In last week’s Greg’s Grades, I stated the following: “We’ve seen how Tony Elliott’s crew handled the loss to NC State. They’ve gone 3-0 since that game and quietly taken care of business, not only against the teams they were expected to defeat, but to Top 10 ranked teams they were not. Virginia now prepares to go back on the road next Saturday and take on the 4-0 Louisville Cardinals.”
And what did we witness?
Playing an opponent on the cusp of that opponent being nationally ranked, a team that had won seven straight games, which was tied for the second-longest streak nationally among Power 4 teams, and playing a UVA squad that had not started a season 5-1 in eight years and had not won their first three conference games of a season since George W. Bush was president.
We saw UVA Football prove three things:
- UVA proved it could win games on the road against quality opponents.
- UVA proved it could win games when not firing on all cylinders.
- UVA proved it is purposeful and resolute.
Now the ‘Hoos will get a chance for some healing, rest and some self-evaluation. Tony Elliott’s program is in a very advantageous place, undefeated in the ACC and with a favorable schedule to close out the season. The key now is to avoid overconfidence, remain self-aware, and maintain a realistic perspective.
While Virginia took care of business in Louisville on Saturday, the game provided plenty of teaching, correcting, and encouraging opportunities for the coaching staff.
ICYMI
- Live Coverage: #24 UVA vs. Louisville | ‘Hoos gut their way to 30-27 OT win
- UVA Football | #24 ‘Hoos will their way to 30-27 win at Louisville
- UVA Football | ‘Hoos capitalize on Louisville’s many mistakes in OT win
- Five Observations | Deep dive into Virginia’s 30-27 OT win at Louisville
Operations Breakdowns
Offense Game Recap & Game Grade: 73.52 (C)
Simply put, this was UVA’s worst offensive performance of the season. Now, this was likely the second-best team the Wahoos will play this year, and so a lesser performance is not totally surprising.
Virginia’s run game was below average for the first time this season posting a 72.89 rushing operation grade. They were led by quarterback Chandler Morris with an 82.72. The running back room had the poorest grade with a 68.27. The ‘Hoos performance was better in the passing game, but were not up to the previous five weeks’ standards. Passing ended the day with 75.65 mark, with the offensive line pacing the Wahoos with a 77.80.
The offense also had their worst weekend in terms of combined first-down efficiency and third-down conversions. The operations graded out with70.96 on cumulative first-down efficiency, averaging just 2.4 yards per play on 23 combined rushing and passing first-down attempts. For only the second game this year, the Cavaliers failed to rush or pass for over 149 yards. The operations also recorded their single worst drive grade of the year. The Drive Grade is a metric that grades each drive individually and subjectively. The Louisville number was 76.2
Defense Game Recap & Game Grade: 87.85 (B+)
When your defense accounts for 14 points, you know it’s going to be a good day. In fact, the two turnovers the Cavaliers returned for touchdowns tied Virginia for #4 in the nation in turnovers returned for touchdown.
The secondary operation finished at the top of the heap against the Cards with their second championship-level grade of the season at 92.68. The linebackers had a solid performance as well with an 85.61. I don’t know if the grades truly project how well the defensive line played, but there were several alignment and fit issues that hurt their number.
The ‘Hoos held UL to their second fewest rushing yards of 2025, lowest scoring game with 27 points (their previous low was 24 against Virginia last year), and their second worst total offense yardage this season.
Special Teams Recap & Game Grade: 91.21 (A-)
Kudos to the special teams operation this week. This was their most consistent game of the year. The Cardinals were and still are one of the top special teams units in the FBS, but as you will see in the grades and notes, the visitors held the home team in check. UL was 44.1 percent below their Top 20 season punt return average and 63 percent of their top 20 kickoff return average.
The placekicking operation boasted the highest grade score in special teams with their 97.56, while the kickoff coverage unit posted a 97.04, and the punt coverage crew recorded a 91.94.
Louisville Grades & Notes
Offense – Grades: 73.52 (C)
- Quarterback: 72.3 (C-)
- Running backs: 68.34 (D+)
- Wide receivers & tight ends: 75.2(C)
- Offensive line: 78.25 (C+)
Offense – Quick Takes & Notes
Highlights: Overtime – when the Cavaliers came on the field for their overtime possession, there was a resolve in the way that four-play drive was executed. The coaches showed confidence in the players by their play calls, the players showed confidence in each other, and they showed grit. When Morris had to leave the game, the team executed. No penalties, no dropped passes, no loss yardage plays. It was a thing of beauty.
Not so bright: Again, as against Florida State, holding on a run to plus territory, false start on third-and-6 from the UL 44, illegal formation (two no talent miscues), drops, you get the picture.
