Upcoming Virginia Cavaliers Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Virginia football in brief: the South's first power and the Welsh era
The Virginia Cavaliers play home football games at Scott Stadium, a 61,500-seat open-air stadium on the University of Virginia's Grounds in Charlottesville, next to the World Heritage Site portion of campus that includes Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village. Home games fall on Saturdays from late August or early September into late November, and Virginia has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) since 1953.
UVA football began in the late 1880s, and Virginia was the South's first great program, with 28 straight winning seasons after its first and 12 Southern championships in 20 seasons. In 1915 it became the first Southern team to beat Yale at the Yale Bowl. The program faded for long stretches in the mid-20th century, including a 28-game losing streak from 1958 to 1960.
George Welsh, who coached from 1982 to 2000, built the modern program. Under Welsh, Virginia made its first bowl trip (the 1984 Peach Bowl), won ACC titles in 1989 and 1995, and reached No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time in October 1990. In 1995 Virginia became the first ACC team to beat Florida State, which had won its first 29 conference games. Fans call the team the "Hoos," short for Wahoos; Welsh closed his retirement announcement by saying he would "forever be a Wahoo." The 2025 team set a school record with 11 wins and reached the ACC Championship Game.
Where to sit at Scott Stadium
Scott Stadium opened in 1931 with 25,000 seats. Upper decks and grass hill seating raised capacity to 40,000 in 1981, and a 2000 expansion funded largely by Carl Smith filled in the upper deck and the south end, added the pergola and brought capacity to its current scale. The official name is the Carl Smith Center, home of David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium. Natural grass returned in 1995, and a new video board, more than double the size of the previous one, debuted in 2024.
Sideline vs. end zone
The field runs north to south. Sideline seats between the 30-yard lines are the best views, and the upper decks along both sidelines give a clear look at the whole field from height. The original stadium was known for its view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Monticello Mountain out the south end, before the 2000 expansion enclosed that end. End zone seats are the value option.
The Hill
The Hill is a grass seating area. According to Virginia Athletics, it opens on a first-come, first-served basis to all ticket holders as capacity allows, and it doubles as part of the student section. For families with small children, a spot on the Hill is relaxed and flexible; for watching the game closely, a reserved seat is better.
Sun and shade
With the field running north to south, the west-side stands have the afternoon sun at their backs, while the east-side stands face west toward it. For a September afternoon kickoff, the west side is the more comfortable choice; night games and late-season kickoffs reduce the difference.
The student section
Students sit on the Hill and in Sections 101 to 105 and 501 to 503, first come, first served, according to Virginia Athletics. Sections next to those are louder and more likely to stand.
The Commonwealth Cup, the South's Oldest Rivalry and other big games
Virginia Tech is the rivalry that matters most in the state. The teams first met in 1895, have played every year since 1970 and have played for the Commonwealth Cup since 1996. The game is nearly always held in late November, often on Thanksgiving weekend, and it has alternated between Scott Stadium and Lane Stadium in Blacksburg since 1964. Virginia Tech won 15 straight from 2004 to 2018 before Virginia won in 2019 to clinch its first Orange Bowl trip, so a Virginia Tech year at Scott is the hottest ticket on the schedule.
North Carolina is the other historic rival. The South's Oldest Rivalry began in 1892, has been played every year since 1919 and alternates between Charlottesville and Chapel Hill. President Calvin Coolidge attended the 1928 game in Charlottesville. Virginia also plays Florida State for the Jefferson–Eppes Trophy, created after the 1995 upset, and has history with Duke and Maryland, though ACC scheduling now makes some of those meetings occasional.
- Highest demand: Virginia Tech in years the game is at Scott, ranked ACC visitors such as Florida State, and late-season games with a title race at stake.
- Moderate demand: North Carolina, Homecoming and other ACC home games.
- Easiest tickets: early-season non-conference games, including the long-running series with William & Mary.
Gameday on the Grounds: the Cavalier, coats and ties, and tailgating
Before each home game, a Cavalier on horseback rides into Scott Stadium with the team, accompanied by orange and blue fireworks, a tradition revived when natural grass returned in 1995. Virginia has a long tradition of fans dressing up for games, with men in coats and ties and women in sundresses. In 2003 coach Al Groh asked fans to wear orange instead, and today you will see both: orange shirts in the student sections, ties and sundresses among alumni.
Tailgating is allowed in the parking areas with propane grills only (charcoal is prohibited), and setups must stay within a vehicle's footprint, according to Virginia Athletics. For the 2026 season, Virginia Athletics Foundation lots use digital parking passes. Free parking is available at Fontaine Research Park, North Grounds and the John Paul Jones Arena lots, and three shuttle routes run before and after the game. Check the Virginia football gameday page for current lots and shuttle routes before you go.
How Virginia football tickets work
Virginia Athletics sells season tickets, single-game tickets and group packages, and the Virginia Athletics Foundation handles giving that generally drives priority for the best season seats. Students get tickets through the university's student ticketing system. Every ticket is mobile.
For most of the schedule, Scott Stadium has seats available. The exceptions are a home Virginia Tech game, a ranked opponent and any late-season game with an ACC title on the line, when sideline seats tend to sell out and resale is how many fans get in. Prices for those games often rise during the week as the stakes become clear. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Scott Stadium bag policy and entry
As of the 2026 season, Virginia allows clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, one-gallon clear freezer bags, and small clutches up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. All tickets are mobile, and screenshots are not accepted, so load them into your phone's wallet before you arrive. Alcohol is sold to fans 21 and older, with two drinks per transaction. Check Virginia Athletics for the current policy before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How many people does Scott Stadium hold?
Scott Stadium seats 61,500. It opened in 1931 with 25,000 seats and was expanded in 1981 and again in 2000.
What is the Hill at Scott Stadium?
The Hill is a grass seating area that opens to ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis as capacity allows. It is also part of the student section.
When do Virginia and Virginia Tech play?
The Commonwealth Cup game is nearly always played in late November, often on Thanksgiving weekend, and alternates between Scott Stadium and Lane Stadium.
What is the South's Oldest Rivalry?
It is Virginia's series with North Carolina, first played in 1892 and played every year since 1919, alternating between Charlottesville and Chapel Hill.
What bags are allowed at Scott Stadium?
As of the 2026 season, clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, one-gallon clear freezer bags and clutches up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches are allowed. Check Virginia Athletics for the current policy before you go.