Orange Rally Falls Short at Virginia, 28-25

Saturday, October 10

Charlottesville, VA

7:30 PM

Syracuse University

2-3 , 0-3

Virginia

4-2 , 2-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Syracuse	7	10	0	8	25
Virginia	7	0	7	14	28

Postgame Notes

10/10/2026 10:31:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Fran Brown Press Conference Postgame Notes Players Press Conference

Syracuse (2-3, 0-3) saw a 10-point halftime lead slip away as host Virginia (4-2, 2-1) scored three touchdowns in the final 17 minutes to claim a 28-25 victory on Saturday night in Charlottesville, Va.

Senior quarterback Malachi Nelson had a successful first start at Syracuse before he was forced to leave the contest late with an injury. Nelson completed 16-of-29 for 217 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 19 yards on six carries.

The Orange outgained Virginia, 430-288, and ran 82 plays to Virginia's 55, but in the end the Cavaliers captured the field-position battle and took advantage of two missed field goals by Syracuse.

The Cavaliers began the outing with an impressive initial series. Virginia covered 75 yards in eight plays and did not face a third-down snap. A 14-yard scamper by Xay Davis found the end zone and the conversion by Will Bettridge provided the Cavs with a 7-0 lead.

Nelson responded by guiding Syracuse to touchdowns on its first two possessions. On his first series, Nelson engineered a 13-play, 75-yard drive that covered 6:27. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 54 yards, including a 23-yarder to senior tight end Noah Meyers. Senior running back Ahmad Miller finished things off with a one-yard touchdown that came on fourth-and-goal from the Virginia one-yard line.

After the Orange defense forced a three-and-out from the Cavaliers, Nelson revved up the Syracuse engine again. This time, it was a nine-play, 91-yard march that was capped by a 13-yard scoring pass from Nelson to sixth-year receiver Umari Hatcher. It was Hatcher's sixth touchdown reception in five games this season.

Syracuse took advantage of two Virginia personal-foul penalties on the Orange's final possession of the first half and emerged with a field goal to head into the intermission with a 17-7 advantage. Freshman kicker Shay Barker converted a 29-yard three-pointer with 33 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Orange maneuvered into scoring position on each of its first five series, but Barker was off the mark on field-goal attempts of 47 and 41 yards, the second one coming with 12:29 remaining in the third quarter.

The Syracuse defensive unit tightened after the first Virginia possession. Syracuse forced five consecutive Cavalier punts and held Virginia to 56 yards on 29 plays during a stretch that extended late into the third period.

The Virginia rally began when Beau Pribula threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Da'Shawn Martin with 2:01 left in the third period. It narrowed the Syracuse lead to 17-14.

The Cavaliers forced Syracuse to punt and went right back to work. This time, penalties assisted Virginia. An offside flag gave the Cavaliers a third-down conversion and a 29-yard run by Jekail Middlebrook was boosted by an additional seven yards on a targeting call to put the ball on the Syracuse six. Davis ran for three yards and Middlebrook carried the final three yards for the touchdown. Bettridge's extra point put Virginia up for the first time since the initial series of the game, 21-17.

Virginia's defense put Syracuse in punt formation again on the subsequent series. A low snap caused freshman punter Jimmy Gregg to touch his knee to the ground while fielding the ball, and possession turned over to the Cavaliers at the Syracuse 34 with 8:34 remaining. Pribula completed a five-yard pass to Da'Shawn Martin and produced a seven-yard run. An offside call on the Orange followed, and Davis ran three consecutive times, gaining a total of 12 yards to advance the ball to the five-yard line. Middlebrook ran right for his second score of the contest, and the Bettridge extra point gave Virginia a 28-17 margin with 5:20 to go in the contest.

Nelson tried to lead the Orange to a quick score. He connected with sophomore tight end Daunte Bacheyie for 30 yards on first down. Following two incomplete passes, Nelson scrambled nine yards to the Virginia 36. Junior running back JuJuan Johnson pushed up the middle for two yards and the first down, but Nelson was injured on the play. Fifth-year quarterback Danny Lauter, a transfer from Georgetown, was forced into his first action with the Orange. A false start penalty and a seven-yard loss on a quarterback sack put Syracuse up against a third-and-22 from the Virginia 46. Lauter threw deep and Bacheyie secured the catch and raced in for the 46-yard touchdown. Lauter teamed with Justus Ross-Simmons on a two-point pass, pulling the Orange to within three at 28-25. The game clock still had 2:50 on it.

A defensive stand by Syracuse caused Virginia to punt after three running plays. Daniel Sparks punted 46 yards and Demetres Samuel Jr. returned three yards to the Syracuse 13 with 1:03 remaining.

Lauter tried to pull off more heroics but was unable to secure a first down and Virginia ran out the clock.

Hatcher finished with eight catches for 126 yards and a touchdown and Bacheyie ended up with four receptions totaling 97 yards and a score. Sophomore running back Tyrik Hill led all rushers with 118 yards on 23 carries.

Senior defensive back Chris Peal had nine total tackles, including five solo stops. Junior Davien Kerr had six tackles and half a quarterback sack.

The Orange host Louisville next Saturday, Oct. 17, at the JMA Wireless Dome. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.