Cardiac Hoos: UVA Football Is Winning in Overtime — and Stealing Years Off My Life

I’m not sure whether to hug Tony Elliott or send him my cardiologist bill. Three of Virginia’s last four football games have gone to overtime, and I’m starting to think my 46-year-old heart can’t handle much more of this. Every week feels like a sequel to the same movie: edge-of-your-seat suspense, dramatic plot twists, and just enough heartbreak potential to make you wonder why we do this to ourselves. Then the Hoos pull it off — again — and all is forgiven.

If you’re a lifelong Virginia fan, you’ve seen your share of drama. From the Miracle at Scott Stadium against Florida State in ’95, to the 2007 comeback against Maryland that ended with Chris Gould’s walk-off field goal, to the Bryce Perkins-led shootout wins that made 2019 so unforgettable — this program has made cardiac theater its calling card. But this stretch? This is something else entirely.

Three overtime wins in four games. Three Saturdays of absolute chaos, with my Apple Watch practically begging me to sit down and breathe. It’s gotten to the point where kickoff feels less like a football game and more like a stress test with orange and blue uniforms.

Last weekend’s two-point play — when the defense stopped Bill Belichick’s UNC team just two inches short of the goal line to seal a 17–16 win — was the moment I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes. There’s a split second when the pile collapses, the ref’s arm shoots one way, and you’re just praying it’s our way. Then it is, and chaos erupts. Euphoria, disbelief, maybe even a little confusion. Then you remember to exhale.

And through it all, something has changed with this team. They’re no longer the bunch that used to crumble when things got weird. They’ve found a backbone, a collective belief that seems to grow with every nail-biting finish. It’s not always pretty — most masterpieces of madness aren’t — but it’s becoming oddly dependable. You just know the Hoos are going to make it interesting.

For fans who’ve lived through the lean years, that feeling matters. This ride might not end in the College Football Playoff, but it’s a joyride all the same. It’s the thrill of seeing a group of players refuse to quit, of watching a sideline come alive after every stop, every clutch kick, every red-zone stand. It’s why we keep showing up, even when our rational minds tell us to find a calmer hobby.

Somewhere, the ghosts of UVA’s past classics are smiling — from Don Majkowski’s late-game magic to Tiki Barber’s dazzling runs, from the Thomas Jones days to the smoke-filled nights when Scott Stadium really rocked. The names change, but the heartbeat of this fan base stays the same: cautious optimism, a dash of disbelief, and an unshakable loyalty that survives every overtime and every gray hair that comes with it.

So if you’re like me — pacing the living room, yelling at the TV, clutching your heart like it’s 4th and goal every Saturday — take a breath. Enjoy it. These are the moments we’ll talk about years from now. Not because they were perfect, but because they were ours.

The Cardiac Hoos are back, baby. And as much as my heart might protest, I wouldn’t trade this ride for anything.

🟠🔷 For more UVA talk (and a little cardiac recovery), follow @GoHoosPodcast on X and tune in to The Cavalier Connection on YouTube.

Photo credit: Tyler Phillips (IG @tylers_visuals)