Before their 33-15 loss to the Hokies turned the lights out on the 2020 season, the Cavaliers were riding a four-game win streak and the offense seemed to be in solid rhythm. In its last five outings, the Virginia football team had averaged 37.4 points per game, netted 443.8 yards a contest, and 6.23 yards per play.

Facing a Virginia Tech defense that entered the season finale having allowed an average of 38 points, 477.8 yards, and 6.5 yards per play in its last five games, it mattered not. Only Boston College scored fewer points (14) against the Hokies than the Hoos and Virginia also finished with the second lowest yards per play and the second lowest total yards of the season among VT opponents.

So what happened?

I won’t recap the gory details but two horrible and untimely turnovers, failure to take advantage of a key plus-field possession early in the game, failure to capitalize on a fake punt conversion by the punt coverage operation, and a game-long inability to execute with any level of consistency, the offense struggled. Add in two busted touchdown plays from the defense and all doubt for the outcome was removed.

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