Jay Ballard 
SMU and Virginia
In a game that encapsulated the challenges of the 2024 season, the Virginia Cavaliers fell to the SMU Mustangs 33-7 on Saturday in Charlottesville. The loss drops UVA to 5-6 on the year, leaving the Cavaliers one game away from bowl eligibility as they prepare for their season finale against arch rival Virginia Tech.
Virginia’s offense once again sputtered, unable to find a rhythm against a dominant SMU defensive front. The Mustangs, now 7-0 in ACC play and bound for the conference championship game, sacked Sophomore quarterback Anthony Colandrea nine times. Even with all the struggles on offense, the coaching staff never attempted to find a spark this week by inserting Senior QB Tony Muskett. With each passing, empty possession, it was obvious the fans in attendance wanted change as “We want Muskett” chants could be heard in the Stadium. It’s hard to defend not making the change, however Coach Elliott cited that the failures on offense weren’t just Colandreas and that if Muskett would have gone in he wouldn’t have had protection either. Once again, coaches will evaluate the tape and the starting quarterback next week has not yet been decided.
Offensive Inefficiency
The Cavaliers’ lone bright spot came in the fourth quarter, when Malachi Fields hauled in a touchdown pass to avoid a shutout. Fields has been a reliable playmaker for Virginia, catching at least one pass in 26 consecutive games. His fourth-quarter touchdown was his fifth of the season and the 11th of his career, bringing him closer to UVA’s all-time top-10 list in career receptions and receiving yards. Yet, this was too little, too late. The Cavaliers managed just 213 total yards of offense.
The running game offered little support. Noah Vaughn posted career highs with 10 carries for 44 yards, but UVA’s rushing attack failed to provide a meaningful counterbalance. Losing both Xavier Brown (collarbone) and Kobe Pace to injury certainly hurt the offense. Brown is out for the year, so the Hoos have to hope Pace is able to return next Saturday in Blacksburg.
Missed Opportunities
Despite Virginia’s offensive woes, the defense showed resilience. The Cavaliers limited SMU to 111 rushing yards, the Mustangs’ second-lowest output of the season. This effort gave UVA’s offense multiple chances to stay in the game, including two turnovers in plus territory, however the offense was unable to capitalize either into points.
Looking Ahead
The Cavaliers are now 2-6 against ranked opponents under head coach Tony Elliott, including three consecutive games against top-25 teams. While Virginia’s defense has shown flashes of brilliance—holding its own against high-powered offenses like SMU and Notre Dame, the offense has consistently struggled to complement these efforts.
Entering their final game of the season, the Cavaliers must find a way to improve offensively to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2021. Starting faster and protecting the quarterback will be crucial if they hope to extend their season and win in Blacksburg for the first time since 1998.
Saturday’s loss to SMU underscores the challenges Elliott’s program faces in competing against elite competition. As the Cavaliers prepare for their regular-season finale, the stakes couldn’t be higher: Win and keep the season alive, or fall short and head into what could be a very interesting off season in Charlottesville.
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