Post-Halloween Could Turn Frightening if Hoos Lose Focus at Cal

Halloween might be Friday night, but the real fright could come 24 hours later in Berkeley if Virginia doesn’t handle its business. The Cavaliers have become one of college football’s most surprising stories — riding a six-game winning streak, three of those in overtime, and standing on the brink of something big.

At 8-1, the Hoos would not only be bowl eligible but also on the national radar, possibly even drawing the attention of the ESPN College GameDay crew for a first-ever visit to Charlottesville. That’s the kind of “rat poison,” as Nick Saban would call it, that a team has to tune out. The mission has to stay the same: survive and advance.

To do that against California in Saturday’s 3:45 p.m. Eastern kickoff, UVA needs sharper play from quarterback Chandler Morris. After a scorching start to the season, Morris has cooled off the past two weeks, and Virginia’s offense has leaned heavily on its defense and special teams to grind out wins. Getting Morris back in rhythm — quick reads, smart decisions, and accurate throws — could be the difference between a comfortable win and another cardiac finish.

On the other side of the ball, John Rudzinski’s defense has become the backbone of this team. The Hoos have forced timely turnovers all season, flipping momentum and keeping opponents out of rhythm. That has to continue against a Cal team that can run the football and control the clock if allowed to settle in.

Meanwhile, Cal’s offense is led by dynamic dual-threat quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who can make life miserable for defenses that get overaggressive. He’s quick on his feet, extends plays, and isn’t afraid to take deep shots downfield. Containing him will be a major test for John Rudzinski’s defense, especially in limiting scrambles and keeping him from turning broken plays into big ones. Forcing him to stay in the pocket and make tight-window throws could tilt the game in Virginia’s favor. While his stats won’t overwhelm you, when you watch him play it’s obvious he’s got a ton of talent.

The Cavaliers are unbeaten in October for the first time since 2019, and the locker room, and this fan base, is buzzing with belief. But this is the moment when good seasons either turn great — or take a scary wrong turn.

Handle business at Cal, and Virginia moves to 8-1, bowl-bound, and possibly the talk of the nation. Slip up, though, and the day after Halloween could turn into a full-blown house of horrors.

Photo credit: Tyler Phillips