The 2025 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cavaliers were led by Tony Elliott in his fourth year as head coach and played their home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Cavaliers had their most successful season to date under Elliott, reaching 11 wins in a season for the first time in program history. Included in their 8–1 start to the season (their best since 1990) was a seven-game winning streak, their longest since 2007. It was the first time in program history that UVA started 5–0 in conference play, a start that included a 46–38 double-overtime home win over No. 8 Florida State on September 26 for their seventh all-time win against an AP Top 10 opponent, their first since 2023, and third such win against FSU. The Cavaliers concluded a 7–1 season in the ACC with a 27–7 home blowout victory over rival Virginia Tech for only their third victory over the Hokies since 1999 and first since 2019. With these successes, the Cavaliers achieved bowl eligibility for the first time since 2021 and played in their second ACC Championship Game. However, with a chance to make it into the College Football Playoff with a win, the Cavaliers were upset by the Duke Blue Devils 27–20 in overtime, allowing Sun Belt champion James Madison to get in instead. They were selected to face Missouri in the Gator Bowl, which they won 13–7, in the process setting the all-time program win record at 11.
Virginia had its first appearances in an AP, Coaches, or College Football Playoff Top 25 poll since 2019, with its initial No. 14 ranking being its highest since the inception of the CFP in 2014. They finished a season ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 2004.
Schedule
Rankings
Roster
Game summaries vs Coastal Carolina
Statistics CCUUVA First downs 13 23 Plays–yards 67–254 79–454 Rushes–yards 30–91 43–164 Passing yards 163 290 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–37–1 22–36–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 26:27 33:33 Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing MJ Morris 20/36, 163 yards, INT Rushing Dominic Knicely 7 carries, 27 yards Receiving Brooks Johnson 2 receptions, 36 yardsVirginia Passing Chandler Morris 19/27, 264 yards, 2 TD Rushing Chandler Morris 5 carries, 50 yards Receiving Cam Ross 7 receptions, 124 yards, TD
at NC State
Statistics UVANCSU First downs 24 22 Plays–yards 76–514 65–416 Rushes–yards 32–257 35–216 Passing yards 30–257 16–200 Passing: comp–att–int 30–43–1 16–23–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 32:25 27:35 Team Category Player Statistics Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 30/43, 257 yards, TD, INT Rushing J'Mari Taylor 17 carries, 150 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jahmal Edrine 6 receptions, 68 yards NC State Passing CJ Bailey 16/23, 200 yards, TD Rushing Hollywood Smothers 17 carries, 140 yards, 2 TD Receiving Terrell Anderson 3 receptions, 44 yards
vs William & Mary (FCS)
Statistics W&MUVA First downs 7 30 Plays–yards 79–263 87–700 Rushes–yards 24–59 52–379 Passing yards 204 321 Passing: comp–att–int 13–25–0 23–35–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 22:24 37:36 Team Category Player Statistics William & Mary Passing Noah Brannock 8/17, 111 yards Rushing Noah Brannock 9 carries, 35 yards, TD Receiving Deven Thompson 5 receptions, 108 yards, TD Virginia Passing Daniel Kaelin 8/14, 164 yards, INT Rushing Harrison Waylee 10 carries, 151 yards, 3 TD Receiving Kameron Courtney 4 receptions, 67 yards
vs Stanford
Statistics STANUVA First downs 15 29 Plays–yards 66–323 72–564 Rushes–yards 30–37 40–210 Passing yards 286 384 Passing: comp–att–int 20–29–0 24–32–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 25:12 34:48 Team Category Player Statistics Stanford Passing Ben Gulbranson 20/29, 286 yards, 2 TD Rushing Micah Ford 13 carries, 44 yards, TD Receiving Bryce Farrell 4 receptions, 135 yards, TD Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 23/31, 380 yards, 4 TD Rushing J'Mari Taylor 15 carries, 85 yards Receiving Trell Harris 4 receptions, 145 yards, 3 TD
vs No. 8 Florida State (Jefferson–Eppes Trophy)
Statistics FSUUVA First downs 24 27 Plays–yards 81–514 84–440 Rushes–yards 48–256 48–211 Passing yards 258 229 Passing: comp–att–int 19–33–2 26–36–3 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 28:03 31:57 Team Category Player Statistics Florida State Passing Thomas Castellanos 18/32, 254 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Thomas Castellanos 14 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Duce Robinson 9 receptions, 147 yards, TD Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 26/35, 229 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing J'Mari Taylor 27 carries, 99 yards, TD Receiving Jahmal Edrine 5 receptions, 45 yards
at Louisville
Statistics UVALOU First downs 14 25 Plays–yards 63–237 75–383 Rushes–yards 32–123 27–103 Passing yards 149 329 Passing: comp–att–int 19–31–0 34–48–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 27:41 32:19 Team Category Player Statistics Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 19/31, 149 yards, TD Rushing J'Mari Taylor 16 carries, 86 yards, TD Receiving Cam Ross 4 receptions, 43 yards, TD Louisville Passing Miller Moss 34/48, 329 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Isaac Brown 13 carries, 66 yards Receiving Chris Bell 12 receptions, 170 yards, 2 TD
