The media at the ACC Kickoff event last month picked Virginia as the preseason favorite in the Coastal Division. The Cavaliers placed just 11 points ahead of second-place choice Miami, but the Hoos did receive 27 more first-place votes than the Hurricanes.

Regardless of the particulars, that makes the Oct. 11 Friday night game in Florida a big one on the upcoming season’s schedule. UVA, of course, upset then No. 16 Miami last season at Scott Stadium when a surprise contributor came through. That guy is the starting point for the latest in the “50 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff” series.

43 – One For All?

Going into game six last season, the field goal situation at Virginia had been on shaky ground. A.J. Mejia had won the kicking job in the preseason, but opened the season 1 for 4. Hunter Pearson got a crack before the bye week and made both of his kicks from within 30 yards. After the bye week ahead of a matchup with then No. 16 Miami, however, Brian Delaney took the field as the place kicker for Virginia. He delivered successful kicks from 26, 42, and 32 yards in the Hoos’ 16-13 win.

And just like that, Delaney’s phone was blowing up and he was the Cavaliers’ starting kicker the rest of the way. He ended the season 12 of 16 on field goal attempts with three misses between 30 and 39 yards and single miss from outside of 50. Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall indicated after the game with the Hurricanes that Delaney won the job over Pearson in practice.

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