Blog Article

From Hot Seat to Playoff Hunt: How FSU and Virginia Went From College Football’s Biggest Disasters to Undefeated Juggernauts in One Season

Mark Haines on September 26, 2025

Friday Night Lights in Charlottesville
#8 Florida State (3-0) at Virginia (3-1)
Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA
Friday, September 26, 2025 – 7:00 PM ET

The Storylines

Florida State: From Disaster to Dynasty (Again)

The Seminoles have authored one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent college football history. After a catastrophic 2-10 season in 2024 that saw them get outgained by 115.6 yards per game and score just 270.3 yards of total offense per contest, FSU has exploded onto the scene in 2025.

2025 Statistical Dominance:

628.7 yards per game of total offense (+358.4 from 2024!)
248.0 yards allowed per game on defense (-137.9 improvement)
+380.7 yard differential per game (a staggering +496.3 swing from 2024)
363.0 rushing yards per game (up from an anemic 89.9 in 2024)

The Seminoles announced their arrival with a stunning 31-17 victory over #8 Alabama in the season opener, then followed with dominant blowouts of East Texas A&M (77-3) and Kent State (66-10). This is a program that has found its identity again after losing it completely in 2024.

Virginia: Tony Elliott Finally Breaks Through

Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott entered 2025 as high as #7 on coaching hot seat rankings after years of mediocrity in Charlottesville. Four games into the season, he’s likely secured his job for years to come with an equally impressive transformation.

Virginia’s Renaissance:

564.5 yards per game of total offense (up 56% from 360.9 in 2024)
313.5 yards allowed per game (-23% improvement from 408.3)
+251.0 yard differential per game (up from -47.4 in 2024)
251.5 rushing yards per game (+91% improvement from 131.9)

Elliott’s squad has posted signature wins over Coastal Carolina (48-7), William & Mary (55-16), and Stanford (48-20), with their only loss coming in a competitive 31-35 defeat to NC State.

Key Matchup Battles

Rushing Attacks vs. Run Defenses

This could be the decisive factor. Both teams have transformed their ground games into elite units:

FSU Rushing (363.0 ypg) vs UVA Rush Defense (100.3 ypg allowed)
UVA Rushing (251.5 ypg) vs FSU Rush Defense (78.3 ypg allowed)

Florida State’s rushing explosion has been the key to their offensive transformation, while Virginia has found a balanced attack that keeps defenses honest. However, FSU’s run defense has been even more dominant, allowing just 78.3 yards per game.

Quarterback Play

Florida State appears to have solved their 2024 quarterback carousel that featured struggling performances from D.J. Uiagalelei, Brock Glenn, and Luke Kromenhoek. The 2025 passing efficiency (70.7% completion rate, 265.7 ypg) suggests they’ve found their answer.

Virginia’s Anthony Colandrea has taken a massive step forward from his inconsistent 2024 (61.9% completion, 13 TD/11 INT) to become a precise, efficient leader (67.8% completion rate, 313.0 ypg).

Explosive Play Potential

Both offenses are now averaging over 7.0 yards per play (FSU: 8.9, UVA: 7.2), a massive increase from their 2024 struggles. The team that creates more explosive plays will likely control this high-scoring affair.

What’s At Stake

For Florida State

Undefeated season and potential playoff positioning
National credibility after the 2024 embarrassment
ACC Championship aspirations in their first year back to form
Momentum heading into the meat of their ACC schedule

For Virginia

Program validation under Tony Elliott’s leadership
ACC relevance for the first time in years
Upset potential against a ranked opponent at home
Continued hot seat relief for Elliott with a signature win

For Both Programs

This game represents the collision of two remarkable coaching turnarounds. Both Mike Norvell at FSU and Tony Elliott at UVA were facing serious questions about their futures just months ago. Now they’re leading two of the most improved teams in college football.

The Prediction

Florida State 38, Virginia 28

This should be an instant classic between two explosive offenses. FSU’s slightly more dominant statistical profile and their experience against elite competition (Alabama) give them the edge. Still, Virginia’s home field advantage and newfound confidence make this much closer than the rankings suggest.

Expect a track meet with over 1,100 total yards of offense between these two teams. The difference will likely come down to a few explosive plays and which team can get a crucial stop when needed.

Keys to Victory:

FSU: Establish the rushing attack early and force Virginia into a one-dimensional passing game
UVA: Use home crowd energy to create early momentum and keep pace in what should be a high-scoring affair

Both programs have gone from coaching hot seats to legitimate contenders in remarkable fashion. Tonight’s winner takes a massive step toward ACC Championship contention.

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Blog Article

Virginia Football 2025: Tony Elliott’s Final Stand

Mark Haines on March 12, 2025

Tony Elliott’s career at Virginia hangs by a thread.

After three disappointing seasons, UVA’s embattled head coach enters 2025 with the hottest seat in the ACC and a fanbase running dangerously low on patience. His 11-23 record (.324 winning percentage) has made Virginia the conference’s most consistent underachiever, but a combination of promising transfers and a favorable schedule offers one final opportunity for redemption.

Is there hope for a turnaround, or are we witnessing the final chapter of Elliott’s Virginia story?

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Elliott’s Coaching Crisis

The survival threshold for Elliott sits at eight wins.

