On a day that UVA fans have been waiting for, the #6 ranked Cavaliers proved they belong at the top of the ACC hierarchy after defeating #7 Florida State 24-20 in our EA Sports simulation.

Led by quarterback Marques Hagans, the Cavs took a commanding 24-3 lead into the fourth quarter at Florida State and then held on as Wyatt Sexton lead a furious Seminole comeback which came up just short as Florida State lost only their second game ever at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Using their running game, which came into the contest with the fifth highest ranked running attack in the country, UVA jumped ahead on two touchdown runs by running back Alvin Pearman and a TD run by Wali Lundy in the first three quarters, along with a field goal by Connor Hughes, to take a 24-3 lead at the end of the third quarter. Hagans, who used his short passing game to set up the run, was efficient throughout the game for the #7 Cavaliers.

After the Cavs went ahead by 21, Wyatt Sexton and the Florida State offense, which had sputtered all game long, roared to life. Sexton led Seminoles on three consecutive scoring drives, scoring on a touchdown pass to Craphonso Thorpe, adding a field goal by Xavier Beitia and then scoring again on another TD throw to Thorpe with 5 minutes to go in the game. Coach Bobby Bowden drew the ire of the Florida State faithful when he had Beitia kick the extra point, instead of going for two, which would have brought the Seminoles within three points of the Cavs. After their last touchdown, Bowden elected to kick deep to the Cavaliers and hoped that his defense would be able to force a UVA punt. However, the Cavs were able to get 4 important first downs and were able to run out the clock on the Seminoles, leaving Doak Campbell with a 24-20 lead that vaulted them to the top of the ACC, tied with Miami.

UVA next plays October 23rd, when they host the Duke Blue Devils in ACC action. Florida State will take the field again on October 23rd, as they travel to North Carolina to take on Wake Forest.