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Virginia vs Duke live updates: ACC Championship game score, highlights

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Virginia vs Duke live updates: ACC Championship game score, highlights


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A Power Four conference champion will be determined tonight — though depending on the result, the winner of the game may not come with a College Football Playoff berth.

The 2025 ACC football season will wrap up on Saturday, Dec. 6 with the league’s championship game between No. 16 Virginia (No. 17 CFP) and Duke taking place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Watch the ACC championship game on Fubo (free trial)

The Cavaliers have been one of the best stories in college football this season, with a 10-2 record after going just 11-23 in their previous three seasons under coach Tony Elliott. It’s Virginia’s first 10-win season since 1989. One of those victories came against its Saturday opponent: a 34-17 win against the Blue Devils on Nov. 15.

Duke is in the ACC championship game despite finishing just 7-5 in the regular season. A 6-2 record in conference play, however, sent it to Charlotte after a convoluted series of tiebreakers notably left out No. 13 Miami (No. 12 CFP).

If the Blue Devils manage to get a different result in the second matchup between the teams, it’s quite possible that the ACC will get left out of the 12-team playoff, which gives berths to the five highest-ranked conference champions. Duke wasn’t ranked in the latest top 25 from the playoff selection committee, putting it behind No. 25 James Madison, the Sun Belt champion.

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USA TODAY is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along:

This section will be updated throughout the game.

TEAM Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 FINAL
Duke 7 7 0
Virginia 0 7 3

This section will be updated closer to kickoff.

The Cavaliers get all the way down to the Blue Devils’ 2-yard line on their opening drive of the second half, but Duke’s defense stands tall from there, dropping Virginia for a 5-yard loss and then forcing Chandler Morris into an incompletion.

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Still, the Cavaliers cap off a 17-play drive with a 24-yard field goal from Will Bettridge to get within four, 14-10, with 7:19 remaining in the third quarter.

Duke holds a 14-7 lead over Virginia at halftime. The Blue Devils have a 170-115 advantage in total yards, with the Cavaliers running only 23 plays and Duke leading the time of possession battle 20:29-9:31.

Virginia is set to receive the opening kickoff of the second half.

Duke goes three-and-out and punts away to Virginia, which will take over at its 30-yard line with 1:43 left.

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For the first time tonight, we have a punt. A Chandler Morris pass on third-and-9 from the Virginia 48-yard line falls incomplete and the Cavaliers opt to punt. The ball bounces into the end zone for a touchback, giving Duke the ball at its own 20 with 2:55 remaining in the first half.

Duke has another lengthy touchdown drive, this one going 75 plays in 13 plays in 8:02. It’s punctuated by a 16-yard Nate Sheppard touchdown run to give the Blue Devils a 14-7 lead with 6:14 left in the first half.

Duke yet again comes up with big plays with it needed them, converting on two fourth downs on the drive, one of which came on a fake punt from its own 33-yard line. It’s the Blue Devils’ third-consecutive game with a special teams fake for a first down.

Darian Mensah’s interception proves to be costly, turning what could have been a 14-point lead into a tie ballgame.

On a first-and-10 from the Duke 11-yard line, Chandler Morris dumps it off to running back J’Mari Taylor, who cuts and plows through the Blue Devils’ defense for a touchdown, tying the game after the extra point with 14:16 left in the first half.

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Virginia has a second-and-1 at the Duke 14-yard line once the second quarter begins.

Shortly after Duke benefits from a momentum swing, the Blue Devils give the ball right back. On a second-and-14 from the Duke 24-yard line, two plays after Virginia’s missed field goal, Darian Mensah throws an interception right to Cavaliers safety Corey Costner, who returns it to the Duke 23-yard line with 47 seconds left in the quarter.

The Cavaliers have a nice response to Duke’s opening touchdown drive, getting as far as the Blue Devils’ 20-yard line. From there, though, they’re dropped for a 2-yard loss on a rushing attempt, Chandler Morris is brought down for a sack on third down and Will Bettridge misses a 45-yard field goal wide left.

Duke will take over at its own 28 with about two minutes left in the first quarter.

After days of jokes about how it made the conference championship game, Duke showed on its first drive that it just might belong on this stage. The Blue Devils go 75 yards in 15 plays and 9:38, capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Darian Mensah to Jeremiah Hasley.

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It’s the longest opening drive by plays and time of possession in ACC Championship game history.

There were several instances on the possession that it seemed like Duke might not get any points, let alone seven. The Blue Devils faced four third-downs, converting three of them, and went for it on a fourth-and-2 from the Virginia 41-yard line.

Despite going 7-5 in the regular season, which included losses to Tulane and UConn, Duke finds itself 60 minutes away from a conference title. How, exactly, did the Blue Devils get there?

