Virginia Falls at No. 24 SMU 23-13 as Kicking Game Sinks the Hoos

By Glen ThomasCollege Football, UVA

Virginia had its chances against No. 24 SMU on Saturday. However, a goal line fumble, a costly penalty and a quiet second half led to a 23-13 ACC loss.

The Cavaliers fall to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC, and they are still winless away from home at 0-3. SMU improves to 5-1 and 3-1 in league play with its third straight win. The Mustangs are now 10-0 at home in ACC games since joining the conference in 2024.

Early Mistakes

Virginia moved the ball inside the SMU 10 on its opening drive, but a fumbled handoff on first and goal ended the threat. It was only the third turnover of the season for the Cavaliers. SMU kicker Brendan Baird turned the miscue into a 23-yard field goal.

Quarterback Beau Pribula put Virginia ahead in the second quarter, scoring from 1 yard out on fourth down for a 7-3 lead. SMU’s Kevin Jennings answered with a fourth-down touchdown of his own, a 6-yard pass to Randy Pittman Jr.

Will Bettridge tied it at 10 with a 47-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the half. Then a roughing the passer penalty on Virginia extended SMU’s final drive, and Baird drilled a 45 yarder to send the Mustangs into halftime up 13-10.

Offense Stalls After The Break

Virginia managed only three points in the second half, a 43-yard field goal by Bettridge that made it 16-13. The Cavaliers opened the third quarter with back to back three and outs, and Sports Illustrated’s Virginia site noted that the offense ran the ball just once after that stretch.

SMU put the game away with 12:22 left when Jennings found Jalen Hale for a 37-yard touchdown.

Jennings finished 23 of 36 for 246 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. His 71 career touchdown passes tie Ben Hicks for second in SMU history. Kendrick Raphael ran for 124 yards, and Yannick Smith caught five passes for 87 yards, including a 59-yard grab that set up a score. Baird made all three of his field goal tries, the first three of his career.

Pribula completed 13 of 22 passes for 137 yards and ran for 25 yards and a touchdown. SMU outgained Virginia 404 to 258 and converted 4 of 5 fourth-down attempts.

Up Next

Virginia needs two wins in its final five games to become bowl eligible. The Cavaliers return home to host Duke on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Scott Stadium.