Up to date Aug. 29, 2026, 8:23 p.m. ET
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – It didn’t seem like Rio de Janeiro. There have been no sand seashores. Christ the Redeemer was not looming over town.
None of that mattered to Virginia. The Cavaliers dominated NC State from the beginning and cruised to a 34-8 victory in a uncommon convention recreation in Week 0 of the faculty soccer season.
Initially not anticipated to be a part of the league standings when it was introduced in December, the sport scheduled for Brazil between longtime league foes was scrapped in June attributable to logistic causes and made a convention recreation.
It resulted within the first introduced sellout in 18 years at Scott Stadium, although there have been loads of empty seats within the higher deck. That earlier sellout was one other residence opener for Virginia. It ended 52-7 in favor of Southern Cal.
This time the gang had extra to cheer about and created an environment that fifth-year coach Tony Elliott thought was an enormous issue even earlier than the ball was kicked off. Shaquille O’Neal did a pregame live performance. The grounds had been crowded with tailgaters and the stands had been buzzing earlier than the sport.
“It is laborious to explain, however it if you really feel it,” Elliott stated. “It felt like how I believe the blokes performed. They fed off of that. They fed off of that power and performed as much as the atmosphere. It hopefully proves to everyone what we’re able to on the College of Virginia.”
The win wasn’t as emphatic as that loss to the Trojans. It is gives an excellent platform for larger issues forward. Of notice was a dominant operating recreation that piled up 258 yards and managed the sport and a protection that saved in examine what was anticipated to be one of many higher offenses within the ACC.
Winners
Beau Pribula
New quarterback Beau Pribula offered a lot of that injury within the first half with 80 of the group’s 164 yards on the bottom earlier than intermission. That domination additionally opened the door for some huge passing performs.
After a ball pretend to a receiver in movement, Pribula discovered Xavier Brown out of the backfield operating free in the course of the sphere a 47-yard landing with 11 minutes left within the second quarter that put Virginia forward 17-0.
The same rating got here early within the second half, when he discovered Da’Shawn Martin on their lonesome behind the protection for a 48-yard landing that successfully put the sport away at 24-0.
Pribula completed for 9-of-11 passing for 155 yards and two landing. He piled up 110 speeding yards on 15 carries.
It was a formidable begin to life in Charlottesville for the Missouri switch who handled passing inconsistency and harm in his one season with the Tigers. He beforehand performed two seasons at Penn State and was used primarily as a operating quarterback behind Drew Allar.
His capability to have an effect on the bottom can be a profit for the Cavaliers, who final had a 100-yard rusher at quarterback in 2022 when Brennan Armstrong achieved the feat.
Requested concerning the operating workload, Pribula wasn’t bothered by the quantity of carries even when Elliott didn’t anticipate or need to make the workload a daily behavior.
“I am going to do no matter it takes to win,” Pribula stated. “It is form of the way in which I’m. So possibly this week I needed to run extra. Perhaps the subsequent time we play in a pair weeks, we’ll need to go extra. However I believe that is what’s good about our offense.”
Losers
QB CJ Bailey
Not a lot went proper for NC State.
About the one constructive was the journey again to Raleigh is just a matter of some hours as a substitute of flying 4,600 miles again from the Southern Hemisphere.
That can be little comfort for the Wolfpack, who entered the season with optimism that began with the return of quarterback CJ Bailey for third season as starter and hopes their protection would rebound after a tough season.
However the offense by no means bought going within the first half. Bailey was both late or quick together with his throws to an inexperience receiving group that struggled to get separation. A Bailey fumble within the second quarter snuffed out the one scoring alternative of the primary half.
Bailey ended a irritating day passing at 12 of 23 for 84 yards with an interception on a tipped go that arrange Virginia’s first landing.
The operating recreation wasn’t a lot better. Jayden Scott, the group’s second-leading ball provider in 2025, was anticipated to hold the load with the departure Hollywood Smothers. He by no means bought going and completed with 20 yards on 7 carries.
Wolfpack protection
It was laborious to pinpoint the worst a part of the protection. None of it was good up entrance as Pribula constantly discovered house up the center or across the finish. The secondary wasn’t examined usually however was discovered missing the occasions Virginia tried to hit an enormous play downfield. Plenty of work must be achieved in each areas.
NC State coach Dave Doeren has been a mannequin of consistency, reaching bowl eligibility in 10 of 11 seasons. None of that, nevertheless, has resulted in an look within the ACC title recreation. And it doubtless received’t occur except one thing vital adjustments between now and NC State’s subsequent league recreation in opposition to Louisville in October.
“I informed the group in there, as a head coach I’ll all the time take private how we play and that was private that we weren’t prepared,” Doeren stated. “And for no matter cause, that is our job to determine this week developing and the subsequent week main into the subsequent recreation.”
