CHARLOTTESVILLE — Virginia overcame a sluggish start to defeat Syracuse 28-25 on Saturday night at Scott Stadium, rallying with three second-half touchdowns after a difficult first 43 minutes. The Cavaliers, who entered the game with a 3-2 record, fell behind early and struggled offensively during six consecutive scoreless drives that netted just 66 yards, prompting boos from the remaining home fans late in the third quarter.

Syracuse, playing without its top two quarterbacks, built a 10-point lead despite being considered the underdog. The Orange outgained Virginia 430 yards to 288 and held the ball longer, running 27 more plays and maintaining a time-of-possession advantage exceeding 10 minutes. Yet Virginia’s defense tightened in the second half, and the offense found its rhythm to overcome the deficit.

The Cavaliers (4-2 overall, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) managed to capitalize on their opportunities in the final 17-plus minutes, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to secure the win. While the performance did not fully dispel concerns about consistency as Virginia faces tougher opponents ahead, the victory demonstrated resilience and the team’s potential to win games even without playing at its peak level.

Syracuse (2-3, 0-3 ACC) showed offensive productivity despite the absence of its starting quarterbacks but was unable to maintain its early advantage in the closing stages. The result marked another win for Virginia that bolsters its profile in the conference standings, while Syracuse remains winless in league play.

The game unfolded under misty conditions, and while the early offense was disappointing for the home crowd, Virginia’s ability to regroup and secure the win reflects a developing depth and experience within the team as the season progresses.