Scouting the Opponent: Virginia at Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - The Notre Dame football team will look to continue its winning ways on Saturday at home against the Virginia Cavaliers.

It will be the fifth meeting between Notre Dame and Virginia. The Irish are 4-0 all-time against the Cavaliers.

The ‘Hoos are 5-4 on the season and find themselves right in the middle of the pack in the ACC. They suffered an embarrassing loss three weeks ago to North Carolina but bounced back with a 24-19 win over No. 18 Pittsburgh last weekend.

The Cavaliers ran the ball 45 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns in their win over the Panthers.

“There was great chemistry with the guys up front,” says Virginia head coach Tony Elliott. “The backs played really hard and decisive, and they turned some plays that were blocked for three and four, they turned them into seven or eight because they broke some.”

Elliot and the Cavaliers faced Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard when he was at Duke back in 2022. Virginia lost that game 38-17.

Leonard threw for 129 yards and a touchdown and ran for 64 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

“He looks like a different guy, to be honest with you,” Elliot says. “Just watching him, he’s very efficient throwing the ball, very decisive when he pulls it down to run. He looks very similar but also making good decisions to protect himself at times.”

Kickoff for Saturday’s matchup at Notre Dame Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. EST. You can watch the game right here on WNDU.