Virginia’s Loss to NC State: Blip on the Radar or Cause for Concern?

Virginia’s Loss to NC State: Blip on the Radar or Cause for Concern?

Virginia’s 35–31 loss to NC State on Saturday left fans with more questions than answers. Just a week earlier, the Cavaliers’ defense looked dominant in a win over Coastal Carolina. But after watching NC State’s offense slice through the Hoos with ease, it’s fair to wonder: was last week’s performance about Virginia’s improvement, or Coastal’s ineptitude? After all, Coastal managed just 13 points against Charleston Southern the following week.

The issues on defense were glaring. Poor tackling, bad pursuit angles, and players out of position turned routine plays into game-changers. The defensive line, which needed to set the tone, failed to create any pressure, recording zero sacks. As a result, NC State’s quarterback CJ Bailey looked more like Lamar Jackson than a young, fairly inexperienced ACC passer.

On offense, J'Mari Taylor was the star, but the question remains: why didn’t he see the ball more in the fourth quarter? With the game hanging in the balance, Virginia went away from its most effective playmaker. Equally puzzling was the fourth-down play call—a pitch to the right when the left side of the offensive line is clearly the team’s strength. Add in the questionable decision to attempt a field goal on 4th-and-5 from around the 30 while trailing by four, and the frustrations piled up quickly.

The good news? Virginia won’t face another serious test immediately. With William & Mary and Stanford coming to Charlottesville, the Hoos should be able to regroup and pick up a couple of wins. But then comes the real measuring stick: a Friday night home showdown with Florida State on September 26. Win that one, and Virginia can reestablish itself as a contender. Lose, and the Hoos could be staring at 3–3 with a road trip to Louisville looming—a dangerous position that could send the season spiraling.

So, was Saturday’s loss to NC State just a blip on the radar or a sign of what’s to come? The truth is, we won’t really know until that nationally televised FSU game. One thing’s certain: the Hoos need to fix their defensive issues, lean on their playmakers, and make smarter decisions in crunch time. The season is far from lost, but the margin for error is already razor-thin.

For now, all eyes are on September 26. Go Hoos.