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Television Coverage
The Raycom/ACC Network is televising the game. Click here for a list of the stationson the network.
Steve Martin (play-by-play), Rick Walker (analyst) and Mike Hogewood (sidelines) have the call.
Radio Coverage
All Virginia games are broadcast on the Virginia Sports Network, originating at WINA/WWWV in Charlottesville.
Dave Koehn (play-by-play), Frank Quayle (color analysis) and Tim Sherman (sidelines) have the call.
The Series vs. Miami
This is the sixth all-time meeting between the two Coastal Division rivals.
Miami won the first three games, but the Cavaliers have won the last two contests.
The teams have split their four games as members of the ACC since the Hurricanes’ arrival in 2004.
Series Results vs. Miami
1996 – Miami 31, Virginia 21*
2004 – Miami 31, Virginia 21
2005 – Miami 25, Virginia 17
2006 – Virginia 17, Miami 7
2007 – Virginia 48, Miami 0
home team denoted in bold
* Carquest Bowl
Things You Need to Know
Virginia has won 15 of its last 17 Homecoming games.
UVa has averaged 26.5 points and 382.0 total yards per game during its four-game winning streak. The Cavaliers averaged 9.0 points and 251.2 yards per game in starting the year 1-3.
The Cavaliers’ schedule is rated the second-toughest nationally (tops in the ACC) this week in the Sagarin ratings. Their opponents boast a 42-24 record this year.
Virginia has allowed the fewest sacks in the ACC (1.13/game). On the flip side, the defense has the second-most sacks in the ACC (2.88/game).
With 1.19 sacks per game this year, Clint Sintim ranks fifth nationally and leads the ACC in sacks. He also is the national leader in sacks among linebackers.
Cavaliers on Homecoming
Virginia has a 42-39-2 record all-time in Homecoming games dating back to 1923, but the Cavaliers have dominated of late.
UVa has lost just twice on Homecoming since 1991, going 15-2 in that stretch and winning by an average of 20.1 points per game.
The Cavaliers’ lone losses since 91 were in 2000 (Clemson, 31-10) and 2006 (Western Michigan, 17-10).
This is UVa’s first-ever Homecoming game vs. Miami.
It also is the latest Homecoming game since 1990 when then-No. 1 Virginia lost, 41-38, to No. 16 Georgia Tech on Nov. 3.
Streaking!
Virginia has won four straight games, tied for the longest current streak in the ACC with Florida State.
The win streak is the ninth-longest current run in the country. Penn State and Texas Tech each have 10-game winning streaks to lead the nation.
FBS Longest Current Winning Streaks
10 – Penn State, Texas Tech
9 – Alabama, Utah, Texas, Tulsa
8 – Ball State
7 – Boise State
4 – Virginia, Florida State and four others
2007: Virginia 48, Miami 0
No. 23 Virginia ended Miami’s 70-year stay at the famed Orange Bowl in stunningly one-sided fashion, dealing the Hurricanes the biggest shutout loss in Orange Bowl history. Mikell Simpson had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs and quarterback Jameel Sewell scored twice.
Virginia outgained Miami, 418-189.
Chris Cook had a 44-yard fumble return for a score with 2:26 left, putting Virginia’s effort into the Miami history books. It topped a 44-0 Notre Dame win over the Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl in 1973.
It was Miami’s first home shutout loss since Oct. 4, 1974, against Auburn, and the Hurricanes’ worst defeat since losing 66-13 at Syracuse on Nov. 28, 1998.
Sewell completed 20 of 25 passes and 288 yards for Virginia. Virginia did most of its damage with its trio of tight ends, who caught 10 passes for 154 yards.
Cavalier Standouts vs. Miami
UVa has had several strong performances in the Miami series since the Canes entered the ACC in 2004.
