When entering the 2026 season against NC State, I don’t think anybody envisioned a blow-out of any sorts for either side. The Wolfpack expected to be a massive challenge for Virginia, and rightfully so, returning a Heisman like QB in CJ Bailey and some others. Well, let’s just say Virginia had other plans entering this game.
The Cavaliers won the coin toss and elected to defer to start the 2026 season. The first series of the year featured the ‘Hoos stuffing the Wolfpack on the first three plays with a rocking Scott Stadium behind them. It would end with Caleb Hardy getting home and making a sack forcing NC State to punt. Virginia opened their offense with Beau Pribula showing his speed rushing for 11 yards. After that however, the Cavaliers had nothing more and were forced to punt. After another defensive stop, Virginia got in field goal range and Will Bettridge banged home a career long tying 47 yard FG. Then excitement really got going in Charlottesville when Fisher Camac tipped a pass from CJ Bailey and Michigan transfer Brandyn Hillman caught the ball to give Virginia unbelievable field position on the interception. Pribula then ran 22 yards, and the two handoffs to Xavier Brown later, Virginia was in the endzone for the first time. Virginia led 10-0 to end the first quarter. Beau Pribula only threw one pass all quarter and did not complete it, making the run game that much more important.
The lack of passing would change however in the second quarter. Beau Pribula threw a beauty up the seam against the Wolfpack cover 3 for 52 yards and a touchdown making the score 17-0. A couple punts later, NC State found themselves in the red zone for the first time all game. CJ Bailey would take off on a scramble where Brandyn Hillman punched the ball out and Landon Danley jumped on it to force the turnover. Both teams would punt the rest of the half keeping the score 17-0 at halftime. Pribula only passed twice in the quarter and completed both.
Virginia started the second half with the ball and Offensive Coordinator Des Kitchings got creative on the first play running a flea flicker. Pribula completed the flea flicker pass for 20 yards to Ty’Lyric Coleman. Pribula would then complete a beauty of a pass for 47 yards to Da’Shawn Martin to score 6 more, Virginia went up 24-0. A few drives later, NC State would score its first and only touchdown of the game after CJ Bailey converted on 3rd and 21 and Will Wilson rushed for a yard into the end zone. NC State converted the two point conversion to make it a two possession game, 24-8.
Virginia’s next drive might have been the most methodical the season will see. 23 plays, 75 yards, and 12 minutes 15 seconds long. Virginia converted three 4th downs and ended the drive with Xay Davis rushing for a yard into the end zone. Virginia would then close out the night offensively with Will Bettridge converting on a 43 yard field goal doinking in off the right upright. Eli Holstein came in for a few plays and handed the ball off, and plenty of backups got in around the roster. The final score, Virginia 34, NC State 8.
Quick Takeaways
- The run game is as good as advertised – Virginia got every running back in the depth chart involved and all had pretty nice games. Xavier Brown especially peeked my interest as he was rolling despite all the injuries he has been through. When I asked Xavier what kept him going every day going through the injury he had a very grounded response. “It was God, this was one of the toughest things injury wise I’ve ever been through, not thinking I’d really be able to get back on the field, I leaned on the guys around me going through similar stuff.” Beau Pribula himself also rolled with 15 carries 110 yards.
- Offensive line… good – The offensive line was what we expected it to be… good. Pribula was only sacked once and the run game was easy with the holes the O-Line created. Beau Pribula even looked out for them, he said postgame, “I tried to speed things up to get us off the field, trying to look out for the O-Line since they are all so old.”
- Beau Pribula – Had a pretty nice showing in his Cavalier debut. Ran the ball a lot, we kind of knew about his speed, but I for one did nto realize just how elusive he is. Pribula was so shifty moving side to side making defenders miss. As for passing the ball, he only threw the ball 11 times completing 9 of them. A couple of really deep passes for touchdowns to Brown and Martin were excellent passes proving he could indeed throw the ball.
- Defense as a whole – The defense looked excellent all game long holding State to just 8 points. Brandyn Hillman was outstanding, grabbing an interception and forcing a fumble. The line also held up well only allowing 76 rushing yards total. CJ Bailey was held to 89 passing yards total, an unbelievable feat. “I think some of it was not allowing him to get ahead of the chains,” Coach Elliott said postgame, “That was a really big thing staying efficient on first and second downs.”
- Sold out Scott – The crowd was outstanding. An announced attendance of 62,779 was rocking all game long and made it that much more difficult for NC State. Coach Elliott said postgame that this was what he and his staff envisioned when they first got here how every game would be.