. Football
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash between Virginia (3-8, 2-5 ACC) and Virginia Tech (5-6, 4-3 ACC) will take place on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Scott Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network as well as the Virginia Sports Radio Network.
GAME DETAILS
Date: Saturday, Nov. 25
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Television: ACC Network (Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, Sherree Burruss)
Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network, TuneIn App, SiriusXM Channe 138 or 193, Sirius SM App 956
INSIDE SATURDAY’S MATCHUP
- Saturday will be the 104th meeting between Virginia and Virginia Tech. Due to the tragedy on Grounds that claimed the lives of UVA football players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry in November 2022, the two teams did not play one another for the first time since 1969.
- The first edition of what is now known as the Commonwealth Clash was first played in 1895, a 38-0 Cavalier victory in Charlottesville.
- Saturday will be UVA’s first game against Virginia Tech in the Tony Elliott era. Elliott is looking to become the first UVA coach to defeat Virginia Tech in his first meeting since Sonny Randle in 1972.
- Despite putting up their top passing performance in the series history (419 yards), the Cavaliers dropped a 29-24 decision to the Hokies at Scott Stadium in 2021.
- After a 30-27 win over Duke last week Virginia is seeking back-to-back ACC wins for the first time since 2021 when it rattled off four-straight victories, including home wins over Duke (48-0) and Georgia Tech (48-40). Virginia has not closed a season with back-to-back victories since 2003, which featured a 35-21 UVA victory over then-No. 21 Virginia Tech at Scott Stadium.
- Virginia boasts the fifth-best passing offense in the ACC at 251.5 yards per game. Virginia Tech boasts the top passing defense in the ACC and the seventh-best in FBS, allowing just 166.5 passing yards per game. UVA has eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark in each of its last 10 games.
- As a team, UVA has produced six-straight 100-yard rushing efforts for the first time since the 2020 season, including 170 yards on the ground against Duke last week. The Cavaliers have squared off against the ACC’s top two rushing defenses in the last four weeks – Miami (92.9 rushing yards allowed per game) and Louisville (98.0 rushing yards allowed per game). The Hokies defense is allowing 158.9 yards per game, the 10th highest total in the league.
TOP STORYLINES
- Virginia Tech comes into Saturday’s contest needing one more victory to become bowl eligible. Every opponent that Virginia has played this season currently sports a record of .500 or better.
- Malik Washington, one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, broke UVA’s single-season records for receptions (96) and receiving yards (1,311) after an eight-catch, 112-yard performance against Duke. He currently ranks ninth on the ACC’s single-season receiving yards list and needs four more receptions to become the ACC’s sixth player ever to record a 100-reception season.
- Washington and Malachi Fields were the recipients of all three touchdowns against Duke last Saturday. The wide receiving tandem has combined for 2,033 yards this season, the third most of any duo in the country and needs 161 combined yards to surpass Dontayvion Wicks and Keytaon Thompson as the most productive single season receiving tandem in program history.
- Seven of UVA’s 11 games this season have been decided by one score and the Cavaliers have owned double-digit leads against its opponents in seven of their 11 games this season. UVA is 2-5 in games decided by one score. UVA is 2-8 in the last two seasons in games decided by three points or less.
- Six true freshmen, CB Dre Walker, WR Jaden Gibson, QB Anthony Colandrea, WR Suderian Harrison, LB Kam Robinson and S Caleb Hardy, have started games for Virginia this season. A total of 12 true freshmen have seen action this year and 28 Cavaliers have made their collegiate debuts.
Complete Game Notes Available: https://static.virginiasports.com/custompages/sports/m-footbl/gamenotes/2023/112523-VTGameNotes.pdf
THE SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH
The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash, originally called the Commonwealth Challenge (2005-2007), has been a part of the UVA-Virginia Tech rivalry since 2014. It is an all-sports, points-based program with the Commonwealth Clash trophy presented to the winning school each year for its dominance in head-to-head competitions. Virginia leads this year’s clash 4.5 to 0.
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