Virginia Football: 3 takeaways from Belk Bowl win over South Carolina

2. Virginia defense affirmed its quality as a top-25 unit in the FBS

Entering the Belk Bowl this year, Virginia was positioned already as a top-25 defense. They ranked 29th in points allowed entering the postseason, giving up an average of 21.8 points per game. With the shutout of South Carolina, that number drops by a full point in the season average to almost certainly put them in the top 25 in scoring defense.

They were already a fearsome secondary, giving up only 180 yards per game and intercepting 14 passes to rank in the top 15 nationally in both categories. Against South Carolina veteran Jake Bentley, they gave up just 218 yards and snatched two interceptions on 17-of-39 passing.

Virginia’s defense was equally strong against the run game, holding the Gamecocks to only 43 total yards of rushing offense on 19 carries. The longest play they gave up on the ground was a 15-yard run by Mon Denson that ultimately proved as fruitless as anything else mustered up by the South Carolina offense.

Virginia loses a couple of key seniors such as Juan Thornhill and Tim Harris, the two players with interceptions of Jake Bentley in the Belk Bowl. But their 2018 two-deep on the defensive side of the ball was littered with underclassmen as both starters and backups. The Cavaliers could be just as formidable against opposing offenses in 2019.