The Result: Virginia got taken behind the woodshed in their home finale, losing to SMU 33-7 on Saturday. While the Mustangs used the win to clinch a spot in the ACC Championship Game, UVa dropped their third-straight home contest, and fell to 5-6 on the season, 3-4 in ACC play.

The Turning Point: Arguably Virginia’s best drive of the game came early in the 2nd quarter, after an SMU missed field goal kept the Hoos within a touchdown. UVa initially converted a 4th and 1 at the SMU 19, but the play was called back because Virginia had 12 men in the huddle out of a timeout. Virginia settled for a field goal attempt that was missed, and SMU added another touchdown to their lead on the next drive.

The Stat That Tells the Story: Anthony Colandrea was sacked nine times on Saturday for 69 negative yards. Another game full of pressure means that Colandrea has now been sacked 19 times in UVa’s last two home games.

Wahoo of the Week: Perhaps for the final time, we’ll give it to Malachi Fields, who was UVa’s top receiver on Saturday. In what will likely be his final home game, Fields caught four passes for 42 yards, including a circus touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, UVa’s only points of the game.

Offense:

It was another brutal day for UVa’s offense. The Hoos didn’t turn the ball over, but it didn’t really matter in a game where they couldn’t get anything going. We mentioned the nine sacks, which were obviously a major issue, but a lot of those sacks came on third or fourth downs, when the drive was already in a precarious position.

UVa finished with a woeful 173 yards of offense, with 108 through the air and 65 on the ground. The big story of the week was the quarterback position, where UVa rode with Colandrea once again, in a decision that certainly didn’t pay off on Saturday. Given the issues up front and in the running game, we can’t put the loss completely at the feed to UVa’s QB, but Colandrea didn’t play well. He went 18-for-27 in the loss for those 108 yards, and a miracle touchdown late in the game that saved UVa from being shut out. The passing game couldn’t find any big plays, and struggled to do much of anything positive. Virginia’s biggest play on offense in the game was a 15 yard pass play to Fields late in the fourth quarter, which underscores the lack of chunk plays and the offense’s overall ineffectiveness.

UVa’s ground game wasn’t much to speak of, either. Colandrea would have had good rushing numbers if not for all the sack yardage. Both Kobe Pace and Xavier Brown got hurt in the game, and unfortunately for Brown, his injury will end his season. Noah Vaughn got a lot of the work in their place, and rushed 10 times for 44 yards, and had a few decent runs along the way.

A few other odds and ends: UVa was a terrible 3-for-15 on third down. And a couple of those conversions came late in the game, as the Hoos were 1-for-11 at one point in the fourth quarter. Virginia was 1-for-3 in the red zone; the missed field goal accounted for one of the two empty drives inside the 20, and the other came when Colandrea got sacked on 4th and 8 at the 18, failing to take advantage of an interception.

It was just another terrible showing for Des Kitchings’ offense. UVa was terrible in basically every way except for turnovers. The protection was bad, the receivers didn’t make plays, and sticking with Colandrea didn’t pay off. And now, there’s not a lot of hope for a turnaround going into the season finale at Virginia Tech.

Grade: F

Defense:

Despite the score, UVa’s defense held up as best they could against a good SMU offense. The Mustangs gained 434 yards on the day, and Kevin Jennings had a ton of success in the passing game, going for 323 in the win. SMU also picked up 111 on the ground, which is actually down for them vs. their typical production. Virginia’s defense simply wasn’t able to get SMU off the field much. The Mustangs went 8-for-14 on third downs, and were 6-for-6 in the red zone with four touchdowns and a pair of field goals.

Despite the lopsided result, UVa did end up +2 in turnovers. Corey Thomas picked off a pass in the third quarter, though the game was already pretty lopsided then. Later, freshman Billy Koudelka forced a fumble on a rush, and Chico Bennett recovered. That play gave UVa the ball at the SMU 27, and led to Virginia’s only score of the day. Unfortunately, while the Hoos got those two takeaways, they didn’t force enough negative plays otherwise. UVa had just one sack and four TFL’s in the losing effort.

As for individual standouts, Jam Jackson led the Hoos with nine tackles, and Jonas Sanker added seven, in his final home game. Kam Butler recorded a pair of QB hurries, as well.

The defense was far from perfect, but the offense was much more to blame for the lopsided nature of UVa’s loss on Saturday.

