By Scott Ratcliffe

For the second week in a row, Virginia went toe to toe with an unbeaten opponent, and it once again required an extra session to escape Louisville with a 30-27 win in overtime Saturday.

The Cardinals rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, knotting the score at 24-all late in regulation. Louisville got the ball first in OT, and appeared to have a first-and-goal on a diving catch on third down, but replay determined that the ball hit the ground and was ruled incomplete, setting up a fourth-and-two from UVA’s 6-yard line. UL head coach Jeff Brohm elected to take the points, and Virginia trailed for the first time all day, 27-24.

The Cavaliers only needed 25 yards to score the game-winning touchdown. Chandler Morris got things going with a play-action pass to John Rogers down the sideline for a 14-yard gain and a first down at Louisville’s 11-yard line.

After a short J’Mari Taylor run inside the 10, Morris saw green grass on the next play and went full speed for the end zone, but was blasted at the 2-yard line, setting up a third-and-1.

Backup quarterback Daniel Kaelin entered the game on the next snap, as Morris needed to be helped off, but he proved to be a decoy. Taylor lined up for the all-important play, took the direct snap and danced across the goal line, sparking a well-deserved celebration on the Wahoo sideline.

“Hey man, a win’s a win,” said Tony Elliott. “In this conference? You take ‘em. I’ve been a part of some ‘ugly’ wins… there’s truly no ugly wins. We came up here with the objective to win, and the young men, super proud of them for their effort to just find a way.”

Elliott added that had Morris been in the huddle for that final play, it likely wouldn’t have changed the call, as the direct snap to Taylor is what the team had been practicing in that situation.

UVA moved to 5-1 with the win, and is still perfect in conference play (3-0 ACC), while the Cardinals (4-1, 1-1) suffered their first conference loss as well as their first loss overall.

The contest was tied at 14-apiece at halftime before the Hoos scored 10 unanswered third-quarter points — thanks to a 47-yard Kam Robinson pick-six and a 46-yard Will Bettridge field goal — to take a 24-14 advantage into the fourth. Robinson led the team with 10 tackles (6 solo).

It was the second touchdown of the day for the Virginia defense, which came away with a ton of big plays throughout the evening (Donavon Platt got the scoring started with a 61-yard fumble return on Louisville’s opening drive of the game).

The home team cut it to three with 9:41 left in regulation, as UL quarterback Miller Moss found Chris Bell in the corner of the end zone for their second TD connection of the day.

The Cavaliers held onto the ball for the next five minutes-plus but had to punt it back, with a few chances to all-but seal it on the ensuing Louisville drive. A 14-yard sack by Jason Hammond made it third-and-24 with just over two minutes left, but Moss found Kris Hughes on the following snap for a huge 33-yard gain into Virginia territory.

A few plays later, on third-and-2 from the UVA 32, Moss was chased by Robinson and his pass fell incomplete, and the Cards had to settle for a 50-yard field goal by Cooper Ranvier with 1:08 on the clock. The Hoos couldn’t do much with it and decided to let the seconds tick away and settle things in overtime.

Virginia registered just 237 total yards — 149 passing, 88 rushing — but came up with timely big plays at crucial moments for the victory, which leaves the team one win away from bowl eligibility with six games to go.

HIGHLIGHTS: The Hoos go on the road and grab another OT ACC win. Virginia defeats Louisville 30-27, presented by @VAFarmBureau 🔶⚔️🔷 #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/Ho5s9J6hHL

— Virginia Cavaliers (@VirginiaSports) October 5, 2025

UP NEXT

UVA has a bye next weekend before wrapping up non-conference play at home against Washington State on Oct. 18 (6:30 p.m., The CW Network).

Scoring Summary

Virginia 7-7-10-0-6 — 30
Louisville 7-7-0-10-3 — 27

First Quarter
UVA (6:12) — Platt 61-yd fumble return (Bettridge kick). UVA 7, UL 0.
UL (0:01) — Moss 1-yd run (Ranvier kick). UVA 7, UL 7.

Second Quarter
UVA (6:56) — Ross 19-yd pass from Morris (Bettridge kick). UVA 14, UL 7.
UL (3:26) — Bell 15-yd pass from Moss (Ranvier kick). UVA 14, UL 14.

Third Quarter
UVA (6:25) — Robinson 47-yd interception return (Bettridge kick). UVA 21, UL 14.
UVA (0:30) — Bettridge 46-yd field goal. UVA 24, UL 14.

Fourth Quarter
UL (9:41) — Bell 13-yd pass from Moss (Ranvier kick). UVA 24, UL 21.
UL (1:08) — Ranvier 49-yd field goal. UVA 24, UL 24.

Overtime
UL — Ranvier 24-yd field goal. UL 27, UVA 24.
UVA — Taylor 2-yd run. UVA 30, UL 27.

Player Stats

Rushing
UVA — J’Mari Taylor 16-68; Xavier Brown 6-21; Chandler Morris 7-7; TEAM 1-(minus-2); Harrison Waylee 2-(minus-6). TOTAL — 32-88. UL — Isaac Brown 13-66; Keyjuan Brown 3-16; Caullin Lacy 2-8; Duke Watson 1-2; Miller Moss 8-(minus-38). TOTAL — 27-54.

