If you turned off the TV during the first quarter of the 2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, nobody would’ve blamed you. It looked bleak. Missouri came out swinging, Jamal Roberts punched in a five-yard score, and the Virginia Cavaliers looked like they were still nursing the heartbreak of their overtime loss in the ACC Championship. But then, the score of Virginia football game did something it hasn't done much in the last few decades: it stayed stuck in place for the Tigers while the Wahoos crawled back.
Virginia won 13-7.
Yeah, you read that right. In an era of college football where teams routinely put up 40 points before the third-quarter band performance, UVA and Missouri played a game that felt like a 1920s mud bowl. It was the lowest-scoring bowl game of the entire 2025-26 season. Honestly, it was glorious if you love defense, but probably agonizing if you were betting the over.
Breaking Down the 13-7 Masterpiece
Let's look at how we got to that final tally. After Missouri took that early 7-0 lead, the Virginia defense basically turned into a brick wall. Tony Elliott’s squad didn't just bend; they simply stopped moving. They held the Tigers scoreless for the final 56 minutes and 56 seconds of the game. That is an absurd stat.
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Key Scoring Plays
- 1st Quarter: Missouri’s Jamal Roberts 5-yard TD run (7-0 Mizzou).
- 2nd Quarter: Will Bettridge 32-yard Field Goal (7-3 Mizzou).
- 3rd Quarter: J'Mari Taylor 4-yard TD run (10-7 UVA).
- 4th Quarter: Will Bettridge 28-yard Field Goal (13-7 UVA).
The turning point wasn't some flashy 80-yard bomb. It was a 19-play drive that ate up over 10 minutes of clock. Think about that. Ten minutes! By the time Chandler Morris and the offense finally got into the red zone, the Missouri defenders looked like they needed oxygen masks. It was a "death by a thousand papercuts" strategy that totally defined the score of Virginia football game and the trajectory of the program.
Why This Specific Score Matters for UVA History
You have to understand the context here to realize why 13 points felt like 50 to the folks in Charlottesville. This victory was Virginia’s 11th win of the season. 11 wins. They’ve been playing football since 1888 and they have never hit that number before. The previous school record was 10, set back in 1989.
Coach Tony Elliott has basically pulled off a miracle. Two years ago, people were calling for his head after a five-win season. Now? He’s the guy who led the "Cardiac Cavs" through five one-score games and came out on top.
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The Defensive Stand
In the final minutes, Missouri had the ball with a chance to win. One touchdown would have ruined the historic night. Graduate safety Devin Neal made the play of his life, swatting away a fourth-down pass to ice the game. If he misses that, we’re talking about a very different score of Virginia football game and a lot of "what if" articles tomorrow morning.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The dust has barely settled in Jacksonville, but the roster is already churning. Chandler Morris is out of eligibility, leaving a massive hole at quarterback. The good news? The portal is already moving.
Eli Holstein, the former Pitt starter, has already pledged to the Hoos. He’s going to be fighting it out with Missouri transfer Beau Pribula (talk about an awkward post-game handshake) for the starting job this spring.
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We also know that the 2026 schedule is getting a facelift. The ACC is moving to a nine-game conference slate, which means the planned matchup against James Madison has been scrapped. Fans are bummed, but that's the price of a more competitive conference.
Practical Steps for Fans
If you're looking to keep the momentum going from this historic season, here’s what’s actually happening next:
- Mark the Spring Game: The 2026 Spring Game is set for April 18 at Scott Stadium. It'll be your first look at Holstein and the new-look offense.
- Monitor the Portal: Watch the linebacker room. With James Jackson gone and Kam Robinson recovering from an ACL tear, Maddox Marcellus staying out of the portal was the biggest "win" of January.
- Season Tickets: Expect a price hike. When you win 11 games and break century-old records, the "Hoos" tax usually follows.
The score of Virginia football game wasn't just a result on a ticker; it was a statement that the program has finally arrived on the national stage. Whether they can stay there without Morris under center is the question everyone will be asking until August.
For now, though, 13-7 is the most beautiful set of numbers in Central Virginia.