By Jerry Ratcliffe

After a record-breaking season, Tony Elliott’s Virginia football program has finished in the Associated Press Top 25 final poll for the first time in 21 years.

The Cavaliers finished No. 16 in the nation, their highest final ranking since the 1995 team, which also finished 16th. Only twice in UVA history has the program finished a season with a higher ranking: No. 15 in 1994 and No. 13 in 1951.

Virginia ended the 2025 season with an 11-3 record, the most single-season wins in program history. The Cavaliers also finished the season with a 7-1 ACC record, ending atop the ACC regular-season standings for the first time in program history, eventually losing a rematch against Duke in the ACC Championship game.

Wahoo fans have to feel good for Elliott. The UVA head coach began the season with an 11-23 overall record in his first three seasons and equaled his three-year win total in a lone season. Elliott jumped to 22-26 after four years.

His teams were also 6-17 in the ACC, and surpassed his three-year win total in league play in one lone season as well, jumping to 13-18.

The Cavaliers were a mere 6-12 in all home games over Elliott’s first three campaigns, something he stressed to this year’s team. His message was “defend this house,” and the players listened.

Virginia finished 6-1 in home games, equaling the previous three years’ home win totals, improving the Cavaliers’ mark at Scott Stadium over four years to 12-13.

In ACC home games, Elliott is now 5-11 over four seasons, improving from 2-10 after three years.

Elliott won ACC Coach of the Year honors as a result, defeating Missouri in the Gator Bowl.

Here is a list of Virginia’s Final AP Top 25 rankings (all-time):
2025 — 16
2004 — 23
2002 — 22
1998 — 18
1995 — 16
1994 — 15
1990 — 23
1989 — 18
1984 — 20
1951 — 13