I don’t care what the bookies say, new AP Top 25 member UVA’s victory over Florida State was not an upset; Virginia is simply the better team.
Even early in the first quarter when the Cavaliers started the game with two punt possessions, they still were the more confident team and the more physical squad. The Seminoles never looked comfortable.
ICYMI
- UVA vs. Florida State | Live Coverage: ‘Hoos shock #8 FSU in two OTs, 46-38
- UVA Football | ‘Hoos outlast #8 Florida State in double-OT instant classic
- ‘Hoos 46, #8 FSU 38 | That may be the prettiest ugly game we’ve ever seen
- Five Observations: UVA Football | Still trying to digest the upset of #8 FSU
This game turned midway through the second half. From 9:58 remaining in the third quarter until 7:20 remaining in the game, the Cavaliers controlled 14:11 minutes of time of possession, scored two touchdowns, ran 28 plays, and claimed 149 yards of Scott Stadium turf. What was thought to be a suspect and bruised Virginia offensive line became the primary cause of the ‘Noles loss.
It should come as no surprise that with UVA’s 46-38 win over FSU, ESPN’s Football Power Index puts the ‘Hoos second behind unbeaten Miami (54.1 percent) as the team with the best chance to win the ACC at 14.2 percent.
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.
Operations Breakdowns
Offense Game Recap & Game Grade: 94.2 (A)
For the third week in a row the offense had all four operations earning championship-level grades.
UVA’s offense had an excellent evening Friday against a solid Florida State defense. The Cavalier running game was extremely effective in managing offensive coordinator Des Kitchings’ plan. Chandler Morris carved up the FSU zones and constantly beat the ‘Noles defenders to the edges. The offensive line held the Seminoles in check, and the defensive line struggled most of the game to hold contain on the edge.
Kitchings’ plan included adding extra players into the box to extend the edges. The Wahoo front was very physical with the Florida State defense and frequently pushed the down lineman 2-3 yards off the line of scrimmage and the backs would add additional 2-3 yards chunks of extra yardage.
Just ask any defender who has had to tackle J’Mari Taylor. He’s 209 pounds of raw toughness.
The quarterback unit earned the highest mark with a championship-level 98.1, and the offensive line followed them with a 94.44 championship-level grade.
The passing game had a good evening as well. The ‘Noles brought some pressure, but that typically just opened up wider and additional running lanes. Morris simply avoided the pressure with his legs.
Morris and the UVA offense had plenty of success with their crossing mesh routes. Mesh creates a lot of easy stuff underneath because they are run close together and sets up natural picks that generate a lot of separation against man coverage. It also creates an environment for defensive mistakes, communication breakdowns and potential contact with defenders creating the possibility of pass interference penalties.
The running-back wheel route was also effective. Xavier Brown’s fourth-quarter touchdown was a textbook wheel concept. Coming off the strong side edge, Brown blows past the linebacker and simply coasts down the sideline waiting for a masterpiece throw from Morris.
The offensive line took top honors for the passing operation with a 96.6 championship-level grade, while Morris earned a championship-level mark at 95.1.
Defense Game Recap & Game Grade: 87.85 (B+)
Virginia’s pass defense was excellent. The unit ended the game with a championship-level 94.39 passing defense efficiency grade. The linebackers actually earned the highest mark with a 96.78. UVA kept the ‘Noles passing game in check allowing 258 yards passing, 57.6 completion percentage (2025 worst), 7.8 YPA (2025 worst) and two interceptions (2025 worst).
The defensive line posted the second highest mark for the defense with a championship-level grade of 93.83, and the secondary also posted a championship-level grade with their 92.56.
Here are the havoc numbers for the Cavaliers:
- TFL 5
- Sacks 2
- QBHits 6
- QBHurries 11
- PBU 3
- INT 2
The linebackers also posted the top run defense grade with a championship-level 90.49. The ‘backers were followed by the defensive backs with an 88.54, and the defensive line came in with a respectable 86.31.
The defense held the ‘Noles to 2-for-6 (33.3 percent) on power rushing, and struggled with third-down rushes, going 8-for-30 (3.8 YPC) and converting just 37.5 percent of those chances.
Virginia greedily controlled the line of scrimmage and matched the physicality of FSU. Seminoles offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn tried attack the Cavalier front straight on, but the UVA defense held firm. The ‘Hoos seemed to be well prepared for whatever Malzahn offered.
