# 2021 Virginia Cavaliers football team

The 2021 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cavaliers were led by sixth-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall and played their home games at Scott Stadium. The team competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
After finishing their regular season with a 6–6 record, the Cavaliers accepted a bid to play in the Fenway Bowl, where they were due to face the SMU Mustangs. On December 26, the Cavaliers withdrew from the game, due to COVID-19 issues; the bowl was subsequently canceled.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 7:30 p.m. | William & Mary* | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ACCRSN | W 43–0 | 42,982 |
| September 11 | 11:00 a.m. | Illinois* | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ACCN | W 42–14 | 36,036 |
| September 18 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 21 North Carolina | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC (South's Oldest Rivalry) | ACCN | L 39–59 | 50,500 |
| September 24 | 7:00 p.m. | Wake Forest | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ESPN2 | L 17–37 | 38,699 |
| September 30 | 7:30 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL | ESPN | W 30–28 | 37,269 |
| October 9 | 3:00 p.m. | at Louisville | Cardinal StadiumLouisville, KY | ACCN | W 34–33 | 40,320 |
| October 16 | 12:30 p.m. | Duke | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ACCRSN | W 48–0 | 38,489 |
| October 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ACCN | W 48–40 | 45,837 |
| October 30 | 10:15 p.m. | at No. 25 BYU* | LaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, UT | ESPN2 | L 49–66 | 57,685 |
| November 13 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 9 Notre Dame* | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA | ABC | L 3–28 | 48,584 |
| November 20 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 18 Pittsburgh | Heinz FieldPittsburgh, PA | ESPN2 | L 38–48 | 45,183 |
| November 27 | 3:45 p.m. | Virginia Tech | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA (Commonwealth Cup) | ACCN | L 24–29 | 46,445 |
| December 29 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. SMU* | Fenway ParkBoston, MA (Fenway Bowl) | ESPN | Cancelled | _ |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 2) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | |
| Coaches | — | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | Not released |

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position |
| Bronco Mendenhall | Head coach |
| Robert Anae | Offensive coordinator, Inside Receivers Coach, Tight Ends |
| Nick Howell | Defensive coordinator, Secondary Coach |
| Kelly Poppinga | Co defensive coordinator, linebackers coach |
| Ricky Brumfield | Special teams coordinator, Cornerbacks coach |
| Mark Atuaia | Running backs coach |
| Jason Beck | Quarterbacks coach |
| Marques Hagans | Wide receivers coach |
| Shane Hunter | Safeties coach |
| Clint Sintim | Defensive line |
| Garett Tujague | Offensive line coach |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 3 | 73 | Jelani Woods | TE | Indianapolis Colts |