Delaware Blue Hens at Virginia Cavaliers

Injuries noted

Virginia Cavaliers: Noah Josey (questionable) — The starting left guard suffered an ankle injury against West Virginia. Tony Elliott said he was moving around, working back into practice and was hopeful for Delaware.; Rico Flores Jr. (limited) — Elliott said the receiver was still regaining his legs after missing several weeks with a hamstring injury; the West Virginia game was his first game-speed test.; Devon Baxter (probable) — The defensive end was described as day-to-day with a shoulder injury but expected to play against Delaware.; Jason Hammond (out) — The starting defensive tackle was removed from Virginia's Delaware depth chart after Elliott previously said his injured left elbow required surgery.

QUARTERBACK

• Nick Minicucci is DEL's projected starter

  8.96 Y/A

  Nick Minicucci is DEL's projected starting quarterback. Delaware's current-week official preview discusses Minicucci as the team's quarterback for the Virginia matchup, but does not explicitly announce a starter; therefore he is projected. 2026 line: 824 passing yards, 57.6% completions, 8.96 yards per attempt, 5-3 TD-INT over 3 games.

• Beau Pribula is UVA's projected starter

  8.86 Y/A

  Beau Pribula is UVA's projected starting quarterback. Virginia's current-week official preview identifies Pribula as its quarterback and discusses him as leading the offense, but does not explicitly announce the starter; therefore he is projected. 2026 line: 514 passing yards, 72.4% completions, 8.86 yards per attempt, 7-1 TD-INT over 3 games.

TRENCHES

• UVA: 217.3 rushing yards per game to DEL's 85.3

  132 YPG

  DEL is at 85.3 rushing yards per game over 3 games; UVA is at 217.3 over 3 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 25. Last season DEL was at 119.2 over 13 games and UVA at 178.7 over 14 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• UVA: 40 points per game to DEL's 30

  10 PPG

  Virginia is scoring 40 a game through three games, up from 30.8 last season, while Delaware at 30 is right where it was at 29. Virginia's jump is the number more likely to come back down, since three games is a small window. Delaware's steady scoring and Virginia's hot start both point to points in this game, with Virginia's pace the part most likely to cool.

MISMATCH

• UVA: 217.3 rush yards a game to DEL's 85.3

  217.3 VS 85.3

  Virginia is running for 217.3 yards a game, up from 178.7 last season, and Delaware is at 85.3, down from 119.2. Virginia's run game looks like a steady strength. Delaware was already a modest rushing team last season and has dipped further over three games. At home, Virginia can lean on the ground and keep Delaware's offense off the field.

REPLACEMENT

• Jason Hammond (DT) is out for UVA

  OUT

  The starting defensive tackle was removed from Virginia's Delaware depth chart after Elliott previously said his injured left elbow required surgery. UVA Football: Updated depth chart no longer lists Jason Hammond in the starting lineup (2026-09-22)

SITUATIONAL

• DEL: 294 team passing yards per game to UVA's 193.7

  100.3 YPG

  Delaware throws a lot and that is not new: 294 a game through three games, almost exactly the 293 it posted last season. Virginia is at 193.7, down from 239.1 last year, so its passing game has cooled early. Delaware's number looks like identity and should hold. Expect the game flow to run through Delaware's quarterback.