ACC Championship Game Is Officially Set: UVA Will Face Duke With A CFP Bid On The Line

Virginia clinched their spot in the ACC Championship tonight with their win over Virginia Tech

Nov 29, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers linebacker Maddox Marcellus (11) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the first quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

For the first time since 2019, the Virginia Cavaliers are going to the ACC Championship game. UVA got a dominant 27-7 win over Virginia Tech tonight, their first time beating their rival under head coach Tony Elliott and now, they will get a chance to go to the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history.

Because SMU lost to California tonight, Virginia is going to face Duke for the second time this season. Back on Nov. 15th, Virginia throttled Duke 34-17, and the score was not even that close.

UVA held the Blue Devils to season lows in several categories, including total offense (255) rushing yards (42), passing yards (213), pass completions (18), points scored (17) and first downs (11). 

Duke entered that game as the No. 4 passing offense (312.9) in the country, while also averaging 35.2 points per game, good for fourth in the ACC and No. 22 in FBS. 

The Virginia defense held the Blue Devils to 16 yards of total offense in the first quarter. That was the lowest Duke has had in a quarter this season.

• Virginia held Duke to three first-downs in the opening half. Duke was the third UVA opponent to be held to fewer than five first-downs this season.

• Virginia held the Blue Devils to 50 yards of total offense in the first half. Duke was the fifth opponent that UVA has held to under 100 yards in a half this season.

Virginia is going to be the favorite next week vs the Blue Devils, but I would expect a better showing from Duke in this game then the last time they played. Duke has an explosive offense , but the good news for UVA is that their defense is playing very well right now.

Great effort tonight

Nov 29, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) scores a touchdown as Virginia Tech Hokies safety Isaiah Cash (18) and Hokies linebacker Noah Chambers (16) chase in the third quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

It was a dominant effort from the Cavaliers defense tonight holding Virginia Tech to just 197 yards of total offense, including limiting Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones to just 4-16 passing for 78 yards. The most impressive thing that the Cavaliers did tonight though was hold Virginia Tech's strong rushing attack to just 119 yards on 31 carries.

Wins have been hard to come by when Virginia has faced their arch rival, but tonight was a night that Elliott and this program have been building towards for four years.

Now they can go win a championship.