Grade: D

Special Teams:

Virginia’s special teams units didn’t make plays to help the team’s effort on Saturday. Virginia’s punt coverage unit had one bust, allowing a 48-yard punt return to SMU’s Roderi Daniels Other than that, Daniel Sparks did a good job, averaging 47.6 yards per punt with a long of 57 yards. There were no issues with kickoffs either, as SMU had no returns on the day.

In the kicking game, Will Bettridge made his PAT late, but missed from 41 yards out after that illegal substitution penalty that denied UVa a 4th and 1 conversion and forced the field-goal try. Virginia didn’t do much in the return game, with no kick returns and one 13-yard Ethan Davies punt return. There was one kick return snafu though, with Kam Courtney trying to catch a ball that was set to be fielded by Chris Tyree, causing a muff but ultimately UVa recovered. Still, the mistake cost UVa some field position.

Grade: D

Coaching Staff:

Virginia didn’t do the things they needed to do to have a chance on Saturday, and they were completely outclassed as a result. All eyes this week were on the quarterback position, and Tony Elliott ultimately decided to stick with Colandrea. There’s a lot that goes into these decisions, but coaches are judged on the results of their many choices. This one, clearly, didn’t work. UVa had 0 points through 55 minutes of action, and were one heave on 4th down for six away from getting shut out for the first time in seven years. It’s not all on Colandrea, but it’s malpractice not to try and do something different at some point, as what they were doing wasn’t working. The old saying goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So I guess you could say that what UVa did offensively this week was insane.

Elliott said on radio after the game that he didn’t see a good enough effort, and that was on him. You can only use the “that’s on me” card so many times before people start to agree, and say that it IS on you. Not to mention, UVa’s coaching staff got in the way in our turning point of the game, when they sent in the wrong personnel package for fourth down out of a timeout, leading to the illegal substitution penalty, potentially taking points off the board.

Right now it feels like UVa’s staff, particularly on offense, is comfortable to just keep doing their thing, in belief that the switch will flip and the things they do will start working. Virginia simply doesn’t have enough talent or discipline to win the way they have to, with the lack of big plays forcing the team to win through being extremely efficient play-by-play. And at this point, their plan will either be executed well enough to give UVa a chance to a signature win in Blacksburg next weekend, or they’re going to flame out again, end their season, and go into an offseason with no discernable progress for the program, and no good will from an eroding fanbase.

Grade: F

DURHAM, N.C. — Maalik Murphy’s three touchdown passes to Eli Pancol helped Duke overcome his three interceptions in a 31-28 win over slumping Virginia Tech on Saturday night.

Pancol racked up 188 yards receiving on five catches and Duke (8-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which had only nine first downs until the last four minutes, held on for its second victory in a row.

Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 84 yards and a late touchdown, but the Hokies (5-6, 3-4) lost their third consecutive game.

With quarterback Kyron Drones out with an injury, Virginia Tech used Collin Schlee as the starter before turning to William Watson III. Schlee threw for one touchdown, while Watson fired for 140 yards and reached the end zone on a two-point conversion run for the game’s final points with 9:19 to play.

Duke overcame four turnovers. The Blue Devils had the ball at Virginia Tech’s 16-yard line with a first down before Star Thomas fumbled, with the Hokies taking over with 1:44 remaining. They didn’t pick up a first down.

Duke’s 14-0 lead less than 6½ minutes into the game came from Murphy’s 86-yard connection with Pancol on the team’s first snap. The hooked up for a 77-yard TD play on the next possession.

Virginia Tech scored 17 straight points, with Schlee’s 65-yard pass play to Ali Jennings providing the team’s first points. Ayden Greene had a 21-yard TD run. Jennings posted 158 yards receiving.

The takeaway

Virginia Tech: The Hokies remain a victory shy of bowl eligibility with one game remaining. They had three possessions with a chance to tie or take the lead in the final eight minutes but managed only 20 yards combined on those series.

Duke: The Blue Devils had enough big plays, but the rushing attack has pretty much been abandoned until a couple of late drives. The defense that had been so stout for portions of the season had some holes, but the unit buckled up down the stretch. The only blemish on Duke’s 5-1 home record is an overtime loss to SMU.

Up next

Virginia Tech: at home Saturday vs. Virginia

Duke: Saturday at Wake Forest

__

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Mustangs spent three decades pushing to be back in a power conference.

