Virginia

Virginia school’s ‘anti-racist’ program has changed my son, mom says

Published

3 years ago

May 14, 2022

Virginia school’s ‘anti-racist’ program has changed my son, mom says

When Melissa Riley appears to be like at her 13-year-old son, she sees a gifted artist, a humorous child who likes enjoying pranks, and a gamer who spends quite a lot of time enjoying Fortnite with pals.

She sees a younger man who’s enthusiastic about enjoying soccer, and possibly taking some structure and engineering programs when he begins highschool subsequent fall.

However that’s not what the academics and leaders of her son’s Virginia center faculty see, she mentioned. Once they have a look at her son, she believes they see one factor at first: a black child.

Rising up within the Charlottesville space, Riley mentioned her son by no means actually noticed himself as completely different from the opposite youngsters at school. Positive, his pores and skin tone was a bit darker — his dad is black and Riley is white and Native American — however Riley by no means thought it was applicable to field him in with stifling racial classifications.

“He appears to be like Hawaiian,” she mentioned of her son. “He’s lovely.”

However she mentioned her son’s views on race and his conception of his personal advanced id have been tossed in a blender and blended up ever because the Albemarle College District adopted an “anti-racism” coverage, with an specific objective of eliminating “all types of racism” from the native faculties.

Riley mentioned {that a} new anti-racist curriculum launched at Henley Center College final spring is itself racist, as a result of it indoctrinates college students and academics in a racial essentialist worldview that emphasizes racial battle and treats college students in another way primarily based on their pores and skin shade.

She mentioned the varsity has modified her son in methods she doesn’t approve of, filling his head with racial-awareness classes that emphasize oppression and privilege. Her son now sees himself as completely different from his largely white classmates: as a younger black man who can have extra struggles in life due to his race and due to the systemic racism that’s endemic in American life.

“He’s altering,” Riley mentioned of her son. “If issues don’t go his method or issues appear unfair, he’ll now declare it’s racism. He by no means did that earlier than. He now identifies as a black man, as a result of that’s how the varsity informed him he appears to be like and who he’s.”

A court docket combat

Melissa Riley believes the Virginia faculty is altering her son and his perspective on his race.

courtesy of Alliance Defending Freedom

Riley and her son are among the many plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed towards the Albemarle County College Board in December by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a nonprofit conservative authorized agency. The ADF attorneys allege the district’s anti-racism coverage and curriculum violate the Virginia Structure’s equal-protection and free-speech clauses and violate parental rights.

Their lawsuit was dismissed final month by a circuit-court choose who appeared to search out the district’s coverage unobjectionable and declared that there’s “nothing inherently evil or incorrect” about it.

The ADF attorneys have vowed to enchantment the ruling. “Actually, we have been disenchanted with the consequence, no query about it,” mentioned Ryan Bangert, senior counsel with the ADF. “We’re hopeful that the court docket above on enchantment will see issues in another way, and we’re assured that it’s going to.”

The Albemarle County College Board adopted its anti-racism programming in 2019 and applied a pilot program at Henley Center College final spring, as college students have been returning to the classroom from COVID-19-related faculty closures. That was when Riley realized about this system.

At its most mundane, the varsity supplied a sequence of anti-bias classes and feel-good teachings about positivity and inclusivity. Final summer time, for instance, Henley Center College college students painted murals within the faculty hallways with messages reminiscent of, “We’re equal,” “Completely satisfied thoughts, glad life,” and that life is fragile, “like paper,” in response to an area TV information report.

However mother and father who dug deeper into the curriculum discovered causes to be involved.

The curriculum taught middle-schoolers that racism is “the marginalization and/or oppression of individuals of shade primarily based on a socially constructed hierarchy that privileges white folks.” College students have been urged to be “anti-racists,” and that by not making anti-racist decisions, they have been unconsciously upholding “elements of white supremacy, white-dominant tradition, and unequal establishments and society.”

Lecturers have been educated to establish “white privilege” and to know that the concept of meritocracy is a delusion. They realized about “communication as a racialized device,” and have been taught that “white speak” is verbal, impersonal, mental and task-oriented, whereas “shade commentary” is nonverbal, private, emotional and process-oriented — classes that critics say perpetuate gross racial stereotypes.

