The fifth game of Virginia’s season could not have concluded more differently than last year’s result against the same opponent.
Last Saturday, they cruised to a 42-3 victory over Delaware on the one-year anniversary of a defining moment of their historic 2025 campaign — a Sept. 26, 2025 double-overtime triumph over the undefeated then-No. 8 Florida State at Scott Stadium. This Saturday, the Cavaliers (3-2, 1-1 ACC) fell 38-7 to a Seminoles (3-2, 1-1 ACC) team who entered the contest at .500 and already having suffered a conference loss.
Anemic would be the word to describe the Cavaliers’ offensive performance — Virginia mustered less than 100 total yards in the entire first half, even logging an almost unbelievable -12 yards in the second quarter. They would ultimately finish with less than half of Florida State’s yardage total, and convert only three of 19 opportunities on third and fourth down.
It was fifth-year quarterback Beau Pribula’s worst game of the season. Although he did not turn the ball over, he completed only 44-percent of his passes. Pribula was not entirely at fault, however — the offensive line allowed 10 sacks and rarely gave the signal-caller the luxury of a clean pocket, resulting in off-target throws even on rare occasions where receivers got open. The run game did not impress either — despite a solid 65 yards on 10 carries for fourth-year running back Jekail Middlebrook — as they were outgained by the Seminoles by over 200 yards on the ground, not counting sacks.
Postgame, Coach Tony Elliott was asked by 247Sports’ Jacquie Franciulli whether there was ever a possibility of fourth-year quarterback Eli Holstein entering the game.
“There was conversation about it, but with the challenges that they were posing and the things that were happening, we were trying to figure out how to fix it,” Elliott said. “I don't know if at that time it was the best situation, and I don't know if it would have been fair to him either if we're struggling to protect.”
The defense was similarly dismal, allowing Florida State fifth-year quarterback Ashton Daniels and second-year running back Ousmane Kromah to lead the home rushing attack to a staggering 281 yards, with an average of over six yards per attempt. Daniels scored all five of the Seminoles’ touchdowns on the ground, tying the schools’ single-game record in the category.
The lone bright spot on either side of the ball came on Florida State’s final offensive drive of the first half, when second-year safety Corey Costner secured a toe-tapping interception off Daniels, preventing the Seminoles from extending their 17-7 lead further heading into halftime.
Costner’s turnover presented an opportunity to swing momentum as Virginia received the ball to open the second, but the visitors did not capitalize, quickly falling behind. Saturday’s defeat is one of the most lopsided losses the program has experienced in recent memory — the Cavaliers’ last defeat by multiple scores came against Virginia Tech in 2024. Their last defeat of 30 points or more also came in a Commonwealth Clash, a 55-17 drubbing in 2023.
It was a frustrating affair for both sides of the ball — the 2025 Cavaliers closed out the Seminoles with a bang, while the 2026 Cavaliers were out of the game by the third quarter. Now .500 in conference record, the Cavaliers have a homestand on the calendar, facing Syracuse Saturday night — kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Scott Stadium — and Duke the following week. Following those contests, they will face a gauntlet beginning a road trip to red-hot Wake Forest, home games against California and North Carolina, ending their season with a Commonwealth Clash in Blacksburg.
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