No. 18 Virginia erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and took its only lead on a safety with 2:41 left for a 22-20 victory over Washington State on Saturday night in Charlottesville, Va.
The Cavaliers (6-1) won their fifth consecutive game and became bowl eligible for the first time since 2021 with the dramatic win in the school’s 100th homecoming game.
It was the first meeting with the Cougars (3-4), who took a 20-10 lead into the fourth quarter before the Cavaliers launched the rally with a 97-yard drive, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Harrison Waylee with 9:45 to play.
Ja’son Prevard intercepted Zevi Eckhaus to set up Will Bettridge’s game-tying 34-yard field goal for Virginia with 2:55 remaining.
Kam Robinson and Hunter Osborne tackled Washington State running back Kirby Vorhees in the end zone for the decisive safety.
Chandler Morris passed for 179 yards as the Cavaliers improved to 5-0 at home. Jahmal Edrine caught five passes for 102 yards, and Cam Ross added a touchdown run.
Eckhaus threw for 183 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and also ran for a score. Joshua Meredith had seven receptions for 108 yards and a TD.
The six victories are the most in a season for Virginia under fourth-year head coach Tony Elliott.
The winning streak is the Cavaliers’ longest since 2007, which was also the last time they were 6-1.
Eckhaus was 5 for 5 on his first drive, finding Meredith in the end zone from 32 yards out for an early 7-0 lead.
The Cavaliers countered, leveling the score at 7-7 on a 19-yard run by Ross with 4:48 left in the first quarter.
Eckhaus punched it in from the 1 to put Washington State back on top 14-7 midway through the second quarter.
The lead reached double figures at 17-7 on Jack Stevens’ 37-yard field goal 35 seconds before intermission.
The Cougars took a 20-10 lead into the fourth quarter after the teams traded field goals in the third.