Even with its subpar overall mark, coach Manny Diaz’s team went 6-2 in conference play, putting it in a five-way tie for second place in the conference standings behind Virginia. Duke ended up getting the edge over the four other teams because of the ACC’s sixth tiebreaker: conference opponent record. Duke’s ACC opponents had a combined win percentage of .500, while Miami and Georgia Tech came in behind them at .438.

Here’s a look at the injury situation for Virginia heading into its ACC championship matchup against Duke, according to the ACC’s latest athlete availability report:

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Out

  • CB #1 Dre Walker
  • WR #2 Andre Greene Jr.
  • LB #5 Kam Robinson
  • DB #7 Ja’Maric Morris
  • CB #9 Jam Jackson
  • TE #9 Dakota Twitty
  • QB #19 Grady Brosterhous
  • RB #20 Xavier Brown
  • RB #28 Noah Vaughn
  • S #38 Armstrong Jones
  • OL #54 Makilan Thomas
  • DL #56 Tyler Simmons
  • OL #56 Tyshawn Wyatt
  • OL #71 Monroe Mills
  • WR #80 Trevor Ladd

Game-time decision

  • WR #6 Cam Ross
  • WR #8 Jayden Thomas
  • OL #52 McKale Boley

Ross is the Hoos’ third-leading wide receiver this season, with 459 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Here’s a look at the players who will be out for Duke in Saturday’s ACC championship game against Virginia, according to the ACC’s latest athlete availability report:

  • S #1 Terry Moore
  • CB #5 Kimari Robinson
  • DE #14 Bryce Davis
  • LB #24 Bradley Gompers
  • LB #31 Elliott Schaper
  • LB #36 Nick Morris Jr.
  • OL #52 Micah Sahakian
  • OL #73 Evan Scott
  • OL #78 Nathan Kutufaris

Virginia is favored by -3.5 over Duke in the ACC championship game, according to the latest odds from BetMGM.

The ACC championship game between Virginia and Duke will be airing on ABC, with Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Greg McElroy (analyst) on the call while Molly McGrath and Taylor McGregor report from the sideline.

What time does Virginia vs Duke start?

  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: Bank of American Stadium (Charlotte, N.C.)

Virginia vs Duke will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 6 from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

What TV channel is Virginia vs Duke on today?

The ACC championship game between Virginia and Duke will be broadcast on ABC. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries ABC and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Virginia vs Duke predictions

Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Sports: Duke 27, Virginia 24

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The Blue Devils were handled by the Cavaliers in their regular-season matchup, but Virginia, for all of its success, has been inconsistent this season. With a better effort from quarterback Mensah this time around, Duke earns a tight win and potentially shuts the ACC out of the playoff.

Virginia football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Virginia’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.

  • Saturday, Aug. 30: Virginia 48, Coastal Carolina 7
  • Saturday, Sept. 6: NC State 35, Virginia 31
  • Saturday, Sept. 13: Virginia 55, Williams & Mary 16
  • Saturday, Sept. 20: Virginia 48, Stanford 20 *
  • Friday, Sept. 26: Virginia 46, Florida State 38 (2OT) *
  • Saturday, Oct. 4: Virginia 30, Louisville 27 (OT) *
  • Saturday, Oct. 11: BYE
  • Saturday, Oct. 18: Virginia 22, Washington State 20
  • Saturday, Oct. 25: Virginia 17, North Carolina 16 (OT) *
  • Saturday, Nov. 1: Virginia 31, Cal 21 *
  • Saturday, Nov. 8: Wake Forest 16, Virginia 9 *
  • Saturday, Nov. 15: Virginia 34, Duke 17 *
  • Saturday, Nov. 22: BYE
  • Saturday, Nov. 29: Virginia 27, Virginia Tech 7 *
  • Saturday, Dec. 6: Virginia vs Duke | ESPN, 8 p.m. ET **

* – denotes ACC game

** – denotes ACC championship game

Duke football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Duke’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.

  • Thursday, Aug. 28: Duke 45, Elon 17
  • Saturday, Sept. 6: Illinois 45, Duke 19
  • Saturday, Sept. 13: Tulane 34, Duke 27
  • Saturday, Sept. 20: Duke 45, NC State 33 *
  • Saturday, Sept. 27: Duke 38, Syracuse 3 *
  • Saturday, Oct. 4: Duke 45, Cal 21 *
  • Saturday, Oct. 11: BYE
  • Saturday, Oct. 18: Georgia Tech 27, Duke 18 *
  • Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE
  • Saturday, Nov. 1: Duke 46, Clemson 45 *
  • Saturday, Nov. 8: UConn 37, Duke 34
  • Saturday, Nov. 15: Virginia 34, Duke 17 *
  • Saturday, Nov. 22: Duke 32, North Carolina 25 *
  • Saturday, Nov. 29: Duke 49, Wake Forest 32 *
  • Saturday, Dec. 6: Virginia vs Duke | ESPN, 8 p.m. ET **

* – denotes ACC game

** – denotes ACC championship game

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Annandale teen and grandmother killed in Christmas day crash

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Annandale teen and grandmother killed in Christmas day crash


A Fairfax County family is demanding justice, saying the driver who caused a crash that killed a grandmother and a high school student is out free while they’re grieving an unimaginable loss.

