ATLANTA (Sep. 29, 2025) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Virginia head football coach Tony Elliott has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Presented by PNC Bank.

The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.

Elliott and Virginia kicked off the weekend with a shocking upset on Friday night, as the Cavaliers outlasted No. 8 Florida State, 46-38, in double overtime in front of a sold-out crowd at Scott Stadium. Quarterback Chandler Morris led the effort by completing 26-of-35 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for three more scores, including a 4-yard keeper in the second overtime. Cornerback Ja'son Prevard sealed the upset with his second interception of the game on Florida State's final drive.

The victory marked Virginia's first home win over a top-10 opponent since 2005 and improved the Cavaliers to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the ACC. Elliott's squad overcame multiple momentum swings, including a game-tying Seminole touchdown in the final minute of regulation, and held Florida State, who entered averaging 58 points and more than 620 yards per game, to just 38 points while forcing three turnovers and recording five tackles for loss. Running back J'Mari Taylor added 99 rushing yards and a touchdown as Virginia finished with 201 yards on the ground.

"Coach Elliott and the Cavaliers showed tremendous poise and resilience in a high-pressure matchup," said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "Their ability to upset a top-10 opponent in such dramatic fashion reflects the leadership, character and preparation that The Dodd Trophy represents."

Now in his fourth season in Charlottesville, Elliott has steadily positioned Virginia as a program on the rise. Under his leadership, the Cavaliers have developed NFL caliber talent, produced multiple All-ACC performers and delivered signature road wins over ranked opponents, all while maintaining a relentless focus on building what Elliott calls "The Model Program."

Off the field, Elliott has emphasized humility, effort, accountability, respect and toughness – values he defines as the foundations of a championship culture. His approach helped the Cavaliers persevere through an unimaginable tragedy in 2022, when a shooting claimed the lives of three players. Guided by faith and unity, the program has emerged with a renewed commitment to purpose and to each other, creating a culture rooted in care and resilience that extends well beyond the boundaries of football.

That mindset and culture have proven successful as Virginia posted a 969 Academic Progress Rate and a 91 Graduation Success Rate last season, ranking the program among the best in the ACC.

In the community, Elliott's vision centers on holistic student-athlete development and service. By fostering leadership, academic excellence and a strong connection to Charlottesville, Elliott is proving that Virginia can compete at the highest level while staying true to the university's values – and shaping the young men under his leadership to succeed long after their playing days end.

"This victory characterizes everything Coach Elliott is building at Virginia," said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President. "He has created a program grounded in discipline and perseverance. A win like this proves that he has the program heading in the right direction and we're looking forward to seeing what other milestones he's able to achieve while leading the Cavaliers."

The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.

A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.