A look at how some of the current Cavaliers have fared vs. Miami:
John Phillips: 5 receptions, 121 yards
Mikell Simpson: 22 rush, 93 yards, 2 TD
Maurice Covington: 4 rec., 54 yards, TD
Kevin Ogletree: 2 rushes, 38 yards;
5 receptions, 43 yards
Clint Sintim: 14 tackles, sack
Jon Copper: 9 tackles, TFL
Antonio Appleby: 18 tackles, 2 TFL, sack
Byron Glaspy: 16 tackles, TFL, INT
Virginia Has Second Toughest Schedule
Virginia currently has the second-toughest schedule in the FBS according to the latest Sagarin ratings.
Virginia’s opponents this year boast a 42-24 record (.636), tops among all ACC schools.
Five of UVa’s FBS opponents already are bowl eligible, while two more are one win shy.
Sagarin Strength of Schedule Ratings
| 1. | Washington | 78.73 |
| 2. | Virginia | 77.67 |
| 3. | Purdue | 76.45 |
| 4. | Oregon State | 76.32 |
| 5. | Duke | 76.10 |
UVa Strong vs. Ranked Teams
Virginia has earned wins over ranked teams in each of the last two weeks (No. 18 North Carolina, No. 21 Georgia Tech).
This is the first time since 2002 Virginia has defeated ranked teams in back-to-back weeks. UVa defeated No. 20 NC State and No. 18 Maryland that season.
The Georgia Tech win was UVa’s first on the road over a ranked team since winning at No. 19 Clemson in 2001.
UVa last won two games against ranked teams in the same season in 2005.
Childs Becomes Latest First-Time Starter
Junior LB Darren Childs made his first career start at Georgia Tech, becoming the 18th Cavalier to make the first start of his career this season.
There have been plenty of new starters on each side of the ball, with nine first-timers on offense and nine on defense.
Hoos Holding Onto the Ball
Marc Verica’s fourth-quarter fumble Saturday at Georgia Tech broke Virginia’s streak without a lost fumble at 274 offensive plays.
Prior to that miscue, UVa last lost a fumble in the fourth quarter of the Duke game
Overall, UVa has lost one fumble over its last 286 offensive plays, spanning 50 drives.
The Cavaliers’ defense has recovered six fumbles during that span.
Slow Starters
Virginia’s offense has taken some time to get rolling throughout the year. UVa has scored on its opening drive just twice this year both via field goals (Richmond, Georgia Tech).
UVa has been outscored 55-30 in the opening quarter this year, but has rebounded to outscore opponents 42-27 in the second quarter.
Slow starts have plagued the UVa defense as well, with the Cavaliers giving up points on the opening drive in five of eight games, including the last three.
The Cavaliers have trailed in six of their eight games this year. The exceptions are their two shutouts (Richmond, Maryland).
O-Line Preventing Sacks
Virginia’s offensive line has done its job in pass protection, allowing just nine sacks in eight games (1.13 per game).
The Cavaliers lead the ACC in fewest sacks allowed and rank 18th nationally.
UVa has given up more than one sack on just one occasion vs. Southern California (two) in the season opener.
Last week, UVa allowed just one sack to Georgia Tech, which entered as the ACC leader in sacks.
Red-Zone Success
One of the keys to UVa’s winning streak has been its ability to successfully finish off drives.
Virginia is 13 for its last 14 in the red zone, with the lone hiccup coming on a missed field goal in the Maryland game.
Over the last three games, UVa has scored on eight straight drives in the red zone, including six touchdowns.
In its first four games, UVa was 6-for-10 in the red zone.
Passing Game Ratchets Up A Notch
Virginia ranks second in the ACC in passing offense at 210.25 yards per game.
Only Clemson, at 210.86, averages more passing yards per game.
Over the last four games, Virginia has averaged 235.25 passing yards per game.
Virginia ranked 10th in the ACC in passing offense in 2007 (194.8).
Sack Attack
The Cavaliers are second in the ACC and 15th in the FBS with 2.88 sacks per game (23 total). Florida State leads the ACC with 3.14 sacks per game (22 total).
TCU leads the FBS with 3.89 sacks per game, while Texas (3.63) is second and Oklahoma third (3.5).