For the first time in 2026, Virginia is sitting with a loss. But as Coach Tony Elliott would say, the result is immediately flushed out and all focus turns towards the next game.
Before the Delaware game, though, a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Cavaliers-Mountaineers game:
Loser: Virginia defense
This was simply the Cavaliers’ worst defensive game in almost a year. Virginia allowed more than 27 points for the first time in its past 11 games. It was an ugly showing in which West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. picked apart a talented unit.
In particular, Ethan Minter, Maddox Marcellus and a few others might have had their worst games as Cavaliers. Kam Robinson, usually ultra-speedy, got beat in coverage a few times and Brandyn Hillman made little impact after his week was affected by a tooth injury.
Winner: Dakota Twitty
Virginia’s starting tight end had zero catches against NC State and just one catch against Norfolk State. Saturday, he finally emerged — corralling four catches for 46 yards. Twitty has the physical talent to be a special player (6-foot-4, 247 pounds with speed and blocking ability), and he showed flashes of his high ceiling against West Virginia…