Virginia Named Cheez-It National Team of the Week

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.

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.

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.