HOUSTON, Sept. 30, 2025 — University of Virginia head football coach Tony Elliott has been named Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Week following the Cavaliers’ 46-38 double-overtime win over No. 8 Florida State.
After the win, Virginia moved into the AP Top 25 for the first time since December 2019, entering this week’s poll at No. 24.
The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, to honor Coach Bryant’s legacy and to raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. The coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement.
In a game that saw the two teams combine for over 950 yards of total offense, it was a defensive stop that sealed the win for the ‘Hoos. Defensive back Ja’Son Prevard intercepted a pass in the end zone on fourth-and-12 from the Virginia 27 to seal the Cavaliers’ victory, and made Virginia the second unranked team this season to topple a top-10 opponent.
The win was UVA’s first over a top-10 opponent at Scott Stadium since 2005, when the Cavaliers beat then-No. 4 Florida State 26-21.
Florida State entered the game averaging 58.0 points and 628.7 yards per game, and was held to 440 yards by the Virginia defense. Devin Neal and Kam Robinson turned in double-digit tackle totals, with Neal making 12 stops and Robinson making 10.
Chandler Morris completed 26 of 35 passes for 229 yards and two scores, while J’Mari Taylor racked up 99 yards and a score on the ground on 27 carries.
The win was the second top-10 win during Elliott’s tenure at Virginia, making him just the second coach in program history to pick up two wins over top-10 opposition.
Elliott becomes the second consecutive coach from the ACC and the third this season to win weekly honors, following last week’s selection of Syracuse’s Fran Brown and the previous selections of Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, USF’s Alex Golesh and Florida State’s Mike Norvell.
Continuing through the remainder of the regular season, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards will recognize a coach weekly for leading their team to an exceptional victory. The National Coach of the Week award is chosen by a committee of national college football media members.
Fans can follow the lead up to January’s 40th annual Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards Ceremony at facebook.com/bryantawards, x.com/bryantawards or Instagram.com/bryantawards or the hashtag #BryantAwards. To attend the exclusive, VIP experience visit bryantawards.org.
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