Virginia: The Dark Horse CFP Contender You Should Have Seen Coming

Virginia might be the quietest threat in the ACC heading into 2025. The Cavaliers don’t have a ranked opponent on the schedule, a transfer quarterback with championship pedigree, and a roster that suddenly looks deeper than it has in years. The comparisons to Indiana’s surprise run a year ago aren’t far-fetched — and in some ways, Virginia might have an even clearer path.

It starts with Chandler Morris. The North Texas Mean Green transfer isn’t just another arm from the portal; he has already proven he can win high-level quarterback battles. In 2022, he beat out Max Duggan for the starting job at TCU before a knee injury ended his season — the same year the Horned Frogs went on to play for a national championship. Last fall, Morris threw for nearly 3,800 yards and 31 touchdowns for North Texas. Now he steps into an offense playing behind what could be the program’s most improved offensive line in recent memory.

That line has been rebuilt through the portal with the likes of Brady Wilson, Kevin Wigenton II, and others, joining returning pieces such as Noah Josey and McKale Boley. The result is a two-deep that should give Morris time to work through progressions and allow Virginia to open up the playbook in ways that haven’t been possible the past two seasons.

The schedule gives Virginia every chance to build momentum. There are no ranked opponents in the regular season, and the toughest road games — at Louisville, at North Carolina, and at Duke — are against programs the Cavaliers have competed with or beaten in recent years, even with less talented rosters. Louisville is a place where Virginia has played well before, and neither UNC nor Duke is considered a juggernaut. It’s not “murderers’ row” — it’s an opportunity.

On the perimeter, the passing game adds proven weapons. Trell Harris was in the middle of a breakout season for Virginia in 2024 before a knee injury cut it short. Jayden Thomas, who played in the national championship game at Notre Dame, brings size and reliability. Jahmal Edrine from Purdue is another physical target, while JMU transfer Cam Ross adds quickness in the slot and value in the return game.

Defensively, the Cavaliers have reloaded with players who know what it takes to win at the highest level. Ohio State’s Mitchell Melton joins the pass rush, paired with portal additions Fisher Camac from UNLV — a 6’7” edge rusher who posted 7.5 sacks last season, including three against California, an opponent on Virginia’s 2025 schedule — and Kazeem Moore from Elon. Together with Alabama transfer Hunter Osborne, Virginia’s front has the potential to pressure quarterbacks at a rate the program hasn’t seen in years.

The depth is what stands out most. For the first time in a while, Virginia doesn’t have an obvious weak spot. There’s experience and competition at quarterback, running back, receiver, the offensive line, and every level of the defense. Special teams could be an asset, not an afterthought, with Ross and others capable of flipping field position.

It’s a roster built not just to be competitive, but to contend. That’s why the Indiana comparison makes sense — a program not in the preseason spotlight, with the right mix of schedule, quarterback play, and veteran additions to make a major leap.

Chandler Morris isn’t trying to hide his ambitions. Asked about his expectations at Virginia, he didn’t hesitate: “I didn’t come all the way to Virginia as a Texas boy to win five or six games.” We don’t think he did either. We’re not saying buy your tickets to the CFP now, but it wouldn’t be the craziest thing to ever happen.