Pittsburgh, PA—Virginia coach Tony Elliott used the bye week to rally his struggling team, challenging the Cavaliers to change the course of their season. His message clearly resonated.
Xavier Brown scored both a touchdown and a rushing score, helping Virginia snap a three-game losing streak with a 24-19 victory over No. 23 Pittsburgh on Saturday night. This win likely crushed Pitt’s chances of reaching the ACC Championship.
“Just super proud of how everyone responded in the program over the last two weeks,” Elliott said after the Cavaliers defeated the Panthers for only the third time in 10 matchups since Pitt joined the ACC in 2013. “Lot of reflecting and looking in the mirror.”
Virginia (5-4, 3-3 ACC) displayed resilience, running for 170 yards while holding Pitt (7-2, 3-2) to just 292 yards—about 120 yards below what the Cavaliers had been surrendering per game.
“We believe we can win any game that we play,” Elliott stated. “It’s good for these guys to come out and play well.”
Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea passed for 143 yards and added 40 rushing yards, throwing two interceptions but also finding Brown for a perfectly timed 24-yard touchdown in the third quarter that put Virginia ahead for good.
The win moves Virginia one step closer to bowl eligibility, something they haven’t achieved since their Orange Bowl appearance in the 2019 season.
Pitt lost quarterback Eli Holstein to injury in the third quarter after a high, late hit by Virginia’s Mike Diatta, who was subsequently ejected for targeting. Holstein, who completed only 10 of 23 passes for 121 yards, did not return to the game. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said Holstein appeared “fine” afterward but didn’t provide details.
This was the second time in three games Holstein has exited early due to a head injury.
Backup quarterback Nate Yarnell, who had lost the preseason battle for the starting role, struggled to fill in, completing only 4 of 12 passes for 44 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. His first interception, by Virginia safety Jonas Sanker, set up a 3-yard touchdown by Kobe Pace to extend Virginia’s lead to 21-13. His second interception, a deep throw with under two minutes left, was picked off by Virginia’s Corey Thomas, allowing the Cavaliers to run out the clock.
Penalties haunted Pitt, which racked up 11 flags for 75 yards. A costly holding penalty on left tackle Ryan Baer nullified a two-point conversion that would have tied the game after Gavin Bartholomew’s 4-yard touchdown reception with 10:32 remaining.
“It starts with me,” Narduzzi admitted. “I’ve got to do a better job getting our guys prepared.”
A controversial sequence late in the game added frustration for Pitt. With just over five minutes left and leading by two, Virginia went for it on fourth-and-1 at Pitt’s 24. Pitt’s defense initially stopped a sneak by Virginia’s Grady Brosterhous, but referee Nate Black called off the play, stating the officials hadn’t been set. Virginia capitalized on the second chance to convert, draining more clock before Will Bettridge’s 32-yard field goal extended the lead to five points.
“At the end, they got five downs,” Narduzzi said. “Haven’t seen that many times in my career.”
When asked for clarification, Narduzzi—who’d previously been fined for criticizing officials—could only respond with a shrug.
“To be honest, I have no idea. It’s a great question,” he said. “I’m sure (the ACC) will answer that for us on Monday or Tuesday.”
Up Next:
Virginia: Visits No. 10 Notre Dame next Saturday.
Pittsburgh: Plays No. 19 Clemson next Saturday at home.
