The Aporia · Virginia's mission is 'handling success' after unexpected jump to 11 wins, trip to ACC title game

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 locally by qwen2.5:14b 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

The University of Virginia football team, known as the Cavaliers, exceeded expectations last season by winning 11 games and reaching the ACC title game. This is only the second time in program history that they have achieved double-digit wins, with the first instance being in 1989. Under the leadership of coach Tony Elliott, the team has been on a journey to "handle success" after their unexpected performance last year. As they enter this season, they are adding 46 new players, including 31 via the transfer portal, and have been picked to finish sixth in the ACC. Despite having a relatively easy schedule with mostly teams picked to finish in the bottom half of the league, Virginia is looking to maintain their momentum and continue to succeed under Elliott's guidance.

Written for “Virginia Cavaliers Basketball” on 2026-10-16, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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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.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-08-19

🔮 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.

2026-08-19 · Toronto Star

Virginia's mission is 'handling success' after unexpected jump to 11 wins, trip to ACC title game · assertive framing

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

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

Virginia's mission is 'handling success' after unexpected jump to 11 wins, trip to ACC title game

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