed 15 times for 65 yards and caught a touchdown pass, while Harrison Waylee added 66 yards on 11 carries. Cam Ross led Cavaliers receivers with five catches for 59 yards.

Duke controlled possession for more than 34 minutes compared to Virginia's 25:36, a disparity driven largely by the Blue Devils' effective rushing attack and their 4-for-4 success rate on fourth down conversions. Virginia converted just one of two fourth down attempts.

The first half belonged to Duke despite Virginia's brief comeback. After Duke took a 7-0 lead on Mensah's 12-yard touchdown pass to Hasley midway through the first quarter, Virginia answered when Morris found Taylor for an 11-yard score early in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

Duke regained the lead on Sheppard's 16-yard rushing touchdown with 6:14 remaining in the second quarter, capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive that consumed more than eight minutes. The Blue Devils took a 14-7 lead into halftime after limiting Virginia to just 4:53 of possession time in the second quarter.

Virginia dominated the third quarter, holding the ball for more than 11 minutes while Duke managed just 3:26. The Cavaliers drove 68 yards in 17 plays before settling for a 24-yard field goal from Will Bettridge that cut Duke's lead to 14-10.

Duke answered with its own field goal, a 29-yarder from Todd Pelino, to extend the lead to 17-10. The drive was aided by a 38-yard completion from Mensah to Barkate and a 15-yard face mask penalty on Virginia's Ja'son Prevard.

The fourth quarter featured three lead changes and critical defensive plays from both sides. Duke extended its advantage to 20-10 on another Pelino field goal, this one from 23 yards after the Blue Devils recovered a Weaver interception at the Virginia 33-yard line.

Virginia responded with Bettridge's 42-yard field goal to make it 20-13 with 3:54 remaining, then got the ball back at its own 4-yard line after Duke punted with 1:44 left. The Cavaliers faced multiple third and fourth down conversions during their final drive of regulation, converting a crucial fourth-and-four when Morris found Ross for nine yards to the Duke 18.

Two plays later, Morris hit Wood in stride for the game-tying touchdown. Bettridge's extra point sent the game to overtime tied at 20-20.

In overtime, Duke took possession first and marched to the Virginia 1-yard line behind three consecutive rushing attempts by Sheppard that gained 11, six and seven yards. After two stuffed runs by Anderson Castle, Mensah's pass fell incomplete on third down, setting up fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

Mensah rolled right and found Hasley in the flat for the go-ahead score. Virginia was penalized for a personal foul on James Jackson after the play, but it had no bearing on the result. Pelino added the extra point for a 27-20 Duke lead.

Virginia's overtime possession lasted one play. The Cavaliers attempted a trick play with a pass deep down the left sideline, but Mergott stepped in front of the pass at the Duke 24-yard line for his second interception of the game, ending Virginia's season and securing Duke's first ACC Championship Game victory.

The Blue Devils converted 6 of 16 third down attempts and were perfect on fourth down, going 4-for-4 in critical situations. Virginia converted 7 of 15 third downs but managed just one conversion on two fourth down tries.

Duke outgained Virginia 333-344 in total yards but won the turnover battle 2-1. The Blue Devils also controlled the line of scrimmage, averaging 3.1 yards per carry compared to Virginia's 4.4, though Duke ran 44 times compared to Virginia's 29 rushes.

The victory gives Duke its eighth ACC title overall, counting championships from 1953, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1989 when the Blue Devils shared the crown with Virginia. For Duke coach Manny Diaz, it marks the program's most significant victory in decades and validates the Blue Devils' surprising march through the ACC's tiebreaker gauntlet.

Virginia's loss ends a remarkable season that saw the Cavaliers match their 1995 team with a program-record seven ACC victories. The defeat also costs Virginia an automatic berth in the College Football Playoff, though the Cavaliers could still receive an at-large bid depending on Sunday's selection committee rankings.

Duke's championship caps an improbable postseason run for a team that finished three games behind Virginia in the ACC standings but found a way to win when it mattered most. The Blue Devils will now await their bowl destination while Virginia contemplates what might have been after coming within one overtime possession of the program's first ACC Championship Game victory.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Wake Forest earned its highest-ranked road victory in more than four decades Saturday, relying on defense and special teams to defeat No. 12 Virginia 16-9 at Scott Stadium.

Junior Carlos Hernandez broke open a defensive battle late in the second quarter with an 88-yard punt return touchdown, the second-longest in program history and the only touchdown of the night. Redshirt freshman kicker Connor Calvert added field goals from 39, 50, and 49 yards as Wake Forest improved to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the ACC, clinching bowl eligibility in head coach Jake Dickert’s first season.

