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· collected 2026-08-19 · by Aaron Beard The Associated Press
The University of Virginia Cavaliers football team is looking to maintain their momentum after an unexpected 11-win season under coach Tony Elliott last year, where they reached the ACC championship game and posted only their second season with double-digit wins in program history. The team has added 46 new players, including 31 transfers, this season and is picked to finish sixth in the ACC. On offense, the Cavaliers have experience on their line, with two preseason All-ACC picks returning as left tackle McKale Boley and guard Noah Josey. However, the running back and wide receiver rooms have undergone significant turnover, with only a small percentage of last year's receiving yards and receptions returning.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Virginia's football team has had an unexpected surge of success, going from being picked to finish 14th in the ACC to reaching the conference championship game with 11 wins. Despite the team's modest expectations, they will enter the new season with a sense of hunger and determination to maintain their momentum. Under coach Tony Elliott, who took over three years ago, Virginia is adding 46 new players this season, including 31 transfers from other schools. The Cavaliers are favored to finish sixth in the ACC, but have a relatively easy schedule that features mostly teams picked to finish near the bottom of the league. Their only tough game on the schedule is against SMU on October 17. Virginia's offense was a key strength last season, averaging 30.8** points per game and ranking fourth in the ACC in total offense. As they enter this season, the team's goal is to "handle success," according to coach Elliott.
Written for “Virginia Cavaliers Hoops” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 1376 · logged 2026-08-21
Virginia
2025 record: 11-3
Expectations
The expectations weren’t high, but the pressure was increasing as Virginia entered last season under Tony Elliott.
asserted
Virginia → increase → Elliott
The Cavaliers were picked to finish 14th in the 17-team ACC, while the Cavaliers were just 11-23 in Elliott’s first three seasons.
asserted
Cavaliers → pick → seasons
Yet the Wahoos shocked everyone by reaching the ACC championship game and posting only the second season with double-digit wins in program history (10 in 1989).
asserted
Wahoos → shock → 1989
“Everybody’s going to be hungry to go chase success,” Elliott said early in preseason camp.
asserted
Elliott → go → camp
“It’s when you’ve had success, how do you maintain that hunger?
asserted
you → ’ → hunger
And that’s handling success.
asserted
that → handle → success
That explains the vibe entering this season as Virginia adds 46 new players, including 31 via the transfer portal.
asserted
Virginia → explain → portal
The Cavaliers are picked to finish sixth in the ACC with four preseason All-ACC picks, tied for second-most in the league.
asserted
Cavaliers → pick → league
They have a schedule that features primarily teams picked to finish in the bottom half of the league, including just one game against a team picked to finish in the top five (at SMU on Oct. 17).
asserted
that → have → Oct.
The Cavaliers open at home against N.C. State (picked seventh in the ACC) on Aug. 29 in a game originally slated for Brazil.
asserted
Cavaliers → open → Brazil
Strengths start with experience on offensive and defensive lines
The Cavaliers should be on sound footing up front on both sides of the ball.
asserted
Cavaliers → start → ball
The offensive line returns its left side with tackle McKale Boley and guard Noah Josey, two preseason All-ACC picks.
asserted
line → return → Boley
They’re joined by another every-game starter in Drake Metcalf, who started primarily at right guard but also stepped in at center.
asserted
who → join → center
Virginia will get a boost with Monroe Mills, a 6-foot-7 graduate student who missed last year after arriving as a touted transfer from Louisville.
asserted
who → get → Louisville
Defensively, end rusher Fisher Camac is back after tallying 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, while Jason Hammond returns inside after starting all 14 games.
asserted
Hammond → tally → games
Weaknesses include uncertainty with retooled RB, WR rooms
The offense was a strength last year as Virginia built early momentum while regularly hitting 40 points per game before finishing ranked fourth in the ACC in total offense (417.9 yards) and averaging 30.8 points.
asserted
Virginia → include → points
Virginia returns just 18.1% of its receiving yardage and 19% of its receptions from last year, so the Cavaliers dipped into the portal while trying to bring along inexperienced returnees.
asserted
Cavaliers → return → returnees
Elliott said “the talent is there” among the group, but the push through camp centers on consistency.
asserted
push → say → consistency
J’Mari Taylor is gone after running for 1,062 yards and 14 TDs last year, and top candidates to pick up work include transfers Jekail Middlebrook (Middle Tennessee State) and Peyton Lewis (Tennessee).
asserted
candidates → go → Middlebrook
Middlebrook drew praise early in preseason camp from Elliott, who called him a steady player who “flies below the radar a little bit.”
asserted
who → draw → radar
