 Mendenhall's Cavaliers would also win the South's Oldest Rivalry against North Carolina for the first time since 2009, and later defeat Georgia Tech to claim their 6th win of the season and qualify the team for its first bowl bid since the 2011 Peach Bowl.Despite coming off an improved record and a bowl appearance in 2017, Virginia once again was picked last in the ACC Coastal by ESPN and many college football news services.However, the Cavaliers handily defeated official ACC rivals Louisville, 27–3, again won the South's Oldest Rivalry against North Carolina, 31–21, and upended the #16 Miami Hurricanes, 16–13.