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Evaluating Virginia football ahead of its game against NC State
The University of Virginia football team will look to make a statement against the North Carolina State Wolfpack this weekend. With sophomore quarterback Brennan Armstrong leading the way, the Cavaliers will look to get back on the right foot after an early season loss to Clemson. (Photo: University of Virginia Athletics)

Evaluating Virginia football ahead of its game against NC State

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (BVM) — With two games under their belt and a game against North Carolina State approaching Oct. 10, it’s looking more and more likely that the University of Virginia’s football team will actually have a season, despite their opening game against Virginia Tech getting canceled due to the coronavirus.

Virginia, which won the ACC Coastal Division last year, was predicted to finish merely ninth in the ACC this year. Notably, the team lost quarterback Bryce Perkins, who had accounted for over half of the team’s offense last year and led the Cavaliers to both a win over Virginia Tech and a bowl game appearance.

However, Virginia’s 1-1 record this year, with their only loss against top-ranked Clemson, hints at a potentially more positive 2020-21 season than originally predicted. Part of this stems from the appearance of sophomore starting quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who was thought of as somewhat of an unknown coming into the season.

Perkins has totaled a 52.1% passing success rate, 291 passing yards, 231 rushing yards, six  total touchdowns and a 1-1 record after his first two starts for the Cavaliers. Armstrong has  a 54.5% passing record, 539 passing yards, 136 rushing yards, six  total touchdowns and a 1-1 record after two starts for the Cavaliers this season. Therefore, worries that Armstrong would not be able to fill the old quarterback’s shoes can perhaps be abated.

However, those overall stats don’t show how Armstrong struggled early in the game against Clemson, failing to complete his first six passes for the team. Perkins was also known as mostly a running quarterback, but for Virginia to be able to compete against top teams this year, Armstrong will need to be able to find his rhythm earlier in the game.

Virginia also faced Clemson without seven players and one coach, due to positive COVID-19 tests, but the final score of 41-23 was still better than the 62-17 loss the Cavaliers suffered against the Tigers in the ACC Championship last year.

Virginia returns to Charlottesville this week to play NC State, who currently have a 2-1 record. Both of the Wolfpack’s victories against Pittsburgh and Wake Forest, respectively, have occurred on the margin, but their upset victory against Pittsburgh last weekend will likely give the Wolfpack extra confidence coming into Charlottesville.

The Cavaliers have not played NC State since 2018, where Virginia fell on the road 35-21. While they also have an overall losing record against the Wolfpack of 22-35-1, Virginia currently stands as the favorites for this match. If Armstrong can find a rhythm from the start of the game, the Cavaliers should be difficult to beat.