Early defensive stands and a special teams spark

Virginia struck first after blocking a Wake Forest punt on the opening series and converting a short field into a 34-yard field goal by Will Bettridge. The Cavaliers extended their lead to 6-0 midway through the second quarter following a 91-yard drive that stalled at the Wake Forest 4-yard line.

Wake Forest’s offense moved inside the Virginia 10 on its next possession but turned the ball over on downs at the 5 after four straight running plays. The Deacon defense held, and Hernandez’s return flipped the game moments later. Fielding a punt near his own 12, Hernandez weaved through traffic down the left sideline for Wake’s first punt return touchdown since 2023, giving the visitors a 7-6 lead with 1:33 remaining in the half.

Less than a minute later, Wake Forest’s defense forced a fumble when defensive lineman Dallas Afalava sacked Virginia quarterback Daniel Kaelin and Langston Hardy recovered at the Cavalier 31. Calvert converted the takeaway into a 39-yard field goal to send the Deacs into halftime ahead 10-6.

Defense preserves the lead

Virginia opened the third quarter with its third field goal of the game, trimming the deficit to 10-9. The Cavaliers had success moving the ball, finishing with 327 total yards to Wake’s 203, but turnovers and red-zone stops proved decisive.

On Virginia’s next series, defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth stripped Kaelin, and linebacker Dylan Hazen recovered at midfield. Calvert’s 50-yard field goal extended the lead to 13-9. Wake’s offense managed only 139 rushing yards and 64 through the air, but its defense forced three fumbles, recovered all of them, and recorded two sacks.

The Deacs used their longest drive of the night, a 16-play, 48-yard march that consumed more than nine minutes, to add Calvert’s final 49-yard kick with 3:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Virginia’s last two possessions ended with turnovers on downs, the final one coming at the Wake Forest 5-yard line in the closing seconds.

Numbers tell the story

Wake Forest converted five of 17 third downs but was 4-for-6 after halftime, keeping the ball for nearly 11 minutes in the fourth quarter. Hazen led the defense with seven tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and 1.5 tackles for loss. Afalava and Gatkuoth each added sacks and forced fumbles.

Virginia outgained Wake Forest 327-203, led by running back J’Mari Taylor’s 98 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards. Kaelin completed 18 of 28 passes for 145 yards before finishing with two lost fumbles. Trell Harris caught six passes for 60 yards.

For Wake Forest, running back Demond Claiborne carried 25 times for 75 yards and added two receptions. Quarterback Robby Ashford completed 7 of 16 passes for 46 yards and rushed for 57 more.

The win marked Wake Forest’s sixth over Virginia in the last seven meetings and its third straight victory in Charlottesville. It also marked the first time since 1964 that the Deacs have beaten both Virginia and Virginia Tech on the road in the same season.

Top performers:

• Carlos Hernandez: 3 punt returns, 124 yards, 1 TD
• Connor Calvert: 3-for-3 FGs (long of 50)
• Dylan Hazen: 7 tackles, 2 FR, 1 FF
• Demond Claiborne: 25 rushes, 75 yards
• J’Mari Taylor (UVA): 19 carries, 98 yards; 7 catches, 30 yards

RALEIGH – Hollywood Smothers rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, and Cian Slone's late interception sealed NC State's 35-31 victory over Virginia on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The game featured 457 rushing yards between the two teams and seven rushing touchdowns in a back-and-forth affair that saw four lead changes. Smothers became the first NC State player since Reggie Gallaspy II in 2018 to rush for 130-plus yards and score twice on the ground in the same game, averaging 8.2 yards per carry.

Both offenses came out firing in the first quarter, producing four consecutive touchdown drives to open the contest. Virginia struck first when J'Mari Taylor broke free for a 39-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-one, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 4:23. The Wolfpack answered immediately as CJ Bailey scampered 30 yards for a touchdown just 2:11 later, evening the score at 7-7.

Virginia regained the lead when Taylor punched in a 9-yard touchdown run, but NC State responded with Bailey connecting with Noah Rogers for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Rogers, playing his first full game after missing time last week with an injury, hauled in two passes for 38 yards and the score.

The Cavaliers seized control in the second quarter through precision and field position. Virginia converted 10 of 13 third-down attempts in the first half while NC State struggled mightily, going 0-for-6 on third downs before the break. Will Bettridge added a 29-yard field goal, then Virginia extended their lead to 24-14 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Morris to Sage Ennis with 17 seconds remaining in the half.

That late score came after Cam Ross returned a punt 48 yards to set up excellent field position for the Cavaliers, who entered halftime controlling possession time 20:04 to 9:56.