‘Non-negotiables’

A notebook and pencil on a desk in a school classroom — The ADF argues that the district’s anti-racism coverage and curriculum violate free-speech clauses and violate parental rights.

Some mother and father spoke up at conferences, complaining that the teachings have been rooted in vital race concept, and calling for a pause within the teachings. However the faculty board and the superintendent dug in, penning a web-based letter that emphasised “bringing the anti-racism coverage to life for all.”

They denied that vital race concept was a part of their curriculum however acknowledged that the district presents a professional-development program on culturally responsive educating. The anti-racism programming was essential to appropriate racial disparities in scholar entry to studying alternatives, reply to reviews of racial harassment and bullying, remove the unequal demographic impression of insurance policies and packages, and enhance longstanding alternative and achievement gaps amongst college students, in response to the letter.

“These are non-negotiables,” the board wrote. “We’re firmly dedicated to attaining these outcomes and to supporting the inclusive packages and actions that make this attainable. We welcome all factors of view in how greatest to strengthen our steady progress mannequin, and we reject all efforts that may have us resist optimistic change in favor of the established order.”

Riley mentioned her experiences together with her son’s faculties by means of the years have largely been good. The lecturers within the native faculties are robust, and Riley, a single mother, has sacrificed to ensure her son had entry to the colleges within the Crozet neighborhood.

For many of his faculty life, race hasn’t actually been a problem for her son, Riley mentioned. A former elementary-school principal as soon as tried to get her son to hitch a mentoring group for black male college students, however she declined, Riley mentioned. “He was not proud of my determination,” she mentioned of that principal. “However that is my son, and I’m his mum or dad.”

Riley mentioned crimson flags went up when she first realized in regards to the Albemarle College District’s anti-racism coverage and a pilot program at her son’s faculty. She feared {that a} hyper-focused consideration on race and racial variations would lead to her son being singled out within the largely white faculty. She mentioned she talked to highschool leaders and informed them she didn’t assume it was applicable.

“They mentioned, ‘Effectively, your son can be an amazing voice for all black college students, and we’d like to have him converse for that neighborhood,’ ” Riley recalled. “He [was] 12, and I didn’t assume that was his accountability. But in addition, he has not had a unique expertise than any of those different youngsters.”

Riley mentioned she was informed that if her son was uncomfortable throughout discussions on race, he can be supplied a secure house. “I informed them, ‘No, that’s segregation,’ ” Riley mentioned.

She mentioned she was directed to speak to a physical-education coach to get his perspective. She mentioned the coach, who’s black, informed her that the anti-racism coverage and instruction have been essential as a result of “mother and father aren’t educating their youngsters what they should learn about race,” Riley wrote in a memorandum to the court docket supporting the ADF lawsuit.

“He mentioned mother and father aren’t parenting anymore, and they should take over,” she mentioned. “I informed him that I selected to be a mum or dad, and that’s my job, and I cannot allow them to be the mum or dad. They’re there to show my baby lecturers. And I’ll handle every little thing else.”

‘Parenting very arduous’

Kids holding signs against Critical Race Theory stand on stage — Youngsters maintain indicators towards vital race concept on stage throughout an occasion the place Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB7, or his “cease woke” invoice.

Riley mentioned she looks like her considerations have been ignored by faculty and district leaders. She mentioned she spends quite a lot of time speaking together with her son in regards to the racial battle he’s now experiencing.

“He has not skilled racism right here, till now, till they’ve applied this racist curriculum,” Riley mentioned of her son. “I’m parenting very arduous proper now.”

Talking out on the problem has been troublesome within the liberal neighborhood, Riley mentioned. “There are lots of people which might be mad that we’re standing up for our youngsters,” she mentioned. There are lots of people who don’t really feel comfy talking out, she mentioned, however she is aware of there are supporters for her view, together with even some academics.

Riley mentioned she was disenchanted, however not discouraged, by the ruling by Albemarle Circuit Choose Claude Worrell II final month dismissing the case as a result of he noticed no proof that anybody had been harmed by the district’s anti-racism coverage.

In accordance with a transcript of the listening to, Worrell appeared skeptical of the ADF’s case from the start. He was arduous on their attorneys and didn’t appear to interact with their arguments. He appeared to search out the district’s anti-racism agenda unobjectionable.