The Vu family, from Annandale, was at a holiday dinner on Christmas day, but on their drive home, Virginia State police say another driver rear-ended the Vu family’s van on the Beltway in Fairfax County.

Duy Cao was driving the van — her 75-year-old mother, Su Nguyen, and her 15-year-old daughter, Annie Vu, were killed.

The family said according to Virginia State police, the driver who hit them was going more than 100 miles per hour.

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“I don’t know how to, how to live,” Cao said, sitting alongside her husband An Vu, as the couple
gasped through their grief and recover from their own injuries.

There were six people in their van, and everyone was rushed to the emergency room, including their son, Annie’s brother, 12-year-old Andy.

“When he came out of it, his first question was, you know, ‘Where is Annie?’” said Kathie Vu, Annie’s godmother.

She says Annie’s brother was just released from the hospital four days ago and is struggling to cope with losing his sister and grandmother.

“My mom, the best. My mom, she came here, 11-years-old. She takes care of my children,” Cao said.

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Nguyen was a devout catholic who helped raise the kids while their parents worked. Annie was a bright student at Annandale High School, where the principal says grief counselors have been made available for students.

At the beginning of this school year, Annie introduced herself to her classmates in her AP Seminar class at Annandale High School. Her principal shared with News4 what she wrote about herself. She told her classmates to count on her to always be hard-working, respectful and collaborative. She talked about her family and how her grandmother taught her to speak some Vietnamese. She hoped to major in biology at the University of Virginia saying, “although I don’t know what to do in the healthcare field, I’m sure I want to help others.”

“The other day, I heard my brother-in-law say, ‘There will be no more Christmas now.’ They’re always going to come into this time of year thinking about what happened,” Kathie Vu said.

The Vu family is demanding answers about the man who hit their car. Virginia State Police have not released his name nor any charges. The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney says reckless driving charges were filed, but News4 hasn’t been able to confirm that via court records.

While News4 has not been able to confirm if reckless driving charges have actually been filed against the driver who allegedly caused this deadly crash, the prosecutor’s office says it is waiting for the results of a toxicology test. Once those results are back, it could determine what charges the driver might face.

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The family says that misdemeanor charge isn’t enough, they want him tried for involuntary manslaughter.

“I want everybody to pray for my mother-in-law and for my daughter so they can, you know, in heaven,” An Vu said.



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Former Oklahoma Sooners DB transferring to West Virginia

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Former Oklahoma Sooners DB transferring to West Virginia


The Oklahoma Sooners are fully in the swing of transfer portal season in early January, as they’re making additions to the roster and seeing former players land at their new schools. The portal officially opened on January 2nd, and it will be open until January 16th.

One of the latest players to find his new school is former OU defensive back Maliek Hawkins, who has committed to West Virginia. Hawkins is the son of former Oklahoma defensive back Mike Hawkins Sr., who played for the Sooners in 2002 and then played multiple years in the NFL. He’s the younger brother of former OU quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who started five games in Norman over the last two seasons. Both Hawkins brothers are now headed to Morgantown, with the older Hawkins hoping to win the starting QB job, and the younger Hawkins hoping to crack the rotation at cornerback.

Hawkins was a member of Oklahoma’s 2025 recruiting class, signing with the Sooners as a three-star recruit. He played in just one game during his true freshman season, and now arrives at WVU as a package deal with his older brother.

Despite the Sooners expecting to return starters Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory at the CB spots in 2026, the portal exits of Hawkins, Devon Jordan, Gentry Williams, and Kendel Dolby have thinned the depth at that position. With Jacobe Johnson also expected to return, Oklahoma will be looking to add a key rotational cornerback or two in the transfer portal ahead of next year.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.





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Virginia state trooper injured in Beltway crash following pursuit

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Virginia state trooper injured in Beltway crash following pursuit


A Virginia State Police trooper was injured in a crash during a pursuit on Interstate 495 Sunday afternoon, according to the Virginia State Police. 

At 3:47 p.m., a trooper attempted to stop a Honda Accord for reckless driving on Interstate 495 westbound. The vehicle refused to stop, leading to a pursuit, a press release says. 

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The pursuit ended when the suspect’s vehicle exited at Van Dorn Street. The trooper terminated the pursuit to avoid a collision with another vehicle, resulting in the police vehicle going off the road and striking a tree.

Trooper’s condition and ongoing investigation

What we know:

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The trooper involved in the crash suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, according to the release. The injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The incident is still under investigation by Virginia State Police to determine the exact circumstances and any potential charges against the driver of the Honda Accord.

What we don’t know:

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The identity of the driver of the Honda Accord and whether they have been apprehended remains unknown at this time.

The Source: Information from a Virginia State Police press release.  

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