ACC Football: Coastal Division Power Rankings Preseason

CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 08: The UNC Tar Heels take the field against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 08: The UNC Tar Heels take the field against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Kenan Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Kurt Benkert
BLACKSBURG, VA – NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Kurt Benkert /

Good Ride Cowboy

Game versus North Carolina: Lost 35-14

Virginia Team Preview

Returning Starters: 14 (6 on Offense, 8 on Defense)

Lowdown: Virginia is coming off a 2-10 campaign in their first season under Bronco Mendenhall. The two win year marked the fifth straight season the Cavaliers failed to make a bowl game as well as the eighth time in the past nine seasons.

If Virginia doesn’t improve. Mendenhall may be thinking about his good ride at BYU where he went 99-43 in 11 seasons. The Cavaliers open the season against William and Mary.

Strengths: Quarterback. The Cavaliers, like the Blue Devils, are the other ACC Coastal team to return a starting quarterback this season. Kurt Benkert leads all Coastal passers in touchdowns last season. Virginia will need more of the same for a bigger turnaround.

Weaknesses: Run game. The Cavaliers only 92 yards from their rushing offense last season. If Virginia doesn’t find someone who can move the rock, teams will stack up against them making life that much harder for Benkert.

Best Case Scenario: Virginia takes advantage of their favorable opening schedule to get four wins in their first five games. Things catch up to them but they still go 7-5 ending the bowl drought.

Worst Case Scenario: The Cavaliers never figure out the run game. Despite winning two of their first three, things fall apart and last season looks like a dream as Virginia goes 2-10 again extending the drought to six.