This season — and Saturday’s win over Virginia — showed why.

No. 13 SMU (10-1, 7-0) dominated in its final road contest against the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) 33-7 to clinch a spot in the ACC title game on Dec. 7.

Between a lights-out defensive performance, which included shutting out Virginia for the first 55 minutes of play, and another impressive showing from quarterback Kevin Jennings, the Mustangs cruised to victory to become the first team in the conference to secure their trip to Charlotte.

Here are five thoughts from the win.

Mustangs continue to make history in first ACC season

Each week during this historic season, SMU has seemingly achieved more feats many thought were impossible during their first year in the ACC.

After tearing through their first six conference opponents, SMU’s win Saturday made it the first team to make the conference title game in its first season after moving from a Group of Five conference to a power conference.

The Mustangs’ dominant win against Virginia was their 16th straight against a conference opponent and 10th consecutive on the road — both among the longest active streaks in FBS.

The Mustangs were picked to finish seventh in the ACC’s preseason poll, majorly exceeding expectations with their season that now has them on the brink of their first College Football Playoff appearance.

SMU defense led by Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte stifles UVA offense

SMU’s defense has been its most consistent facet this season, but after a weaker performance against Boston College last week, the group was seeking a bounce-back game.

That’s exactly what the Mustangs got from Scott Symons’ group, which was 4:16 away from posting its first shutout of the season. The Cavaliers finished with just 173 total yards and 65 on the ground. Last week against Boston College, the Mustang defense allowed 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

SMU was successful in getting to Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea, finishing with nine sacks. Defensive linemen Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte led the team with two each. Kori Roberson had 1.5 sacks.

Virginia made just three red zone trips. It missed a 41-yard field goal in the first half and could not convert a fourth-down attempt in the second half after intercepting Jennings.

With under five minutes to play, Virginia finally found the end zone as Colandrea hit Malachi Fields for the four-yard touchdown.

Kevin Jennings earns spot to compete on conference’s biggest stage

Jennings didn’t even begin the season as an ACC starter, but over the course of the last 12 weeks, he’s proven to be one of the conference’s top quarterbacks.

Against Virginia, Jennings was outstanding again, leading the Mustangs with a career-high 323 yards on 25 of 33 passing (76%) and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).

He had a stretch in the first half where he completed 12 straight passes, including a third-down conversion where he dodged multiple sacks before finding Roderick Daniels Jr. for the completion.

Jennings did have two turnovers in the second half, an interception and a fumble.

Nevertheless, a matchup with either Heisman candidate Cam Ward from Miami or Clemson’s Cade Klubnik in the ACC championship will be an intriguing one.

All wide receivers get involved in Jennings’ career day

Jennings has lost two of his top receiving targets over the past few weeks with both tight end RJ Maryand and wide receiver Jake Bailey going down with season-ending injuries.

But Saturday’s win showed the depth of the Mustang pass catchers with six different players recording multiple receptions and combining for 323 total yards.

Jordan Hudson led the group in receptions for the second consecutive week. After recording a career-high seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown against Boston College, Hudson had six for 56 yards and a 17-yard touchdown reception in the first half against Virginia.

SMU’s leading receiver in yardage, however, was Moochie Dixon, who took four catches 89 yards with a long of 53 yards. Daniels added another five for 58 yards.

Tight end Matthew Hibner had SMU’s final 16-yard touchdown with 1:42 remaining.

The receivers stepped up, as Virginia limited SMU’s running backs, which combined for 111 yards on 35 carries.

Mustangs to close out regular season at Ford Stadium

SMU will get a chance to enjoy senior day next week without worrying about its ACC title game chances.

Having already clinched their spot, SMU will play its final regular-season game at Ford Stadium against Cal with a chance to become the first since the 1992 Florida State Seminoles to finish its inaugural campaign in a power conference unbeaten.

SMU has more to play for beyond the ACC title game. While it looks like the Mustangs will need to win the ACC championship to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, at-large bids are still at play. Finishing 8-0 in conference play would be key to helping the Mustangs’ chances at one of those seven spots — or a better bowl selection should they miss out on the playoff.

They will also await their ACC championship opponent. Miami can secure their title game berth with a win over Syracuse next week, but Clemson would earn the spot if Miami loses.

Find more SMU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.