Beau Pribula dazzles in Virginia debut as Cavaliers overwhelm NC State 34-8 in season, ACC opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In his Virginia debut, transfer quarterback Beau Pribula dazzled as the Cavaliers thrashed North Carolina State 34-8 in the season and ACC opener at Scott Stadium on Saturday. The new recruit, who previously played for Penn State and Missouri, completed 155 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while also adding 110 yards on the ground. Pribula became the first Virginia quarterback to run for 100 yards in a game since Brennan Armstrong in 2022.

The Cavaliers opened the game with two three-and-outs and then intercepted a tipped pass on NC State's third possession. They never looked back, jumping out to a 17-0 lead before halftime. Playing without star linebacker Kam Robinson (knee), Virginia stifled CJ Bailey and the Wolfpack throughout the contest. Bailey finished 12 for 23 for 84 yards and an interception, also losing a red-zone fumble.

For North Carolina State, the takeaway was clear: Bailey and the offense were unable to find consistency offensively, while the Wolfpack defense was dominated by Virginia's powerful offensive line. The Wolfpack will need to address these issues if they hope to avoid squandering Bailey's potential in future games. Virginia fans can expect high expectations to follow Saturday's performance, as the team showed they can control games by running the ball and playing a strong defensive game.

Up next for Virginia is an open date, followed by a Friday night game against Norfolk State, formerly a Virginia Tech star under coach Michael Vick on September 11. North Carolina State, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back when they face another Virginia school, FCS Richmond, in Raleigh on Friday, September 11.