NC State's offense awakened in the third quarter, scoring on all three of its possessions to flip the game. Smothers opened the half with a 14-yard touchdown run, then Bailey added a 12-yard rushing touchdown to give the Wolfpack their first lead at 28-24.

Virginia answered with Taylor's most explosive play of the day — a 66-yard touchdown run that required just three plays and 1:28 to restore their advantage at 31-28. Taylor finished with 150 rushing yards on 17 carries, adding 13 receiving yards.

But NC State had the final answer in the third quarter when Smothers capped a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, putting the Wolfpack ahead 35-31 entering the final period.

The fourth quarter became a defensive struggle, with both offenses failing to reach the end zone. Virginia's best opportunity came with 13:20 remaining when Bettridge attempted a 47-yard field goal that struck the left upright, keeping the deficit at four points.

Bailey finished 16-of-23 passing for 200 yards and one touchdown, distributing the ball to seven different receivers. His 44 rushing yards on six carries gave him two touchdowns on the ground. The sophomore quarterback completed 70 percent of his passes while avoiding turnovers.

Morris completed 30 of 43 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown for Virginia, also adding 56 rushing yards. Jahmal Edrine led Virginia receivers with 68 yards on six catches, while Trell Harris caught seven passes for 52 yards.

The Cavaliers' final drive began at their own 19-yard line with 2:12 remaining. Morris moved the team downfield efficiently, completing passes to multiple receivers to reach the NC State 12-yard line. However, Slone stepped in front of an intended receiver to secure the interception with 1:02 remaining, ending Virginia's comeback hopes.

Defensively, NC State made crucial adjustments after halftime. The Wolfpack allowed just seven points in the final two quarters after surrendering 24 in the first half. Caden Fordham led NC State with nine tackles, while Sean Brown added nine tackles and one tackle for loss.

Virginia's James Jackson recorded eight tackles to pace the Cavaliers' defense, while Devin Neal contributed six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup. Neither team recorded a sack, with both offensive lines providing excellent protection throughout the contest.

The Wolfpack controlled time of possession 27:35 to 32:25 but made their drives count when necessary. NC State converted 2-of-2 fourth-down attempts, including a crucial fourth-and-one conversion that set up an early touchdown. Virginia managed 1-of-2 on fourth down but couldn't convert when trailing in the fourth quarter.

Special teams played a significant role, particularly Virginia's return game. Ross averaged 20.3 yards on four punt returns, including the 48-yard return that set up a second-quarter touchdown. Both teams handled kickoffs efficiently, with NC State's Charlie Birtwistle averaging 64.3 yards on six attempts and Virginia's Daniel Sparks averaging 65.0 yards.

The victory improved NC State to 2-0 on the season and moved the all-time series record to 38-22-1 in favor of the Wolfpack. Under Dave Doeren, NC State improved to 4-0 against Virginia.

NC State finished with 416 total yards of offense compared to Virginia's 514, but the Wolfpack's ability to score in the red zone proved decisive. NC State converted all three of its red zone opportunities into touchdowns, while Virginia managed three touchdowns and one field goal on five red zone trips.

Key Performers

• Hollywood Smothers (NC State): 140 rushing yards, 2 TDs on 17 carries
• J'Mari Taylor (Virginia): 150 rushing yards, 3 TDs on 17 carries  
• CJ Bailey (NC State): 200 passing yards, 44 rushing yards, 3 total TDs
• Chandler Morris (Virginia): 257 passing yards, 56 rushing yards
• Cian Slone (NC State): Game-sealing interception

CHAPEL HILL – In a college football showdown that had fans that no one expected to be close but left fans on the edge of their seats, the Virginia Cavaliers narrowly defeated the #10 North Carolina Tar Heels, 31-27, on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium. The game was a rollercoaster of emotions with both teams showing immense determination and skill, but in the end, it was the Cavaliers who emerged victorious.

First Quarter: Cavaliers Take Early Lead

The game started with a bang as the Virginia Cavaliers drew first blood with a brilliant 11-yard rushing touchdown by #7 Mike Hollins. The 7-play, 51-yard drive set the tone for an intense matchup. Kicker #41 Will Bettridge was successful with the extra point, and Virginia took an early 7-0 lead. However, the Tar Heels wasted no time in responding. Quarterback Drake Maye connected with Tez Walker for a 25-yard touchdown pass, which was expertly executed. Noah Burnette’s successful extra point tied the game at 7-7. Virginia wasn’t done in the first quarter, as Mike Hollins found the end zone again with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. The Cavaliers reclaimed the lead, finishing the quarter 14-7.

