Postgame Takeaways: Wahoos find a way in win over WSU
No. 18 UVa needed a game-winning safety on Saturday night to come back and hold off upset-minded Washington State. With the 22-20 win, the Cavaliers moved to 6-1 on the year and punched their ticket to the postseason for the first time in five years.
Following each game this season, we’re going to break down five takeaways. So let’s dive into the victory over the Cougs.
1. The offense was very unlike itself….until it wasn’t.
Chandler Morris and Co. had to slog through a lot of rough drives before finding their form when UVa needed it most. But a nine-play, 97-yard scoring drive with 9:45 left to play was exactly what the offense, the team, and the 56,048 people at Scott Stadium needed.
On a night when not much seemed to go right all that often for the offense—it amassed a meager-by-2025-standards 301 yards of offense and was 5-for-15 on 3rd down—it’s pretty remarkable that not only did the Cavaliers put together that drive but that it opened the door for the defense to win the game.
2. A game-winning safety doesn’t grow on trees.
Say what you will about the execution throughout this thing—and trust me, we all will—but we all saw something Saturday night that was pretty rare. Kam Robinson and Hunter Osborne combined for a game-winning sack. According to research, it’s the first such play not only in UVa history but in the ACC, if not the country.
It capped what was a truly remarkable stack of defensive possessions from the Hoos. Over its final six drives, Washington State gained a total of 79 yards…and gave up two points.
3. Will Bettridge came through in the clutch. Again.
It’s fair to say that it hasn’t been the easiest year for No. 41 but the last couple of games, it seems like he might have turned a bit of a corner.
He’s bounced back in a big way the past few games, especially hitting a 47 yarder with 8:38 left in the third quarter (tying a career long) Saturday night that cut WSU’s lead to a score. The 34-yard FG he hit to tie the game at 20-20 with 2:44 left was no slouch, either.
Though he might not have had the start to the season he or a lot of folks were hoping, he’s been clutch of late. The 46 yarder at Louisville, for example, extended UVa’s lead in a game it would eventually win by….three.
4. Scott Stadium continues to bring the juice.
Far be it from me to talk attendance—if you know, you know—but to not only get 56,048 for Washington State but then to create another raucous atmosphere is a definitely job well done for the fans and for the university personnel who are doing all they can to help the program.
WSU was whistled for seven penalties for 33 yards. Of those, five were false starts. Of those five, three came in the fourth quarter.
If anyone ever tells you the crowd can’t change the game, laugh in their face.
5. Bowl eligibility 10+ days before Halloween is….something.
Finally, you can do something for the first time in five years and not talk about it. The fact that UVa has qualified for the postseason with this much actual season to play is pretty remarkable. The over/under for wins this season has not only been exceeded but with five games left to play, UVa has a golden opportunity to absolutely crush it.
There’s a lot of football left to play, of course, which means that it can go south just as it go well. But either way, the Hoos will be playing in a bowl game and Tony Elliott has another very clear demarcation in the sand that shows steady improvement.
Of course, UVa is a Top-20 team with a lot of winnable games ahead and unblemished ACC record.
The time to think big has certainly arrived.
