Football is a game of numbers, but for the Virginia Cavaliers, the number zero is the only one that really matters when they look at Notre Dame. Zero wins. Five tries.
It’s a bizarre little quirk of scheduling and luck that has kept the "Wahoos" out of the win column against the Fighting Irish since they first met in the late 80s. You’d think by now, especially with how often they play due to that ACC scheduling agreement, UVA would have caught them sleeping once. But honestly? Every time these two programs meet, it’s either a heartbreaking "what if" or a total defensive masterclass by the guys in the gold helmets.
The most recent meeting in late 2024 was a perfect example of how this matchup usually goes sideways for Virginia. On a gray afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium, the Cavs basically handed the game over before the fans even finished their first hot dog. Chris Tyree—a former Notre Dame player, which makes it extra stingy—muffed the opening kickoff. Notre Dame scored four plays later. By halftime, Virginia had turned the ball over five times. Five. In thirty minutes. You aren't beating a top-10 team like that. Period.
Notre Dame Virginia Football: The 2015 Heartbreak at Scott Stadium
If you ask any Virginia fan about the one that got away, they won't talk about 2024. They’ll talk about 2015. That was the year Scott Stadium felt like it was finally going to see the upset.
👉 See also: What Really Happened With Nick Chubb: The Injury, The Recovery, and The Houston Twist
The atmosphere was electric. Notre Dame had just lost their starting quarterback, Malik Zaire, to a fractured ankle. The Irish were shellshocked. Virginia took a 27-26 lead with less than two minutes to go. The place was literally shaking. But that’s the thing about Notre Dame—they have this annoying habit of finding a new hero exactly when they need one.
DeShone Kizer, the backup who had just been thrown into the fire, marched them down the field. With 12 seconds left, he threw a 39-yard rainbow to Will Fuller. Touchdown. Silence in Charlottesville. It was the kind of loss that doesn't just hurt for a week; it defines a season. Virginia ended up 4-8 that year, and Mike London was fired. Notre Dame, meanwhile, went 10-3 and played in a Fiesta Bowl.
A History of Bad Timing
It’s not just that Notre Dame is "better" on paper. It’s that the timing for Virginia always seems to be terrible.
✨ Don't miss: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
- 1989 Kickoff Classic: This was the first ever meeting. Virginia was actually a very good team, featuring stars like Shawn Moore and Herman Moore. The problem? They were playing the defending national champions. Notre Dame was ranked #1 and had Tony Rice and Rocket Ismail. The Irish went up 33-0 by halftime.
- 2019 Defensive Suffocation: Virginia went into South Bend ranked #18. They actually led at halftime! But the Irish defense decided to wake up and recorded eight sacks. Eight. Bryce Perkins spent most of the second half looking at the sky from his back.
- 2021 Injury Woes: Virginia had one of the best offenses in the country, but star QB Brennan Armstrong was sidelined with a rib injury. Without him, the Cavs were toothless, losing 28-3.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s a common narrative that Virginia just "can't compete" with the blue bloods. But if you look at the 2015 and 2019 games, they were right there. The difference is depth and the "Notre Dame Factor."
The Irish have a way of forcing you into mistakes. In that 2024 blowout, Virginia coach Tony Elliott pointed out that you can't expect to beat a top-tier program when the "spirals" start. When things go wrong against Notre Dame, they go wrong fast. It’s like a snowball rolling down a hill in South Bend—once it starts, you’re just getting out of the way.
The gap between these two isn't always about talent. It’s about execution under pressure. Notre Dame converts those high-stress moments into highlights. Virginia, at least so far, has converted them into "what could have been" stories.
🔗 Read more: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Looking Ahead: When is the Next Shot?
If you're a Virginia fan looking for revenge, you're going to have to wait a bit. Based on the current ACC-Notre Dame rotation, the Irish aren't scheduled to return to Charlottesville until 2028. There is a game at Notre Dame Stadium on the books for 2027, but the dates for these matchups often shift depending on how the ACC wants to structure its primary conference schedule.
For now, the series stands at 5-0 in favor of the Irish.
What does Virginia need to do to break the curse? It’s pretty simple, though not easy:
- Protect the ball: You can't have 5-turnover halves.
- Finish the drill: In 2015 and 2019, they were winning at various points late in the game. They need the "killer instinct" to close.
- Pressure the QB: Notre Dame’s wins often come when their QB gets comfortable. Whether it was Jack Coan in 2021 or Riley Leonard in 2024, if they have time, they'll pick you apart.
The next time these two meet, the pressure will be squarely on the Cavaliers. Until they get that first win, every matchup will be overshadowed by the goose egg in their win column. But hey, that's why we watch. Eventually, the ball bounces the other way.
If you're following the recruiting trails, both programs are currently battling for similar three-star and four-star talent in the Mid-Atlantic region. Keeping those kids in-state at UVA instead of letting them head to Indiana is the first step toward flipping the script on the field. You should keep an eye on the 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes to see if Tony Elliott can start winning those off-field battles before the next kickoff arrives.