With a meager .324 winning percentage that falls well below Coaches Hot Seat’s “Minimum Acceptable” standard of .419, calculated for UVA, Elliott has exhausted nearly all goodwill in Charlottesville. The statistics paint a brutal picture of his tenure:

11-23 overall record spanning three seasons without a bowl appearance
4-8 mark in one-score games, revealing a troubling pattern in clutch moments
Zero winning seasons since taking over in 2022
$15 million NIL payroll for 2025 that demands immediate returns
$4 million buyout that continues to decrease annually

The situation becomes even more precarious considering Athletic Director Carla Williams’ contract expires in June 2025, potentially setting the stage for a complete program reset should results fail to improve dramatically.

Why Has Elliott Failed Where Others Succeeded?

Poor offensive execution has derailed Elliott’s Virginia tenure from the start.

Despite arriving with a championship pedigree as Clemson’s offensive coordinator, Elliott’s pro-style system under coordinator Des Kitchings has consistently underperformed. The 2024 season showcased several critical flaws that have defined the Elliott era:

Personnel mismanagement epitomized by Anthony Colandrea’s benching and subsequent transfer to UMass
Defensive vulnerabilities that surrendered 263.1 passing yards and 145.3 rushing yards per game
Crippling penalty issues averaging 5.2 penalties (45.3 yards) offensively and 7.1 penalties (60.8 yards) defensively
Recruiting declines with classes averaging the 69th national ranking compared to predecessor Bronco Mendenhall’s 54th
Stubbornly maintaining ineffective assistants despite repeated performance failures

The most damning statistic? Elliott’s Cavaliers have gone just 4-8 in one-score games, revealing a program that consistently falters in critical moments.

The Transfer Portal Lifeline: Virginia’s 2025 Reinforcements

Virginia’s 25th-ranked transfer class might save Elliott’s job.

After watching 21 players exit the program, including starting quarterback Anthony Colandrea, Elliott orchestrated an aggressive transfer portal strategy that brought 17 new players to Charlottesville. The influx addresses nearly every position group with experienced talent:

Chandler Morris (QB, TCU): A proven Power 5 starter with 5,500+ career passing yards, 42 touchdowns, and a 67.4% completion percentage
Mitchell Melton (DL, Ohio State): Brings 4.5 sacks of production from one of college football’s elite programs
Fisher Camac (DT, UNLV): Coming off an impressive 11.5 tackles for loss season
Jahmal Edrine (WR, McNeese State): Provides explosive playmaking after posting 1,100+ receiving yards

This massive roster overhaul specifically targets Virginia’s most glaring weaknesses from 2024: quarterback inconsistency, pass rush deficiencies, and defensive vulnerability.

A Schedule Built for Success

The 2025 schedule gives Elliott his clearest path to salvation.

Unlike previous seasons where challenging matchups doomed Virginia to early failure, the 2025 slate provides legitimate opportunities for Elliott to build momentum and confidence:

Seven home games including winnable contests against Stanford, Wake Forest, and Virginia Tech
Notable ACC absences as schedule rotation spares UVA from facing powerhouses Clemson and Miami
Strategic bye weeks that provide recovery opportunities before critical conference games
Potential fast start with manageable non-conference opponents in Coastal Carolina and William & Mary

If Elliott can’t capitalize on this favorable draw, no excuses will be left to justify his continuation as head coach.

SWOT Analysis: Virginia’s 2025 Season Outlook

Strengths That Could Save Elliott

The Cavaliers aren’t without weapons heading into 2025.

Significantly upgraded quarterback play with Morris
Revamped defensive front seven through transfer portal
Special teams reliability (Will Bettridge 18/21 FGs in 2024)
Experienced defensive playmakers (LB Kam Robinson: 64 tackles, 5 sacks; S Jonas Sanker: 98 tackles)

Weaknesses That Could Derail The Season

Persistent issues continue to threaten Virginia’s progress.

Secondary depth remains questionable against pass-heavy ACC opponents
Offensive line rebuilding after losing three starters
Running back depth concerns following Kobe Pace’s transfer
Consistent penalty and turnover issues suggesting deeper discipline problems

Opportunities For Immediate Improvement

Several factors could accelerate Virginia’s revival.

Schedule alignment provides winnable games to build momentum
Transfer additions address most pressing roster needs
Fourth year in Elliott’s system offers continuity advantages
Defensive improvements could take pressure off developing offense

Threats To Watch For

External factors could complicate Elliott’s redemption story.

Growing fan discontent affecting home field advantage
Competitive ACC landscape offering limited margin for error
Potential midseason coaching speculation creating distractions
Administrative uncertainty with AD’s contract situation

The Final Verdict: Can Elliott Survive?

Tony Elliott has one last chance to prove he belongs.

After three years of disappointment, excuses have run dry in Charlottesville. The roster reconstruction offers legitimate reasons for optimism, but Elliott’s history of underperformance casts a long shadow over the program’s future.

The magic number appears to be eight—as in eight regular season wins. Anything less likely signals the end of Elliott’s Virginia tenure, especially if administrative changes occur at the athletic director position.

For long-suffering Virginia fans, the 2025 season represents not just another campaign but a crucial inflection point for a program desperately seeking relevance in an increasingly competitive ACC landscape.

Will Elliott finally translate potential into performance, or is this simply the calm before another coaching change in Charlottesville?

The clock is ticking.

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