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 shined brightly as the Cavaliers trounced North Carolina State 34-8 in the season opener and ACC debut. Pribula, who came from Penn State and played last season at Missouri, completed 155 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, running for another 110 yards.

He became the first Virginia quarterback to run for 100 yards in a game since Brennan Armstrong in 2022. Virginia's balanced offense and tough defense had the Cavaliers leading 17-0 at halftime. Without star linebacker Kam Robinson (knee), Virginia easily contained CJ Bailey and the Wolfpack. The game opened with two three-and-outs, followed by an interception on NC State's third possession.

NC State never posed any offensive threat. Bailey completed 12 for 23 for 84 yards and an interception, and he also lost a red-zone fumble. The key takeaway for North Carolina State was that Bailey and the offense couldn't perform offensively, and the Wolfpack defense was dominated by Virginia's offensive line. State will need to address both these issues if it wants to prevent wasting Bailey's potential.

Virginia, on the other hand, lived up to its expectations, showcasing a team capable of controlling games through strong running and stifling defense. Virginia's next game is a Friday night matchup against Norfolk State, led by former Virginia Tech star Michael Vick, on September 11. Meanwhile, North Carolina State aims to bounce back when it faces another Virginia school, FCS Richmond, in Raleigh on the same day.