UVA Football Overcomes Tragic Shooting, Stuns No. 10 North Carolina for First Top-10 Road Victory
Less than a year ago, tragedy struck the Virginia football program when a gunman opened fire on a charter bus, killing three members of the team and injuring running back Mike Hollins. However, on Saturday, Hollins and the Cavaliers showed resilience and determination as they scored three touchdowns to lead UVA to a 31-27 victory over No. 10 North Carolina.
Hollins’ remarkable performance comes after months of recovery and multiple surgeries to heal from the gunshot wound he suffered in the shooting. The incident devastated the UVA community and the football program, but the team has remained strong and united throughout the healing process.
“Since Nov. 13 of last year, this program has believed,” UVA coach Tony Elliott said after the game, referencing the shooting date. “Tonight was the night. We were going to stare that lion in the face.”
The Cavaliers’ unexpected win marks their first top-10 road victory in program history. Previously, they had an 0-29 record in road games against top-10 teams. The victory also sends shockwaves through the college football world, as No. 10 North Carolina suffers another inexplicable loss under coach Mack Brown.
The game was just one of many surprising outcomes on a wild day in the sport. There were questionable officiating calls that impacted game results in Houston and Iowa City, a school’s apology for a trivia question about Adolf Hitler displayed on its video board, and several low-scoring games with final scores of 7-3, 10-7, 12-10, and 20-12.
Other notable events include Clemson’s third loss in the ACC, something that hasn’t happened since 2010, the early bowl eligibility of Rutgers and UNLV, both ending long postseason droughts, and a blowout victory for Michigan, who played without suspended player Connor Stalions.
In addition, USC made a surprising move by not making any players available for interviews, an occurrence believed to be the first in at least 20 years at the school.
As for the Top 10 rankings, Ohio State claimed the No. 1 spot after a big win over Penn State. Florida State, Oklahoma, Washington, and Georgia round out the top five. Both Ohio State and Florida State have faced challenges this season but continue to find ways to win games. Georgia, despite not looking invincible, remains undefeated in 24 games, dating back to 2019.
In the coming weeks, college football fans can expect more exciting matchups and surprising outcomes as the season unfolds.