Virginia vies to rebound from setback in clash vs. William & Mary

Field Level Media|published: Tue 9th September, 12:32 2025

NCAA Football: Virginia at North Carolina State

Sep 6, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) prepares to throw the football during the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Virginia will look for its seventh straight victory in the in-state rivalry with William & Mary on Saturday afternoon when the Cavaliers' former head coach returns to Charlottesville, Va.

Both the host Cavaliers (1-1) and coach Mike London's Tribe (1-1) are coming off narrow decisions last weekend.

Virginia squandered a 10-point halftime lead in a 35-31 setback at North Carolina State in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener in Raleigh, N.C. Meanwhile, William & Mary, an FCS program, won 28-27 at home over Maine.

The Cavaliers racked up 514 yards of offense against the Wolfpack. Chandler Morris passed for 257 yards with one touchdown and J'Mari Taylor rushed 17 times for 150 yards and three scores, including a 66-yard scamper.

Taylor, who is new to FBS competition after transferring from North Carolina Central, also rushed for two TDs in the season-opening win against Coastal Carolina.

"He's a good football player, and I think what you're seeing in college football nowadays, there's really good football players at all levels," Virginia coach Tony Elliott said of Taylor. "He's played four years of college football prior to coming here, was a starter for several years. He's very talented to begin with. He's got a great temperament, demeanor, team-first guy, hard worker, doesn't say much at practice.

"He's a pleaser, wants to do it right. So all those qualities and characteristics, I believe, allowed him to make the transition."

William & Mary beat Maine on a 1-yard touchdown run by Rashad Raymond and the extra-point kick by Keegan Shackford with 3:11 to play. Tyler Hughes threw for 129 yards and two TDs and also ran 10 times for 73 yards.

Raymond rushed for 69 yards and a TD on 18 carries.

London's mantra for the team this season is "Mission Possible."

"We're all wrapping ourselves around not only being a coach, but a mentor, a role model, and a brother," he told the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily earlier this season.

Virginia leads the series 32-6-1. London is in his seventh season at W&M since compiling a 27-46 record with the Cavaliers from 2010-15.

--Field Level Media