Virginia's loss to Duke

Virginia's loss to Duke was tough. So was the postgame press conference, during which Coach Tony Elliott was asked some very difficult questions about this Cavaliers football team.

Leadership styles changed

Elliott previously said that the player leadership in 2025 is different than it is in 2026.

Vocal leaders exhausted eligibility

Vocal leaders like Sage Ennis, James Jackson, Jahmeer Carter and Chandler Morris (the captains) all exhausted eligibility. Virginia has not had permanent team captains since.

Close games in early 2026

In the first few months of the 2026 campaign, the Cavaliers have lost some close games. Friday was the latest heartbreaker.

Elliott on leadership responsibility

A lot of that's on me.

“A lot of that's on me”

Leadership styles don't equal outcomes

So I'm not going to throw the leadership of this team under the bus.I got to keep helping them, but also, they responded to the challenges that have been placed in front of them.

Is Beau Pribula the starting QB?

Is Beau Pribula the starting QB going forward?

QB security concerns

We'll review him, all right.

“We'll review him, all right”

Five sacks on quarterback

But five sacks...we're putting that on the quarterback? And the guy's running with the ball and trying to get more yards. Now, ball security got to improve.

Field goal decision

Elliott said he did not want to do "anything too risky." That decision was, and will continue to be, heavily scrutinized after a game the Cavaliers lost by three points.

Matthew Fobbs-White's absence

Virginia's starting BANDIT did not play in the first two quarters. He did play in the second half.

Internal issue with Fobbs-White

According to Elliott, there is an internal issue that is being worked through. The last time Elliott said that, it was associated with a disciplinary decision (Ja'Son Prevard, against Virginia Tech in 2025).

Offense struggles

It is a tough question. It is perhaps the biggest one surrounding this football team. Elliott says his team needs to strain a little bit harder.

Critical plays and ownership

They're working hard, but man, when you're playing playoff-style football every single week, and it's coming down to you know three to five plays, you never know which one of those plays is going to…