New Dominion

Dude.

1. Perkins, B pass complete to Dubois, H for 5 yards to the VA19 (Fagan,C).
2. Perkins, B pass complete to Cowley, T for 2 yards to the VA5 (Samuel,A).
3. Perkins, B pass complete to Jana, T for 15 yards to the VA40, 1ST DOWN VA (Samuel,A).
4. Perkins, B pass complete to Dubois, H for 6 yards to the VA46 (Jackson,D).
5. Perkins, B pass complete to Jana, T for 13 yards to the FS41, 1ST DOWN VA (Lars-Woodbey,J).
6. Perkins, B pass complete to Jana, T for 4 yards to the FS37, out-of-bounds (Samuel,A).
7. Perkins, B pass complete to Atkins, L for 2 yards to the FS35, out-of-bounds.
8. Perkins, B pass complete to Kemp, B for 7 yards to the FS20 (Robinson,J).
9. Perkins, B pass complete to Jana, T for 4 yards to the FS16, 1ST DOWN VA (Fagan,C).
10. Perkins, B pass complete to Reed, J for 4 yards to the FS12 (Warner,L;Taylor,L).
11. Perkins, B pass complete to Reed, J for 12 yards to the FS0, 1ST DOWN VA, TOUCHDOWN
12. Perkins, B pass complete to Jana, T for 9 yards to the VA34 (Warner,L).
13. Perkins, B pass complete to Jana, T for 12 yards to the VA46, 1ST DOWN VA (Samuel,A).
14. Perkins, B pass complete to Dubois, H for 7 yards to the FS34 (Samuels,S;Taylor,L).
15. Perkins, B pass incomplete to Chatman, T, dropped pass.
16. Perkins, B pass complete to Reed, J for 11 yards to the FS20, 1ST DOWN VA (Jackson,D).
17. Perkins, B pass complete to Reed, J for 9 yards to the FS2 (Taylor,L;Nasirildeen,H), PENALTY FS face mask (Nasirildeen,H) 1 yards to the FS1, 1ST DOWN VA.
18. Perkins, B pass incomplete to Reed, J.
19. Perkins, B pass complete to Dubois, H for 35 yards to the FS15, 1ST DOWN VA (Nasirildeen,H).

Dude.

That list was Bryce Perkins' second half passing performance against Florida State. 19 attempts, 17 completions (.895), one dropped pass (#15), one throw away (#18), 14 completions in a row, 8.26 yards per attempt. The yardage wasn't huge (157), but make no mistake, Perkins' passing in the second half is what allowed UVA's 3★ talent to punch above its weight class and knock out FSU's 4.5★ talent.

Now we're 3-0 on the young season, ranked #21, and rolling along as what appears to be the second- or third-best (behind Clemson and Wake Forest) team in the ACC.

By the way, here's 247's College Football Team Talent Composite for the entire ACC.

So... based on pure talent... as measured by raw recruiting rankings... we're 3-0 but still need to "punch above our weight class" six more times this season. Seven, if you include these guys:

But, look, I still think we're an 8- or 9-win team. We'll take some injuries, and we'll stumble a couple more times when our talent level just isn't quite commensurate with our opponents. Probably. Who knows? All I know is that it's damn fun to beat FSU and be ranked solidly in the top-25 at this point in the season.

And I'm not trying to create any consternation over our relative talent level. Because, look at our last two recruiting classes.....

2018

2019

The talent level is growing. And as I said before, Bronco Mendenhall delivered #30(ish) results with #60(ish) talent at BYU, so what happens at UVA when his talent level gets inside the top-40? We're getting there now, recruiting cycle over recruiting cycle, season over season.

The success we enjoyed last season, the success we're enjoying this season, it's SUSTAINABLE. And it's only the beginning.

~~~

Sticking with the theme of raw talent, the Hoos welcome ODU to town on Saturday night.

It's gonna be a bloodbath.

We're favored by a cool 30 points, with an over/under of 50. The wise guys think we win this game, 40-10.

ODU features the nation's #72 rushing offense, its #123 passing offense, its #34 rushing defense, and its #85 passing defense. I think we'll come out and challenge that #34-ranked unit, and try to pound the ball with Taulapapa and the gang while protecting Perkins and using the opportunity for a good "get right" game for the offensive line. Stop the run, force punts, run the ball, control the clock, grind out a lopsided win. I'm taking the Monarchs plus the points and I'm betting the UNDER.

My pick: Virginia 35, ODU 13

(My season to date: 3-0, 2-1 ATS, 3-0 O/U)

Notre Dame next week. That'll be a big one.

GO HOOS!