No. 20 Virginia notches first 11-win season by beating 25th-ranked Missouri in the Gator Bowl

By Canadian Press on December 27, 2025.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Harrison Waylee ran for a touchdown, Chandler Morris threw for 198 yards and No. 20 Virginia edged 25th-ranked Missouri 13-7 in the Gator Bowl on Saturday night.

The Cavaliers bounced back from a crushing loss to Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game — an overtime stunner that cost them a spot in the College Football Playoff — and reached 11 wins for the first time in the program’s 122 years.

Few saw this one coming.

Virginia (11-3) was a four-point underdog, according to BetMGM, and was short-handed on both sides of the ball. Coach Tony Elliott’s team played without star running back J’Mari Taylor, leading receiver Trell Harris and linebackers Kam Robinson and Maddox Marcellus.

Taylor, who led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 1,062 yards rushing during the regular season, was a no-show on the sideline after “deliberating” about playing all week.

Waylee and Xay Davis picked up the slack, combining for 109 yards on 32 carries.

Virginia’s defense was equally impressive, holding the Tigers (8-5) to 260 total yards. The Cavaliers forced four punts, intercepted a pass and stopped UVA three times on fourth down.

The last two came on Missouri’s final two drives. Facing a fourth-and-2 at the Virginia 41, Missouri quarterback Matt Zollers was pushed out of bounds a yard short of the marker. Facing a fourth-and-10 at the Virginia 21 — and with Zollers having to leave the game for a play — Daniel Kaelin threw incomplete to the end zone.

Zollers, a freshman, started his third game of the season in place of Beau Pribula, who announced plans last week to enter the transfer portal. Zollers completed 12 of 22 passes for 101 yards and an interception.

All-American Ahmad Hardy ran 15 times for 89 yards. He broke Missouri’s single-season school record set by Cody Schrader (1,627 yards) in 2023, but didn’t do enough to spark Missouri’s offense.

The takeaway

Virginia: Despite playing without Robinson and backup Marcellus because of injuries, the Cavaliers managed to mostly slow down Hardy and Roberts.

Missouri: The Tigers failed to win at least nine games for the third consecutive year. It would have been the first time they had accomplished the feat in school history.

Missouri defender plays following arrest

Missouri defensive end Zion Young played two weeks after getting arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated, speeding and failure to properly affix his license plate. Young, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound senior from Atlanta who started his college career at Michigan State, finished with four tackles and two quarterback hits.

Up next

Virginia awaits the NCAA’s decision on Morris, who is seeking a seventh year of eligibility. Morris started at Oklahoma before transferring to TCU, North Texas and then Virginia.

Missouri will look for another nine-plus-win season in 2026 with Hardy expected to return for his junior year.

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Mark Long, The Associated Press