Beat Virginia Tech: The Time is Now
In our latest episode, we dig into why UVA fans would gladly trade a couple extra wins for a victory over the Hokies, and why this year’s matchup carries even more weight. With Virginia Tech limping into the rivalry at 3–8 and Tony Elliott undefeated after bye weeks, the stage is set for the Hoos to finally flip the script. From ACC title implications to long-term program momentum — and yes, the simple need to silence Hokie Twitter — this is the moment UVA has to seize. We break down the stakes, the emotion, and why beating Tech now could redefine the future of the program.
Jay Ballard
11/18/20252 min read
On our latest episode, I said something that might sound wild to college football outsiders but makes perfect sense to anyone who bleeds orange and blue: I’d rather go 7–5 with a win over Virginia Tech than 9–3 with a loss to them. Jeff agreed. Jack agreed. And if we’re being honest, most UVA fans were probably nodding along too. Some things in college football are bigger than the record. Some things are cultural, emotional, generational. And right now, for UVA fans, beating Tech is that thing.
Ohio State fans showed the world how deep rivalry frustration can go. They won the national championship last year. They climbed the mountaintop and achieved the dream. Yet a chunk of their fanbase still spent the offseason grumbling because they lost to Michigan. That’s rivalry. That’s DNA-level football emotion. And if a fanbase can win it all and still feel unsatisfied because of one game, how can anyone criticize UVA fans for valuing one rivalry win over a couple of extra victories?
This year makes that feeling even stronger. Virginia Tech is likely entering the game at 3–8, one of their weakest positions in recent memory. You’ve got to beat Tech when they’re down, and this is as down as they’ve been. The bye week leading into the matchup only adds to the opportunity — extra time to heal, scheme, regroup, and pour everything into the one game that defines the fanbase’s emotional temperature every single season. End the streak. Reset the rivalry. Plant the flag.
And the timing of the schedule might help even more. Under Tony Elliott, UVA is undefeated after bye weeks. Whenever he’s been given extra preparation, the team has come out sharper and more focused. Pair that with Tech stumbling toward the finish line, and the circumstances could not be setting up better for UVA to take advantage.
The stakes also go far beyond just bragging rights. With a win over Tech, UVA is likely playing for the ACC Championship — and if you get there, you are suddenly 60 minutes from a College Football Playoff berth. These aren’t just games — they’re program-changing moments. They impact recruiting, donor momentum, national perception, and the trajectory of the next several years.
And let’s be honest: if we don’t beat them now, we’ll never hear the end of it.
This is already a fanbase that finds a way to be loud despite having very little recent success to stand on. If UVA lets a 3–8 Tech team walk into the rivalry game and leave with bragging rights, the already insufferable pockets of Hokie Twitter and message boards will reach new heights of obnoxiousness. You think they’re bad now? Losing this one would give them ammunition for years. Beating them now isn’t just for pride — it’s for our collective sanity.
With Virginia Tech bringing in James Franklin and trying to reboot their own identity, this is the perfect moment for UVA to elevate the program and take control of the Commonwealth. Beat them now, while they’re resetting, and you can seize the state for years. This isn’t just a rivalry. It’s leverage. It’s positioning. It’s a chance to flip the long-term script.
The record will be what it is, and the bowl picture will sort itself out. But this game — this moment — is the season. And more than that, it might be the launchpad for the next era of UVA football.