CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After its 31-27 upset win over previously unbeaten and then-No. 10 North Carolina, Virginia was named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week for games the weekend of Oct. 21, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America. The victory was the first road win over a top-10 team in program history.
Virginia scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 14-yard catch and run by Malik Washington with 8:51 remaining in the game. The Virginia defense held the Tar Heels, the third-highest scoring team in the ACC (37.33 ppg), scoreless over their last three possessions which included a game-sealing interception by linebacker James Jackson with 26 seconds left.
𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜
1.15.41🕊️#UVAStrong | #GoHoos⚔️ pic.twitter.com/g1S0ixUL8R— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) October 22, 2023
The honor marks the second time UVA has won the National Team of the Week Award. The Cavaliers earned the honor back in 2019 after a 39-30 win over Virginia Tech that clinched UVA’s first ACC Coastal Division Championship and a berth into the ACC Championship Game.
History made on the road ‼️ 🛣️ @UVAFootball has been named the @cheezit National Team of the Week by @TheFWAA! Saturday's win was the Cavaliers' first top-10 win on the road in program history! pic.twitter.com/1i4SNcWM0P
— Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (@CitrusBowl) October 23, 2023
Since 2002, the FWAA has named a National Team of the Week. Coming into the 2023 season, 284 teams have been honored, including 101 different Division I programs. Each honored team will receive a custom Cheez-It “care package” along with a hand-crafted game ball made in America by Dallas-based Big Game USA, the nation’s leading manufacturer of custom footballs. Other nominees included Ohio State (20-12 win over No. 7 Penn State) and Utah (34-32 win at No. 18 USC).
The Cavaliers will be on the road this week to take on Miami on Saturday (Oct. 28) at 3:30 on ACC Network.