Three Predictions for Virginia’s Final Games
On November 3, 2026, Virginia entered its bye week at 4-5 with three football games left. The Cavaliers are predicted to finish 5-7, start Eli Holstein at Virginia Tech and retain their coaches.
Virginia has three games remaining in its 2026 season after a heavy loss to Wake Forest left the Cavaliers 4-5. The team has a week without a game to recuperate, while several key starters deal with injuries. Three forecasts point to a difficult finish and possible changes at quarterback, but not on the coaching staff.
The Cavaliers are projected to beat California, described as one of the ACC’s weakest teams, then lose to North Carolina and Virginia Tech. North Carolina came close to beating Notre Dame and Miami, both ranked in the top 10, while Virginia has struggled on offense. The prediction also notes the Cavaliers have not won away from Scott Stadium since last December. A 5-7 finish would follow last season’s 11-3 record.
Another forecast is that Eli Holstein will start at Virginia Tech if Virginia loses one or both of its next two games. Coach Tony Elliott has said Beau Pribula has met the coaching staff’s expectations, but the prediction points to sacks, missed throws and a 1-4 record in the past five games with Pribula starting. A start for Holstein could serve as an early look at the 2027 quarterback competition.
The final prediction is that Virginia will not dismiss any coaches at season’s end. Coordinators Des Kitchings and John Rudzinski have been extended through 2028, and Elliott is seen as committed to his assistants. Any dismissal, the forecast suggests, could come from above Elliott, with athletics director Carla Williams weighing the program’s results against staff continuity.