Virginia football boasts a proud tradition of grit, growth, and game-breaking talent—from the George Welsh-led rise in the ‘80s and ‘90s to marquee wins in the modern ACC era. While hoops may rule in Charlottesville, these teams proved UVA can ball on the gridiron too. Here are the Top 5 Cavaliers teams of all time.
#5 – 2019 – 9–5 | ACC Coastal Champs | The Bryce Perkins Breakthrough
In Bronco Mendenhall’s fourth season, UVA reached its first ACC Championship Game, snapping a 15-year losing streak to Virginia Tech in the process. QB Bryce Perkins accounted for over 4,300 total yards and 33 touchdowns, leading the Cavaliers to a 9–5 finish and an appearance in the Orange Bowl vs. Florida. Though they lost the ACC title game to Clemson, this season marked a major resurgence, putting UVA back on the national stage.
#4 – 1989 – 10–3 | ACC Co-Champions | The George Welsh Breakout
UVA broke through in 1989, going 10–3 and earning a share of the ACC title, their first-ever conference championship. Behind the leadership of coach George Welsh, dual-threat QB Shawn Moore, and RB Terry Kirby, the Cavaliers climbed as high as #15 in the AP Poll and earned a spot in the Florida Citrus Bowl. This team set the tone for the most successful decade in program history and proved UVA could compete with the best in the ACC.
#3 – 1998 – 9–3 | Top-20 Finish | The Comeback Kids
UVA went 9–3, finished #18 in the final AP Poll, and capped the year with a dramatic comeback win over Georgia in the Peach Bowl — their last bowl victory of the 20th century. LB Anthony Poindexter, RB Thomas Jones, and QB Aaron Brooks led a talented squad that beat three ranked opponents and spent much of the season in the national top 25. This was George Welsh’s last truly elite team, and it featured one of the best collections of NFL talent in UVA history.
#2 – 1990 – 8–4 | Briefly #1 in the Nation | A Shot at the Summit
The 1990 Cavaliers started 7–0 and reached #1 in the AP Poll — the first and only time in school history — thanks to a prolific offense led by Shawn Moore, Herman Moore, and Terry Kirby. Injuries and close losses derailed a potential title run, but they still won a share of the ACC crown and made the Sugar Bowl, where they narrowly lost to Tennessee. Despite the slide, this team came closer to a national title than any other in UVA history, and left a lasting legacy of “what if.”
#1 – 1995 – 9–4 | ACC Co-Champs, FSU Win | The Program Peak
The 1995 Cavaliers beat #2 Florida State, handing the Seminoles their first-ever ACC loss, and earned a share of the conference title. They finished 9–4, won the Peach Bowl over Georgia, and closed the season ranked #16 in the Coaches Poll. Led by QB Mike Groh, RB Tiki Barber, and LB Jamie Sharper, this team had talent, toughness, and a defining win that still stands as the program’s greatest moment. 1995 represents the high-water mark for UVA football — a complete team, a national ranking, and ACC glory.
