Virginia Cavaliers

The Virginia Cavaliers represent the University of Virginia, competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference from Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, set against the backdrop of Thomas Jefferson's historic grounds. The Cavaliers embody the ideal of the scholar-athlete, balancing academic prestige with competitive football in one of America's most beautiful college towns. Virginia has cultivated a physical, disciplined defensive identity under recent coaching regimes. The program competes in the ACC's Coastal Division, with the annual showdown against Virginia Tech—the Commonwealth Cup—defining the season. Wahoo fans bring a blend of Southern tradition and intellectual passion to gamedays at Scott Stadium.

Virginia football began in 1888, making it one of the oldest programs in the South and a charter member of the ACC. The Cavaliers reached their zenith under George Welsh in the 1980s and 1990s, when Virginia became a consistent Top 25 program and produced stars like Shawn Moore and Herman Moore. The 1990 season saw Virginia reach the No. 1 ranking briefly, a first for the program. Ralph Sampson's fame in basketball often overshadows that UVA has produced NFL stars such as Chris Long, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. The rivalry with Virginia Tech, dating to 1895, divides the Commonwealth every fall and remains one of the ACC's most heated matchups.