No. 17 Virginia tops Virginia Tech 27-7 to clinch a spot in ACC title game

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — J’Mari Taylor became the first ACC running back since 2021 to run for a touchdown and throw for a score in the same game as No. 17 Virginia beat Virginia Tech, 27-7, on Saturday night to clinch a spot in the conference championship game.

Taylor ran for 80 yards and a score, and quarterback Chandler Morris threw for 182 yards and ran 8 yards for a touchdown as the Cavaliers beat the Hokies for just the second time in the last 21 meetings between the schools.

Virginia (10-2, 7-1 ACC) turned an interception off a deflected pass on Tech’s first possession into a touchdown and never looked back.

The Cavaliers’ defense held Tech to a season-low 197 total yards in front of 58,832, the largest crowd at Scott Stadium since 2011.

Virginia linebacker Maddox Marcellus, playing in place of injured star Kam Robinson, had nine tackles, an interception and was in on a sack.

The Hokies (3-9, 2-6) got a 57-yard touchdown pass from Kyron Drones to Shamarius Peterkin with 4:20 left to play to get on the scoreboard.

The Cavaliers’ remarkable turnaround season will continue with an ACC title game appearance, where it will face Miami.