The difference between a championship caliber team and a one that is not is the ability to take care of business. Virginia’s 31-13 win over Maryland was a blue-collar effort and nothing more, and that’s what good teams do in these situations. Virginia thwarted a Terrapin touchdown opportunity from the Cavalier 2-yard line late in the first half and scored on the ensuing possession to take a 14-13 halftime lead. That was enough for defensive coordinator Jim Reid to make an early proclamation.

“I told them at that time, when they ran off the field, that we just won the football game,” reported the Washington Post. “That’s exactly what I told them, ‘You have just won the football game.'”

Maybe the Terps aren’t a very good team, but Virginia can’t control that. They Hoos are positioned to win the Coastal Division title at best and they will play in their first postseason bowl game since 2007 regardless. That’s the bottom line. This game was about dealing with success, and maybe that’s the impressive part of the win.

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