Matt Johns threw for four touchdowns, but the UVA defense could not stop Louisville on the ground, as the Cardinals racked up 266 yards rushing en route to a 38-31 win on Saturday.
Louisville (6-4, 5-2 ACC) has now won six of its last seven games.
Virginia (3-7, 2-4 ACC) has lost two in a row, and the loss cinched the fourth straight losing season for UVA coach Mike London, who would seem to be on his way out after leading the Cavs to just one bowl game in his six seasons.
Johns was 25-for-41 passing for 260 yards and the four TDs, three of them to his roommate, Canaan Severin, who had eight catches for 116 yards.
But it was the defense that was the weak link on Saturday, as it has been much of the 2015 season, surrendering 425 total yards to Louisville, with Brandon Radcliff gaining 146 yards on 21 carries and scoring two TDs on the ground.
The backbreaker was a 36-yard TD run by Radcliff that capped a 96-yard Cards drive with 2:57 to go to put Louisville up 38-24.
Johns drove Virginia 75 yards in 11 plays, capped by a 16-yard TD pass to Severin, that closed the margin to one score.
The Cavs failed to secure the onside kick attempt, and Louisville ran out the clock from there.
Virginia jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with an impressive 15-play, 75-yard drive on the opening series of the game, capped by a 2-yard TD pass from Johns to tight end Evan Butts.
A John Wallace 20-yard field goal got Louisville on the scoreboard on its first possession to make it 7-3 UVA with 2:07 to go in the first. A 20-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Reggie Bonnafon to Jaylen Smith put the Cardinals on top, 10-7, with 10:54 left in the second.
Virginia answered quickly, with a 30-yard TD pass from Johns to Severin giving the ‘Hoos the lead, 14-10, with 9:24 to go in the second.
Cole Hikutini scored on a 20-yard TD pass from Kyle Bollin with 6:47 left in the half put the Cards back on top. UVA placekicker Ian Frye tied it with a 46-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.
A Radcliff 9-yard run made it 24-17 Louisville with 11:56 left in the third. Virginia tied it back up with 10:14 to go in the fourth on a 23-yard TD pass from Johns to Severin.
Louisville took the lead on its next possession, aided by the Cavs’ lone turnover of the day, a muffed punt by Olamide Zaccheaus that the Cards recovered inside the UVA 5. L.J. Scott scored on a 1-yard run to put Louisville up 31-24 with 8:30 to go.
Virginia went three-and-out on its next possession, but punter Nicholas Conte pinned the Cards’ offense deep in its own territory with a booming 67-yard punt.
The Louisville offense made the big punt moot, driving the field on eight plays, taking 4:21 off the clock.
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