What to expect: Stanford

When Virginia takes the field under the lights at Scott Stadium on Saturday, the Cavaliers have a golden opportunity to build momentum. Fresh off a 55–16 rout of William & Mary, Tony Elliott’s team now turns its focus to Stanford, a cross-country visitor that brings a physical running game but also some vulnerabilities UVA can exploit.

The key to beating Stanford is no secret—stop the run and make the Cardinal uncomfortable. Micah Ford is their workhorse back, and if he’s chewing up yards on first down, Stanford can keep the playbook wide open. Virginia’s defense has to flip that script. Winning on early downs, forcing second-and-long, and finally creating a turnover or two are all musts. Through three games, UVA hasn’t generated many takeaways, but this feels like the week they need to change that. A big interception or forced fumble could swing momentum and give the Cavaliers the separation they need.

On offense, Virginia has found its identity. This is a team that wants to bully opponents at the line of scrimmage and let its deep backfield take over. Ja’Mari Taylor and Xavier Brown bring steady production, Harrison Waylee offers game-breaking speed, and even with Noah Vaughn nicked up, the Cavaliers have more than enough to wear down Stanford’s front. When the ground game is working, it allows Chandler Morris to pick his spots in the passing game, especially off play-action. He doesn’t have to be flashy—just efficient enough to keep the Cardinal defense honest and set up those occasional explosive plays.

Saturday night also brings an atmosphere advantage. A night kickoff at Scott Stadium usually means a better crowd, and Stanford is traveling across the country to play in a hostile environment. That matters, especially if Virginia starts fast and forces the Cardinal to chase the game.

The danger, of course, is looking past Stanford to the massive Friday night clash with Florida State waiting next week. Everyone in Charlottesville has circled that one, but Elliott and his players know they can’t afford to slip up here. Take care of business against Stanford, and next week’s spotlight only gets brighter.

Virginia is a two-touchdown favorite, and it’s the kind of game they should win if they play to their strengths. Control the line of scrimmage, generate a turnover, and lean on a balanced offense, and the Cavaliers should come out with a comfortable victory. Go Hoos!