Throughout the listening to, Worrell, who’s black, mentioned “there isn’t any proof” that the district’s anti-racism coverage and curriculum “are racist, divisive in any method that’s significant, a minimum of to the court docket.” In lengthy monologues about racism and education, he mentioned, “I believe it occurs throughout training that sure persons are made to really feel uncomfortable about historical past and their place in it.”

In response to an ADF lawyer who argued that the varsity isn’t simply educating about racism or the horrors of slavery, however personalizing it to college students within the room by dividing up numerous traits — race, intercourse, faith — into dominant and subordinate cultures, Worrell requested, “Why is {that a} dangerous factor? Why are you nervous about it? What’s incorrect with asking college students to query themselves and the tradition to allow them to study one thing about it?”

He denied that the varsity district is perpetuating racial stereotypes and mentioned there’s worth in telling college students that the idea of colorblindness is “inadequate in some methods.”

When ADF attorneys argued that the district is making an attempt to indoctrinate college students into a selected view on racism, altering how they assume, and altering their lives, Worrell responded that “every little thing the varsity does offers college students a capability to vary their lives at school.”

Claims by the ADF attorneys that the district’s insurance policies are discriminatory is “a press release with out reality. An announcement with none context. It’s only a assertion by you that claims it’s discriminatory. And it’s simply not true,” Worrell mentioned, in response to the court docket transcript. “You inform me that this faculty board coverage discriminates towards white youngsters, and it’s simply not true. You inform me that it discriminates towards [Riley’s son], and it’s simply not true.”

‘Disempowering’

Someone holds up a notebook pad that reads "Ban CRT" at a Placentia-Yorba Linda school district meeting. — The Placentia Yorba Linda College Board discusses a proposed decision to ban educating vital race concept in faculties final 12 months.

When requested about Worrell’s response to their swimsuit, Bangert, the ADF lawyer, mentioned, “We simply have a basic disagreement with the court docket in regards to the nature of the curriculum and the character of the hurt right here. And that’s what the judicial course of is for, to hash these points out.”

Whereas ADF’s lawsuit is rooted in alleged violations of the Virginia Structure, Bangert mentioned, there are common functions that will probably be instructive for different districts in Virginia and past.

“The issues that we’re seeing in Albemarle County, we’re seeing all over the place. We’re seeing all of it throughout the nation,” Bangert mentioned. “And the issue is that faculty districts are more and more adopting these curriculums that educate youngsters that they’re completely decided by the colour of their pores and skin, that their future is totally managed by their race. However not solely that, however their race determines in the event that they fall right into a class of oppressors or oppressed, that they’re responsible primarily based on their race, or that they will be completely deprived and oppressed primarily based on their race. And it’s a totally disempowering message.”

The lawsuit by the district mother and father is one in every of two lawsuits ADF has filed towards the Albemarle County College Board. In April, Emily Mais, a former Albemarle elementary-school assistant principal, filed a lawsuit towards the board alleging that she was the sufferer of intense harassment and a hostile work setting for expressing considerations in regards to the district’s necessary “anti-racism” coaching. She claims the harassment brought on her to endure from extreme anxiousness and panic assaults, and in the end pressured her to depart her job.

Reprinted with permission from Nationwide Evaluation.

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Virginia

Take Two: Reviewing UVa's ugly home loss loss to SMU

Published

2 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Take Two: Reviewing UVa's ugly home loss loss to SMU

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

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Murphy, Pancol combine for three TD plays as Duke beats Virginia Tech 31-28

Published

11 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Murphy, Pancol combine for three TD plays as Duke beats Virginia Tech 31-28

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.

Duke’s Star Thomas (17) stretches for extra yards in the grasp of Virginia Tech’s Mansoor Delane, back, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker

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

Duke's Star Thomas (17) tries to run the ball away... — Duke’s Star Thomas (17) tries to run the ball away from Virginia Tech’s Jaden Keller (24) and Mansoor Delane (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker

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5 thoughts from SMU-Virginia: Mustangs clinch conference title berth in first ACC season

Published

19 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

5 thoughts from SMU-Virginia: Mustangs clinch conference title berth in first ACC season

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.

Final | No. 13 SMU 33, Virginia 7
SMU clinches a spot in the ACC title game on Dec. 7, becoming the first team to make its conference championship game in the first year after moving from a Group of Five conference to a power conference. pic.twitter.com/CwCIaKxdiW
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) November 23, 2024

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.

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