Kelly Poppinga knows exactly what the key for Virginia’s defense will be when the Cavaliers attempt to end a lopsided losing streak to state rival Virginia Tech in their noon showdown in Charlottesville on Friday.

As Friday’s showdown for the ACC Coastal Division championship approaches for Virginia and visiting Virginia Tech, it would be interesting to hear what things Bronco Mendenhall might be saying to his team about ending a 15-year losing streak to the Hokies.

One Hokie player in particular, Dax Hollifield, may be in for a rough day from the Cavalier crowd.

Heading into the final week of the Pigskin Picks season, Hootie is sitting on a four-game lead, which is like Tiger Woods sitting on a four-shot lead heading into the final round of a major. Well, almost.

Despite his wife Holly’s disapproval, Bronco is hoping the beard keeps growing for at least one more month and change.

Walking out of the postgame interview room after Saturday’s win over visiting Liberty, the countdown clock inside Virginia’s locker room shouted out the constant reminder: “Beat Tech, 5 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes, 58 seconds.”

Tickets for Virginia’s bowl game will go on sale the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 8 shortly after the Cavaliers’ bowl bid is announced.

It had been a span of eight-plus games since Liberty quarterback Stephen Calvert had thrown an interception, 295 pass attempts — the nation’s longest such streak — until De’Vante Cross crashed the party on Saturday at chilly Scott Stadium.

Virginia’s 55-27 win over Liberty in photos by John Markon

Virginia will attempt to continue its two-game winning streak this afternoon when the 7-3 Cavaliers take on visiting non-conference Liberty, which is attempting to become bowl-eligible.

With the emergence of Terrell Jana at wide receiver, Virginia’s offense has taken a leap forward in recent weeks and has become much more challenging to defend.

When the casual observer glances at Virginia vs. Liberty this weekend, two things pop out.

As part of our coverage of the Virginia game this weekend against visiting Liberty, here is a Q&A with Jon Manson, publisher of “Sea of Red,” a website dedicated to covering the Flames.

If anyone thinks Virginia is focusing on the Virginia Tech football game after Thanksgiving and not on this week’s opponent, Liberty, then think again.

The first-ever Riverside Lunch Pigskin Pick ‘em Contest is headed down the homestretch and our weekly winners have been treated to the best burgers in Charlottesville. Readers have two weeks remaining to qualify for our grand prize.

Virginia defensive lineman Richard Burney and inside linebacker Jordan Mack were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team.

Virginia wide receiver and kick return specialist, Joe Reed, has been named one of four finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, announced the Louisville Sports Commission on Thursday (Nov. 14).

So you may be wondering what’s in store for Virginia football if the Cavaliers win out, defeating nonconference Liberty, and state rival Virginia Tech, ending a 15-year losing streak to the Hokies.

When Al Groh resigned as head coach of the NFL’s New York Jets to return home and take over his alma mater’s football program at Virginia, his dreams were to lead the Cavaliers to a national championship.

In football picks, they say “every blind pig finds an acorn every now and then,” which would fully explain how Hootie is in first place heading down the home stretch.