Receiving
UVA — Cam Ross 4-43; John Rogers 2-40; J’Mari Taylor 6-29; Trell Harris 5-18; Ja’Maric Morris 1-13; Jahmal Edrine 1-6; . TOTAL — 19-149. UL — Chris Bell 12-170; Kris Hughes 2-36; Jaleel Skinner 4-35; Nate Kurisky 4-31; Caullin Lacy 5-21; TreyShun Hurry 2-13; Antonio Meeks 1-11; Duke Watson 1-6; Isaac Brown 2-6; Keyjuan Brown 1-0. TOTAL — 34-329.

Passing
UVA — Chandler Morris 19-31-149-1-0. TOTAL — 19-31-149-1-0. UL — Miller Moss 34-48-329-2-1. TOTAL — 34-48-329-2-1.

Team Notes

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

• For the first time in school history, No. 24 Virginia recorded back-to-back wins in overtime. The only other time UVA played consecutive games in OT was in 2018 (lost both to Georgia Tech & Virginia Tech).
• With the win, Virginia improved to 6-8 in the all-time series and snapped a three-game losing skid against the Cardinals. The win also marked the Cavaliers’ at UofL since their 34-33 win at L&N Stadium in 2021. Virginia is 2-5 in road games against the Cardinals.
• UVA tallied its fourth straight win, its first four-game win streak under head coach Tony Elliott and since 2021.The Cavaliers also earned their third consecutive ACC win, also a first since 2021.
• The last time UVA started 3-0 in conference play was in 2007.
• Virginia is 5-1 through its first six games for the first time since 2017.
• UVA’s three ACC wins match that of last year and tie a season high under Elliott. Elliott’s ACC win totals have improved in each year of Elliott’s tenure.
• The Cavaliers have won back-to-back ACC road openers for the first time since 2016 and 2017.
• UVA has scored at least 30 points in all six games played so far this year.
• For the first time this season, Virginia was outscored in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers still lead their opponents this season in fourth-quarter scoring, 26-19.
• UVA improved to 4-0 this season when forcing a turnover. The Cavaliers returned both a fumble and an interception for touchdowns in today’s win.
• UVA recorded two defensive touchdowns in a game for the first time since 2003 against Western Michigan (two interception returns).
• UVA recorded a its first win while ranked in the AP top 25 for the first time since Sept. 21, 2019, when it defeated Old Dominion at Scott Stadium, 28-17.
• The Cavaliers have yet to lose a fumble this season. The last time UVA had not lost a fumble in six consecutive games were in its final six of 2019.
• With Donavon Platt’s 61-yard fumble return on fourth down, UVA has scored at least one touchdown in the first quarter in each of its first six games this season.
• For the second consecutive game, Virginia was tied with its opponent at the half and won.
• Former Cavalier running back Perris Jones served as an honorary captain in the contest. He suffered a neck injury playing at Louisville in 2023 that ended his football career and is now pursuing his doctorate at the University of Louisville.

Player Notes

• Donovan Platt’s 61-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown was his first score and first fumble recovery of his career. It’s UVA’s longest fumble recovery for a touchdown since Art Thomas’ 92-yard return against Penn State in 2001. UVA has won its last five games when recovering a fumble for a touchdown.
• Reigning ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, Michell Melton, had a career-high, two sacks to go along with five total tackles (3 solo) and a pass breakup.
• J’Mari Taylor scored the game-winning touchdown in the first overtime and now has at least one rushing TD in 16 of his last 17 games, dating back to his time at North Carolina Central. He upped his season total to eight in six games this year. Taylor is the first Cavalier running back with eight touchdowns in a season since Wayne Taulapapa in 2019 (11).
• Kam Robinson made a team-high 10 tackles (6 solo), one tackle for loss and one QB hurry. He recorded his second interception return for a touchdown of his career and the first by a Cavalier since his pick-six against Louisville in 2023.
• Will Bettridge made all four of his kicks, including a season-long 46-yard field goal in the third quarter. Bettridge stands at No. 5 on UVA’s all-time scoring list with 254 career points (98-100 PAT, 52-64 FG).
• UVA punter Elijah Slibeck had a 71-yard punt, the longest by a UVA punter since Nash Griffin booted a 78-yarder in 2019, also at Louisville. Slibeck is one of only 11 punters in UVA history to record punt of at least 71 yards.
• John Rogers had a career-long 26-yard reception in the second quarter. His previous long was 25 yards against William & Mary (Sept. 13). He had two receptions for a career-high 40 yards.
• Cam Ross’ 19-yard TD reception in the second quarter was the 10th of his career.
• Lexington, Kentucky natives Devin Neal and Xavier Brown played only 75 miles from their hometown.
• Nose tackle Jahmeer Carter made his 50th career start. Carter has also started in UVA’s last 41 games.
• Receiver Jahmal Edrine tallied his 25th career start.