Almost everything has gone according to plan for No. 18 Virginia this season, but you can’t plan for everything.
The Cavaliers only need to defeat the visiting, struggling rival Virginia Tech on Saturday night to clinch a spot in their first Atlantic Coast Conference championship game since 2019.
What Virginia (9-2, 6-1 ACC) could not have foreseen, however, is the “Franklin factor” that Virginia Tech (3-8, 2-5) is bringing to Charlottesville.
The Hokies will officially close the books on the Brent Pry era and interim coach Philip Montgomery will lead for the final time before former Penn State coach James Franklin takes the wheel.
Virginia Tech has dropped three straight games and is 0-4 against ranked teams this season, including last weekend’s 34-17 loss to then-No. 13 Miami, but emotions will be high for the Commonwealth Clash and anything can happen.
“I know how passionate this state is about this game, and you can’t ask for much more,” said Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris. “It’s the state championship and it’s going to be electric.”
Virginia is coming off a bye week, idle since a 34-17 victory at Duke on Nov. 15. A win Saturday night at home would give the Cavaliers only their second season in school history with double-digit wins (10-3 in 1989).
A win would also lock up a trip to the conference title game for coach Tony Elliott’s team on Dec. 6 in Charlotte. There’s technically a path to the ACC championship game if Virginia loses to Virginia Tech, but it would require losses by SMU, NC State and Pitt.
“The games to remember are the ones in November,” said Cavaliers defensive lineman Jacob Holmes.
Led by Morris and running back J’Mari Taylor, Virginia ranks third in the ACC in total offense (438.0 yards per game) and fourth in scoring (33.7 points per game, tied with Miami).
The Cavaliers have held eight opponents to 21 or fewer points this season. Defensive lineman Daniel Rickert leads the squad with 5.5 sacks and linebacker Kam Robinson has returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Robinson left the win against the Blue Devils with an apparent knee injury and his status for Saturday is unknown.
The Virginia Tech defense is giving up 30.5 points per game, allowing at least 34 points in four of the last five games. Defensive lineman Kemari Copeland has a team-high 4.5 sacks and linebacker Kaleb Spencer leads the Hokies with 60 tackles.
Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones has accounted for 25 touchdowns (16 passing, nine rushing) but failed to find the end zone against the Hurricanes, the first time that had happened since the Aug. 31 season opener.
The Hokies have won the last four meetings with the Cavaliers, including a 55-17 thumping the last time they met in Charlottesville in 2023. In fact, Virginia has only beaten Virginia Tech twice in the 21st century (2003, 2019).
“We’ve got a big test for us coming up,” Montgomery said. “… But I’m excited to get one more opportunity with these men and go down there and let’s roll the ball out and get after it.”
