Underrated matchup in Charlotte

No. 25 Virginia faces West Virginia on Saturday in Charlotte, with the Cavaliers hoping this is the first of two trips to the Queen City this season.

West Virginia's defensive challenge

West Virginia has an underrated defense this season that will present challenges for Virginia's efficient offense through two games.

Zach Alley compared to Brent Venables

Elliott drew comparisons between West Virginia defensive coordinator Zach Alley and Clemson's Brent Venables, whom Elliott worked with previously.

“Yeah, Zach [Alley], he's a lot like BV [Brent Venables]. I'm thinking about my hairline now, all the hair I lost on the practice field going against Brent [Venables].”

Multiple defensive looks to prepare for

West Virginia will switch from a 3-4 defense to a 5-man front with man coverage, plus exotic blitzes and coverages that will stress Virginia's preparation.

Five-day preparation challenge

Virginia has only five days to prepare for West Virginia, a shorter window than their previous two games which had at least two weeks of prep time.

West Virginia's defensive personnel

Number 50 brings pressure off the edge, linebackers attack downhill, and the secondary has length and speed to match in man coverage.

One-on-one blocking required

West Virginia's defense won't allow Virginia to rely on double teams, forcing the Cavaliers to win individual matchups and backs to find precise angles.

Jason Hammond needs surgery

Defensive tackle Jason Hammond will require surgery after MRI results, a significant loss for Virginia's defensive line against a run-heavy West Virginia offense.

“Yeah, unfortunately for Jason Hammond, looks like the MRIs come back and he's probably gonna need surgery.”

Rico Flores ramping up practice

Transfer portal addition Rico Flores practiced yesterday and will face a bigger test today with full-contact drills in pads.

Flores brings veteran leadership

Elliott praised Flores as a technical receiver and veteran presence who will be in the right place at the right time on the field.

“He's a veteran guy. He's played a good amount of football. He's a very technical receiver. So he's going to be where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there.”

Beau Pribula's strong start

Pribula has had a fantastic start to the season in just two games, looking like one of the best quarterbacks in the conference.

Pribula has a quarterback mind

Elliott says Pribula thinks and processes like a quarterback, understanding game management and the nuances of the position beyond just being an athlete.

“He's got a quarterback mind. So he is a quarterback. He's not just an athlete that plays a position.”

Pribula comfortable in the system

The staff works with Pribula to find passing concepts he's comfortable with rather than forcing him into predetermined schemes.

RPO execution and accuracy

Pribula excelled in the RPO aspect of the system this past weekend, taking quick throws that resulted in big plays and showing accuracy on downfield drives.

Pribula faces tough test Saturday

The transfer quarterback will need to play his best against West Virginia's versatile and challenging defense.

Charlotte redemption opportunity

Virginia lost the ACC Championship game in Charlotte last season, falling one win short of a College Football Playoff appearance.

Getting bad taste out of mouth

Elliott sees Saturday's game as a chance to erase the disappointment from last season's loss and build momentum heading into conference play.

“I think it's a great opportunity for us to get the bad taste out of our mouth from the last time that we were down there.”

Path back to Charlotte

Virginia's goal is to return to Charlotte for the ACC Championship game at season's end, starting with a win against West Virginia on Saturday.

Kickoff details for Saturday

Virginia vs West Virginia kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Charlotte and will be televised on ACC Network.