Washington State Just Did Virginia a Massive Favor

Sometimes, the best thing that happens on a bye week doesn’t come from your own locker room. It comes from 2,000 miles away. And for Virginia, the biggest storyline of their off week came courtesy of Washington State — who nearly stunned No. 4 Ole Miss in Oxford before falling 24–21.

Why is that good news for the Cavaliers? Because it changed the tone of what’s coming next.

The Cougars entered that game as heavy underdogs and came within a few plays of pulling off a season-defining upset. Quarterback Zevi Eckhaus was sharp and efficient, completing 24 of 31 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns. The Washington State defense, led by disruptive edge rusher Isaac Terrell, sacked the Ole Miss quarterback twice and forced a fumble. They didn’t look like an easy out — they looked dangerous.

And that’s exactly what Virginia needed to see.

If there was even a sliver of temptation for the Cavaliers to look past this upcoming matchup, that Ole Miss near-upset should have erased it. Washington State just proved they can line up with elite SEC athletes and trade punches for four quarters. That’s the kind of wake-up call a good team uses to sharpen its edge.

Make no mistake: this game now has the makings of a statement opportunity.

From a national perspective, Washington State gave Virginia a gift. By playing Ole Miss to the wire, the Cougars provided a real-time measuring stick. Analysts love comparisons, and this one couldn’t be clearer: if Washington State can hang with the No. 4 team in the country, and Virginia — now 5-1 overall and 3-0 in ACC play, ranked No. 18 nationally — can take care of business convincingly, it says something about how far Tony Elliott’s program has come.

That’s the kind of narrative that builds credibility, earns national attention, and keeps the Hoos moving up the rankings as bowl season creeps closer.

The bye week came at the perfect time for Virginia — right at the midpoint of the season. It gave the staff a chance to self-scout, fine-tune the details, and heal up the inevitable bumps and bruises that come with six hard-fought games. You couldn’t ask for better timing: the Hoos get to come out of the break rested, focused, and with something to prove.

Now the mission is simple — take the lesson from afar and apply it at home.

Washington State’s near-upset showed Virginia exactly what kind of energy, focus, and physicality they’ll need on Saturday. Expect the Hoos to come out crisp, balanced, and determined to make their own statement. Because if Washington State can go toe-to-toe with an SEC power, imagine what a locked-in Virginia team can do to the Cougars in Scott Stadium under the lights.

Prediction:

Virginia 45, Washington State 20.

The Cougars already had their close call. This time, the Hoos make sure the outcome isn’t in doubt.