With kickoff rapidly moving closer on the calendar, the Virginia football team is in full preseason mode. The Cavaliers are chasing their fifth straight season without a losing record, which is a significant turnaround for a program that had five straight losing seasons from 2012-2016. To add to the recent string of progress, the Hoos must find a way to beat the teams on their 12-game schedule.

That’s the jumping off point for the latest “50 Thoughts Before Virginia Football Kickoff” article. It’s time to look at the 2021 schedule through a Pro Football Focus (PFF) lens. The Cavaliers open with William & Mary on Saturday, Sept. 4, play their ACC opener on the road at North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 18, and finish the season on Saturday, Sept. 27 at home against Virginia Tech. The first six games are below and the final six games will appear in a second article.

William & Mary

• Gameday: Saturday, Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m. at Scott Stadium

The PFF data doesn’t provide full season breakdowns for Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools. There is information from the 2019 matchup with the Wahoos, though. The Tribe received an overall grade of 59.8 in that game with a 53.3 for overall offense, a 66.3 for overall defense, and a 51.2 for special teams.

W&M’s highest ranking grade in that game was the defensive coverage of receivers with a 71.2, while the offense’s highest ranking grade was for pass blocking with a 70.2. The lowest ranking grade in that game was the passing grade with a 30.0, while the defense’s lowest grade was in tackling with a 58.0. The Cavaliers won the game 52-17 with current roster members Nick Grant and Mike Hollins scoring three touchdowns. Grant took an interception back 85 yards, while Hollins scored on runs from 9 yards and 1 yard.

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