Virginia Cavaliers football coach Tony Elliott and quarterback Chandler Morris are getting their recognition following UVA’s stunning 46-38 win over the Florida State Seminoles on Friday night in Charlottesville.
CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno called the double-overtime win over FSU at Scott Stadium “the Chandler Morris game” and a “statement win” for Elliott.
“Friday marked the signature win of coach Tony Elliott's tenure at Virginia. The Cavaliers have yet to reach bowl eligibility under Elliott, but at 4-1 and with a favorable ACC schedule ahead, they appear well on their way. Virginia avoids both Miami and Georgia Tech -- the two teams projected as favorites to meet in the ACC title game later this season,” Salerno wrote.
“Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris is a familiar name to college football fans after previous stops at Oklahoma, TCU and North Texas. He went 26 of 35 for 229 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, but delivered when it mattered most. Morris added three rushing scores, including the go-ahead touchdown in double overtime, to lift the Cavaliers to a marquee win over a top-10 opponent -- the type of performance that embodies college football.”
Outside of two years under Bronco Mendenhall in 2018 and 2019, when the Cavaliers finished ranked and even played in the 2019 Orange Bowl against the Florida Gators, UVA has been a downtrodden program.
Things may finally be looking up for Virginia, which went 11-23 in Elliott’s first three seasons. Tony Bennett’s retirement from the basketball program opens up investment into football, and at 4-1, the Cavaliers look poised to convince the donor base to continue its financial efforts.
Beating a top-10 team at home for the first time since 2005 is an undeniable momentum-builder. Elliott now has two top-10 wins in as many calendar years, but this one felt like the beginning of a potential special run.
If UVA isn’t ranked after this win, they could be if they beat the Louisville Cardinals on the road next weekend.