Special Teams Recap & Game Grade: 77.05 (C)
Virginia’s special teams had a rough evening on the grade board. Only one operation, placekicking, managed to get a grade above 78.25. At least this group received a 97.27 grade for their efforts Friday.
Punt return came in second with a 78.25, and punt coverage came in with not only the lowest grade of the week, but their 59.21 is the lowest grade of the season from any operation.
Fortunately, they had no turnovers or blocked kicks.
Florida State Grades & Notes
Offense – Grades: 92.96 (A-)
- Quarterback: 94.2 (A)
- Running backs: 91(A-)
- Wide receivers & tight ends: 92.7(A-)
- Offensive line: 93. 95 (A)
Offense – Quick Takes & Notes
Highlights: J’Mari Taylor’s touchdown run to close out the first half was a thing of beauty. First, after a bumbling final 6-7 minutes in the second quarter, that touchdown made everything equal. But the beauty of Taylor run was the way he blew off the FSU defenders, hurling them away like Ironman and then shifting to overdrive on the way to the end zone.
Not so bright: Morris needs to be more discerning in the passes he throws into traffic. Second-and-10 on your 30-yard line is better than first-and-10 with the other team’s QB under center.
Notes & Stats
- Florida State’s defense came into Charlottesville having allowed only 10.0 points per game in their first three games this season: the best in the ACC. The ‘Hoos obviously scored more than those three teams combined with their 46 points compared to 30.
- FSU defense had allowed 235 rushing yards, no rushing scores and 2.53 yards per carry in its first three games combined. The UVA offense is the first team this season to record 4.40 yards per carry or higher, to gain over 200 yards in a game and score four rushing touchdowns against the ‘Noles.
- The Cavalier offensive line ended a 14-game stretch where the Noles had recorded five or more tackles for loss.
- The Wahoos had a solid evening through the air. Their 72.2 percent completion rate is the highest against the ‘Noles defense in seven games, the two touchdowns UVA scored tied for the most in 11 games, and Virginia’s 127.31 passer rating is the best against FSU in 2025.
- UVA’s four rushing touchdowns tied for the most against the Seminoles since 12/30/23 when FSU lost 63-3 in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
- The last Virginia offense to record six 50 percent-plus third-down conversions rates in a single season was the 2019 Cavaliers. One more 50+ game, and the ‘Hoos will tie that squad.
Defense – Grades: 89.29 (B+)
- Defensive line: 86.91 (B)
- Linebackers: 87.98 (B+)
- Secondary: 88.64 (B+)
Defense – Quick Takes & Notes
Highlights: The physicality of the UVA defense this past weekend was exceptional. Like the offensive line, the defensive front commanded the field when they were in play the enter game.
Not so bright: It is necessary to find a way to mitigate the number of touchdowns the defense allows in the red zone. Twelve of 15 possessions ending in a TD is too much.
Notes & Stats
- The Hoos were the first defense in 2025 to keep the Noles under three or fewer rushing TDs.
- Entering the weekend, Florida State’s offense was generating four (4) plays of at least 40 yards per game, 5.3 plays of 30 yards or more and 2.3 plays of 50-plus yards per game.
- The UVA defense allowed the following:
- One (1) 40+ yard play
- Three (3) plays of 30+ yards
- The Seminoles were averaging 21 points per game in the first quarter coming into Friday night’s game. The Cavaliers held them scoreless in the first quarter.
- Prior to their Virginia loss, Florida State led the ACC in offensive and defensive scoring. They still led in offensive scoring but fell to No.4 in the conference defensively.
- FSU boasts the nation’s most explosive offense this season. The Seminoles lead the country with an average of 58.0 points per game, an average of 628.7 yards of total offense per game and a 222.50 team pass efficiency rating. The ‘Hoos kept the visiting offense in check by yielding just 36 points (-22 below average), 514 yards of total offense per game and 131.13 team pass efficiency rating (-91 below team average).
- The three turnovers collected by the Virginia defense matched the number FSU lost in their first three games combined.
- UVA’s two picks are tied for the most interceptions in a game against the Noles in the last 53 contests.
Special Teams – Grades: 77.054 (C)
- Kickoff return: 74.91(C)
- Kickoff coverage: 75.63 (C)
- Place kicking: 97.27 (A)
- Punt return: 78.25 (C+)
- Punt coverage: 59.21 (F+)
Special Teams – Quick Takes & Notes
Highlights: No kicks were missed, no punts were blocked, and no kickoffs or punts were muffed.
Not so bright: Good to see Will Bettridge connecting on field goals.
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