The 2021 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cavaliers were led by sixth-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall and played their home games at Scott Stadium. The team competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
After finishing their regular season with a 6–6 record, the Cavaliers accepted a bid to play in the Fenway Bowl, where they were due to face the SMU Mustangs. On December 26, the Cavaliers withdrew from the game, due to COVID-19 issues; the bowl was subsequently canceled.[1]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 4 | 7:30 p.m. | William & Mary* | | ACCRSN | W 43–0 | 42,982 |
September 11 | 11:00 a.m. | Illinois* | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ACCN | W 42–14 | 36,036 |
September 18 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 21 North Carolina | | ACCN | L 39–59 | 50,500 |
| 7:00 p.m. | Wake Forest | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ESPN2 | L 17–37 | 38,699 |
| 7:30 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | | ESPN | W 30–28 | 37,269 |
October 9 | 3:00 p.m. | at Louisville | | ACCN | W 34–33 | 40,320 |
October 16 | 12:30 p.m. | Duke | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ACCRSN | W 48–0 | 38,489 |
October 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ACCN | W 48–40 | 45,837 |
October 30 | 10:15 p.m. | at No. 25 BYU* | | ESPN2 | L 49–66 | 57,685 |
November 13 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 9 Notre Dame* | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ABC | L 3–28 | 48,584 |
November 20 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 18 Pittsburgh | | ESPN2 | L 38–48 | 45,183 |
November 27 | 3:45 p.m. | Virginia Tech | | ACCN | L 24–29 | 46,445 |
| 11:00 a.m. | vs. SMU* | | ESPN | Cancelled | _ |
|
[2]
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | Week |
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
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AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | |
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Coaches | — | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | |
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CFP | Not released | | | | | | | | | Not released |
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Coaching staff
Name |
Position
|
Bronco Mendenhall |
Head coach
|
Robert Anae |
Offensive coordinator, Inside Receivers Coach, Tight Ends
|
Nick Howell |
Defensive coordinator, Secondary Coach
|
Kelly Poppinga |
Co defensive coordinator, linebackers coach
|
Ricky Brumfield |
Special teams coordinator, Cornerbacks coach
|
Mark Atuaia |
Running backs coach
|
Jason Beck |
Quarterbacks coach
|
Marques Hagans |
Wide receivers coach
|
Shane Hunter |
Safeties coach
|
Clint Sintim |
Defensive line
|
Garett Tujague |
Offensive line coach
|
Players drafted into the NFL
References
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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