vs Washington State
Statistics WSUUVA First downs 18 13 Plays–yards 62–326 57–301 Rushes–yards 35–143 32–122 Passing yards 183 179 Passing: comp–att–int 18–27–2 15–25–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 34:14 25:46 Team Category Player Statistics Washington State Passing Zevi Eckhaus 18/27, 183 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Kirby Vorhees 16 carries, 45 yards Receiving Joshua Meredith 7 catches, 108 yards, TD Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 15/25, 179 yards Rushing J'Mari Taylor 17 carries, 47 yards Receiving Jahmal Edrine 5 catches, 102 yards
at North Carolina (South's Oldest Rivalry)
Statistics UVAUNC First downs 16 20 Plays–yards 69–259 75–353 Rushes–yards 34–59 39–145 Passing yards 200 208 Passing: comp–att–int 20–35–1 23–36–2 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 24:27 32:33 Team Category Player Statistics Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 20/35, 200 yards, TD, INT Rushing J'Mari Taylor 21 carries, 69 yards, TD Receiving Jahmal Edrine 6 catches, 75 yards North Carolina Passing Gio Lopez 23/36, 208 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Benjamin Hall 11 carries, 50 yards Receiving Jordan Shipp 7 catches, 67 yards
at California
Statistics UVACAL First downs 23 14 Plays–yards 80–456 57–263 Rushes–yards 44–194 25–8 Passing yards 262 255 Passing: comp–att–int 24–36–0 20–32–2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 35:26 24:34 Team Category Player Statistics Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 24/36, 262 yards Rushing J'Mari Taylor 21 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trell Harris 5 catches, 68 yards California Passing Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele 19/30, 213 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kendrick Raphael 13 carries, 46 yards Receiving Trond Grizzell 8 catches, 80 yards
vs Wake Forest
Statistics WAKEUVA First downs 12 13 Plays–yards 64–203 64–327 Rushes–yards 41–139 30–163 Passing yards 64 164 Passing: comp–att–int 9–23–0 21–34–0 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 31:42 28:18 Team Category Player Statistics Wake Forest Passing Robby Ashford 7/16, 46 yards Rushing Demond Claiborne 25 carries, 75 yards Receiving Ty Clark 1 catch, 22 yards Virginia Passing Daniel Kaelin 18/28, 145 yards Rushing J'Mari Taylor 19 carries, 98 yards Receiving Trell Harris 6 catches, 60 yards
at Duke
Statistics UVADUKE First downs 22 11 Plays–yards 77–540 58–255 Rushes–yards 42–224 23–42 Passing yards 316 213 Passing: comp–att–int 23–35–2 18–35–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 35:58 24:02 Team Category Player Statistics Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 23/35, 316 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing J'Mari Taylor 18 carries, 133 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trell Harris 8 catches, 161 yards, TD Duke Passing Darian Mensah 18/35, 213 yards, TD Rushing Nate Sheppard 12 carries, 43 yards Receiving Landen King 2 catches, 48 yards
vs Virginia Tech (rivalry)
Statistics VTUVA First downs 6 25 Plays–yards 47–197 83–380 Rushes–yards 31–119 47–197 Passing yards 78 183 Passing: comp–att–int 4–16–2 22–36–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 23:04 36:56 Team Category Player Statistics Virginia Tech Passing Kyron Drones 4/16, 78 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jeffrey Overton Jr. 11 carries, 53 yards Receiving Shamarius Peterkin 1 catch, 57 yards, TD Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 21/35, 182 yards Rushing J'Mari Taylor 20 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Kam Courtney 6 catches, 50 yards
vs. Duke (ACC Championship Game)
Statistics DUKEUVA First downs 19 25 Plays–yards 69–333 69–344 Rushes–yards 44–137 29–128 Passing yards 196 216 Passing: comp–att–int 19–25–1 21–40–2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 34:24 25:36 Team Category Player Statistics Duke Passing Darian Mensah 19–25, 196 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Nate Sheppard 21 carries, 97 yards, TD Receiving Cooper Barkate 5 receptions, 91 yards Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 21–40, 216 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Harrison Waylee 11 carries, 66 yards Receiving Cam Ross 5 receptions, 59 yards
vs. Missouri (Gator Bowl)
Statistics UVAMIZ First downs 18 13 Plays–yards 79–308 55–260 Rushes–yards 41–110 32–159 Passing yards 198 101 Passing: comp–att–int 25–38–0 12–23–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 38:34 21:26 Team Category Player Statistics Virginia Passing Chandler Morris 25/38, 198 yards Rushing Harrison Waylee 20 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Eli Wood IV 4 catches, 71 yards Missouri Passing Matt Zollers 12/22, 101 yards, INT Rushing Ahmad Hardy 15 carries, 89 yards Receiving Donovan Olugbode 5 catches, 49 yards
Notes
References