Notes & Stats
- As noted in the operational breakdowns, this was the worst offensive performance of the season. The offense operation scored its fewest points of 2025, that being 16; it produced its second worst pass completion percentage; posted their lowest passing yards total of the season and lowest since the 33-7 loss to SMU last November (108 yards), had 4.8 yards per attempt (0.1 point behind the 4.9 against the Hokies last year), again the lowest since SMU allowed just 4.0 YPA, the lone TD pass is the lowest dating back also to the Tech game, and the 112.31pass efficiency rating is also the lowest since losing 100-0 in Blacksburg last year (Hyperbole alert). The Cavaliers also recorded their worst rushing total of the 2025 season with 88 yards.
- After going three straight weeks earning championship-level grades, the UVA offense had a difficult day on Saturday. No offensive operation netted more than a 78.25, and the O line and running backs both broke four-week trends of recording championship-level grades.
- UVA’s 18 rushing TDs this year are the most they have scored since the 2021edition scored 21. That season the run game score their 18 TD in game nine. The record for most rushing TDs in a season at Virginia is 34 in 2004 under Al Groh.
- Virginia went 5-for-6 (83 percent) on power rushes. Powers are rushing plays with two (2) yards or less to convert a TD or FD.
- The Cavaliers offense continues to be in the Top 10 in fewest sacks allowed, ranked at #6 nationally.
- The ‘Hoos broke a five-game streak of converting over 50 percent of their third-down tries. Virginia managed to move the chains just 40 percent of the time against Louisville. On fourth down, UVA was 4-for-9 in the first three games of the season. Over the last three outings, the Cavaliers offense is 5-of-6 on fourth downs for an 83 percent conversion rate.
- Virginia is ranked second in college football with 147 converted first downs.
Defense – Grades: 85.42 (B)
- Defensive line: 77.97 (C)
- Linebackers: 85.61 (B)
- Secondary: 92.68 (A-)
Defense – Quick Takes & Notes
Highlights: With a tip-of-the-cap to the movie “Kingsman,” pairing a scoop-and-score fumble recovery and a picksix interception received from a quarterback who was the thickness of a glove from being down, is like pairing a 1945 Chateau Lafite Rothschild with two cheeseburgers with secret sauce and a 1937 Chateau d’Yquem and Twinkies. PERFECT!
Not so bright: n/a.
Notes & Stats
- The 27 points Louisville scored against the ‘Hoos is the second fewest points the Cardinasl have scored in a game since the Oct.12, 2024, game against UVA. The Cardinals scored 24 points in that game in regulation, just like they scored 24 in regulation this past weekend.
- ULs 41.18 percent third-down conversion number was the second highest obtained by a UVA opponent this season. Stanford converted 42.86 percent.
- The five sacks tallied by the Cavalier defense ties for the most in a game since Oct. 20, 2022, at Georgia Tech. The ‘Hoos collected eight sacks in the Yellow Jacket game.
- UVA is tied for 12th in the NCAA with 16 sacks and tied for eighth with 122 yards of lost yardage.
- Virginia is seventh in the NCAA with four (4) INTs; tied for eighth with LSU with passes defended (combined INTs & Passes Defended) and #15 in third-down conversion defense with a 28.75 mark.
- UVA HAVOC: 1 batted ball (at LOS); 7 PBUs; 1 INT and dropped two other chances and TD; 1 Fumble recovery and TD; 5 sacks (46 Lost YDS); 8 tackles for loss (59 Lost YDS); 4 additional hits on QB; 20 QB Hurries.
- The 54 rushing yards allowed by the Wahoo defense Saturday is the second fewest yards rushing for a Louisville offense since Sept 9, 2023. The North Carolina State Wolfpack held UL to just 20 rushing yards in that outing.
Special Teams – Grades: 91.21 (A-)
- Kickoff return: 82.26(B-)
- Kickoff coverage: 97.04 (A+)
- Place kicking: 97.56 (A+)
- Punt return: 91.94 (A-)
- Punt coverage: 87.27 (B)
Special Teams – Quick Takes & Notes
Highlights: The entire special team operation is the highlight from Saturday. For the first time this season, special teams posted a championship-level grade with their 91.21 grade.
Not so bright: Virginia’s three (3) punting and kickoff return yards are the lowest of the 2025 campaign.
Notes & Stats
- UVA backup Elijah Slibeck had a 71-yard punt, the longest by a UVA punter since Nash Griffin booted a 78-yarder in 2019. Slibeck is one of only 11 punters in UVA history to record a punt of 71 yards or more.
- UVA leads the FBS in kickoff return average with a 42.80 YPR.
- Louisville entered Saturday’s game averaging 24.6 YPR on punt returns. UVA’s special teams held them in check, limiting the Cardinals to a 13.75 mark.
- Before Saturday UL was also 13th in kickoff returns averaging 30.4 YPR. Virginia shut that down as well with a 11.5 YPR. A 63 percent drop in their season average.
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