UVA Football: Five Keys to a Virginia Victory over North Carolina

Virginia football is set to host the North Carolina Tar Heels this Saturday at noon at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia. Last time out against the Tar Heels, the Cavaliers upset No. 10 UNC 31-27 in Virginia's first ever win over a top ten opponent on the road, adding another chapter to the historic South's Oldest Rivalry.

The Tar Heels arrive in Charlottesville with Omarion Hampton, once again, serving as North Carolina's number one threat for opposing defense's. At the same time, Anthony Colandrea will face North Carolina for the first time in his collegiate career as he watched from the sidelines as Tony Muskett led the Hoos to the upset victory in 2023. With that said, here are five keys to a Virginia victory on Saturday:

Contain Omarion Hampton 

Hampton ranks 4th in the NCAA in rushing yards this season with 901 yards and seven touchdowns. The North Carolina offense starts with Hampton, and it will be critical that the Cavaliers stack the box early and respect his talent. Further, it will be crucial the linebacker tandem of Kam Robinson and James Jackson, if he is able to play after missing the Clemson game with a foot injury, shoot the gaps, preventing Hampton from finding any creases against this Virginia defense. 

Dominate on the Ground

When you look at last year's South's Oldest Rivalry, what was one of the key factors that caused Virginia to upset UNC? 

Answer: The Virginia rushing attack. 

In 2023, against the Tar Heels, Virginia rushed for 228 yards on the ground, with Perris Jones, Mike Hollins, and Tony Muskett all rushing for 60+ yards. In 2024, that trio is now Xavier Brown, Kobe Pace, and Anthony Colandrea. If those three can replicate last year's performance, with the increased maturity from Colandrea as a passer, the Cavaliers will dominate the Tar Heels on Saturday. 

Malachi Fields Rises to the Occasion

The Virginia wide receiver room has been riddled with injuries all season, with Trell Harris expected to miss a few more weeks and Chris Tyree missing multiple games due to injury as well. The constant for the Virginia passing attack has been Malachi Fields. With Harris still out, it'll be crucial for Fields to rise to the occasion, providing Colandrea a surefire target in a game that will be critical for the Cavaliers to win. 

Virginia Football vs. North Carolina Game Preview, Score Prediction