Second Quarter: Tar Heels Strike Back

The Tar Heels showed their resilience in the second quarter. Quarterback Drake Maye showcased his arm strength by throwing a 62-yard bomb to Bryson Nesbit, who raced to hit paydirt. Noah Burnette’s successful extra point once again tied the game at 14-14. Armani Chatman’s interception in the end zone late in the quarter secured North Carolina’s tenth scoreless quarter of the year. With just seconds left in the first half, Burnette added a 43-yard field goal for North Carolina, making him the the first Tar Heel kicker to make his first ten field goals in a season since Connor Barth in 2006. The Tar Heels took a 17-14 lead into halftime. 

Third Quarter: Tar Heels Maintain Control

North Carolina continued to build on their lead in the third quarter as Drake Maye rushed for a 3-yard touchdown. The Tar Heels were up 24-14 following Burnette’s extra point. Virginia responded as Mike Hollins plowed through the Tar Heels’ defense for a 1-yard touchdown. The score was 24-21 after Will Bettridge’s extra point. Late in the third quarter, Virginia managed to level the game at 24-24 with a 45-yard field goal by Bettridge.

Fourth Quarter: Cavaliers Seal the Win

In the final quarter, North Carolina briefly took the lead with a 27-yard field goal from Noah Burnette, making it 27-24 in favor of the Tar Heels, marking his fourth straight game with multiple field goals. Virginia, however, staged a remarkable comeback. Quarterback Tony Muskett threw a 14-yard pass to Malik Washington, who found the end zone. Will Bettridge’s extra point gave the Cavaliers a 31-27 lead. Despite North Carolina’s best efforts, they couldn’t overcome Virginia’s stout defense in the final moments. 

Player Performances

Virginia’s offensive efforts were led by Mike Hollins, who rushed for three touchdowns. Tony Muskett passed for 208 yards and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Malik Washington. Mike Hollins scored three touchdowns for the Cavaliers.

North Carolina’s Drake Maye had an impressive performance, running for a score and throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns, including a stunning 62-yard pass to Bryson Nesbit. Tez Walker caught 11 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown.

They Said It

Mack Brown: “Obviously, tonight was a disappointing loss for us. Congratulations to Virginia, they out-coached us and played better than us tonight. You don’t normally win the game when you give up 228 yards rushing and only rush for 143. We had chance after chance, but I think you'd have to say that we as coaches didn't prepare our guys very well…This week, we talked about poisoned cheese and we ate it. Tonight, we didn't punt the ball well, we were inconsistent on offense and we didn't score in the red zone when we needed to. We were four of 13 on third downs while they were eight of eight. We had a chance to win the game two times and didn't do it… Again, on critical plays, they made the plays and we didn't. I am disappointed tonight that we didn't play about like we did last year against him. Our guys played hard but we just didn't make plays. Now, we have to go back to work and go to Georgia Tech next week.” 

Up Next

North Carolina (6-1, 3-1) will play three of their last five games on the road, starting with a game against Georgia Tech (3-4, 2-2). Virginia (2-5, 1-2) remains on the road, traveling to Miami.

• North Carolina leads the series with Virginia, 63-54-4, and has won seven straight in the series for the first time since winning nine in a row from 1974-82.
• Last season in Charlottesville, Mitch Trubisky hit Bug Howard from 40 yards out on a trick play to spark a 21-0 run and the No. 22 Tar Heels cruised to a 35-14 victory. After losing 14 straight at UVA from 1983- 2008, last year's win was Carolina's fourth in a row at Scott Stadium.
• In the last meeting in Chapel Hill, Elijah Hood rushed for two touchdowns and Carolina forced five turnovers in a 26-13 win over Virginia. Hood finished with 101 yards rushing and two 3-yard scoring runs, T.J. Logan added a 16-yard TD and Nick Weiler kicked two field goals. UNC broke a 13-all halftime tie by scoring on its first three possessions of the second half, and pitched a second-half shutout.
• Saturday's game will be the 122nd meeting in the rivalry known as the South's Oldest Rivalry. Only Minnesota and Wisconsin's annual battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe has been played more often (126 times) among FBS rivalries. Miami (Ohio) and Cincinnati also met earlier this year for the 122nd time.
• North Carolina's final game of the regular season was typically played against Virginia prior to 1950. In fact, from 1919-1950, Carolina played its regular season finale vs. Virginia 28 of 32 times.
• Eight current Tar Heels are from Virginia: defensive end Malik Carney (Alexandria), defensive tackle Jeremiah Clarke (Alexandria), defensive tackle Aaron Crawford (Ashburn), offensive lineman Jay-Jay McCargo (Alexandria), wide receiver Dazz Newsome (Hampton), defensive end Tyler Powell (Midlothian), cornerback Patrice Rene (Alexandria) and cornerback M.J. Stewart (Arlington).