Mike Hollins rushed for three touchdowns as Virginia shocked No. 10 North Carolina 31-27 in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Saturday night.
The unlikely victory for Virginia (2-5, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) gives the Cavaliers their first conference win since Oct. 20, 2022, when they topped Georgia Tech. It's the first loss of the season for UNC (6-1, 3-1) and will hinder the Tar Heels' hopes of a College Football Playoff berth.
It is Virginia's first road win over an AP-ranked top-10 opponent in school history.
Hollins rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries and caught one pass. Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett completed 20 of 30 passes for 208 yards with a score and an interception. Malik Washington led the Cavaliers with 12 catches for 115 yards and a TD.
UNC quarterback Drake Maye completed 24 of 48 passes for 347 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. He also rushed for a score. Omarion Hampton rushed for 112 yards on 19 carries.
Virginia took a four-point lead with 8:51 to play when Muskett threw to Washington for a 14-yard touchdown. Minutes later, the Cavaliers were in the red zone again and had the opportunity to take a two-possession lead, but on a third-and-3 carry, Hollins fumbled the ball into the end zone and it rolled out for a touchback.
UNC appeared poised to take the lead back after that turnover -- marching 60 yards in six plays -- but the Tar Heels turned the ball over on downs after their drive stalled at Virginia's 20-yard line with under four minutes to play.
The Tar Heels got the ball back at their own 25-yard-line with 1:12 to play, but the drive ended with Maye throwing under pressure and being picked off by Virginia's James Jackson.
Virginia held UNC to 4-for-15 on third- and fourth-down conversions. The Cavaliers also won the time-of-possession battle, 37:06 to 22:54.
UNC led by as much as 10 after Maye's 3-yard touchdown scamper out of a run-pass option early in the third quarter.
--Field Level Media
Virginia | North Carolina | |
Perris Jones | Player | Omarion Hampton |
14 | Attempts | 19 |
67 | Yards | 112 |
4.8 | Avg Yards | 5.9 |
0 | Touchdowns | 0 |
0 | Long | 0 |
Virginia | North Carolina | |
Malik Washington | Player | Devontez Walker |
12 | Receptions | 11 |
115 | Yards | 146 |
9.6 | Avg Yards | 13.3 |
1 | Touchdowns | 1 |
0 | Long | 0 |
Yards | Scoring | Defense | ||||||
Team | Tot | Rus | Pas | TD | FG | INT | Sck | FF |
Virginia | 436 | 228 | 208 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2.0 | 0 |
North Carolina | 490 | 143 | 347 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2.0 | 2 |