The Virginia Cavaliers, often just called UVA, pulled off a pretty big win in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Saturday night. They beat 25th-ranked Missouri 13-7 in Jacksonville. This win wasn’t just any win, either. It gave Virginia its 11th victory of the season, which is a new school record. A pretty cool way to end things, right?
Bouncing Back After Heartbreak
This Gator Bowl win came after a tough loss for the Cavaliers. They had just lost the ACC title game to Duke in an overtime thriller. That game, honestly, cost them a shot at the College Football Playoff. So, regrouping after such a crushing defeat? That shows a lot of character.
Most folks didn’t really expect Virginia to win this one. They were a four-point underdog, apparently. And they were missing some key players. Star running back J’Mari Taylor, their leading receiver Trell Harris, and linebackers Kam Robinson and Maddox Marcellus were all out. Taylor, who led the ACC in rushing, didn’t even show up on the sideline. He was deliberating all week, sources say. But Coach Tony Elliott’s team still pulled it off.
Quarterback Chandler Morris, the guy who’s been leading the offense, had a solid night. He threw for 198 yards, completing 25 of 38 passes. Not a huge number, but he did enough. Virginia really controlled the game, holding the ball for over 38 minutes. They were also pretty good on third downs, converting 13 of 23 attempts. That’s a big deal in a tight game like this. Harrison Waylee ran for a touchdown, and he and Xay Davis combined for 109 rushing yards. They really stepped up for the missing Taylor.
Defense Clamps Down on Missouri
The Cavaliers’ defense was super impressive, honestly. They held Missouri to just 260 total yards. That’s pretty stout. They also forced four punts, picked off a pass, and stopped the Tigers three times on fourth down. You just can’t win if you can’t convert in those crucial spots.
Missouri’s freshman quarterback, Matt Zollers, started his third game. He filled in for Beau Pribula, who hit the transfer portal. Zollers had 101 yards passing and an interception. He even had to leave the game for a play at one point. That’s not ideal for a young QB. All-American Ahmad Hardy did run 15 times for 89 yards for Missouri.
He even broke a school record for single-season rushing yards, surpassing Cody Schrader’s 2023 mark. But it wasn’t enough to get the Tigers’ offense going. Missouri actually failed to get nine wins for the third season in a row. That’s a pretty tough stat for them. They really wanted that, as it would’ve been a program first.
A Season for the Record Books
So, yeah, Virginia secured its 11th win of the season. That’s something the program has never done in its 122-year history. A pretty monumental achievement, if you ask me. It just goes to show how much this team has grown under Coach Elliott.
This was all happening in the bigger context of College Football Playoff discussions. ACC commissioner Jim Phillips was really pushing for ACC teams to get into the CFP. He even said he had “conviction and confidence” in teams like Miami, and that the “Virginia-Duke winner should absolutely be in this College Football Playoff.” Phillips was pretty vocal, even after Duke beat Virginia in that ACC title game, about the ACC deserving two bids, as ESPN reported at the time.
He kept making his case, pointing to strength of schedule and the overall performance of league teams. Even if UVA didn’t get that CFP spot, their season was still historic.
This Gator Bowl victory really caps off an amazing season for the Cavaliers. They showed a lot of grit, especially after that tough ACC title game loss. Getting to 11 wins is a huge step for the program, and something their fans won’t soon forget. It just feels like a pretty good building block for the future of UVA Football. They really found a way to finish strong. And that’s what matters most in these bowl games, really.
You can find more college football scores and schedules on ESPN’s college football page and ESPN College Football.
Annsly Raena