1978 Virginia Cavaliers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1978
| team = Virginia Cavaliers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Atlantic Coast Conference
| short_conf = ACC
| record = 2–9
| conf_record = 0–6
| head_coach = Dick Bestwick
| hc_year = 3rd
| off_coach = Brian Burke
| oc_year = 2nd
| off_scheme =
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme =
| captain = Edward Smith
| stadium = Scott Stadium
}}
{{1978 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings}}
The 1978 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cavaliers were led by third-year head coach Dick Bestwick and played their home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia. They competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing in last.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1978
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 9
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Wake Forest
| site_stadium = Groves Stadium
| site_cityst = Winston-Salem, NC
| score = 0–14
| attend = 21,500
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-deacons-early-su/139706355/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Deacons' early surge keys victory|date=September 10, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 16
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Navy
| site_stadium = Scott Stadium
| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA
| score = 0–32
| attend = 28,472
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/danville-register-and-bee-navy-torpedoes/139707365/|work=The Danville Register|title=Navy torpedoes UVa, Cavaliers yet to score|date=September 17, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 23
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Army
| site_stadium = Michie Stadium
| site_cityst = West Point, NY
| score = 21–17
| attend = 26,473
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/poughkeepsie-journal-virginia-upsets-arm/139707488/|work=Poughkeepsie Journal|title=Virginia upsets Army|date=September 24, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = VMI
| site_stadium = Scott Stadium
| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA
| score = 9–17
| attend = 21,150
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94079997/keydets-struggle-past-cavs-179/|work=The Herald-Sun|title=Keydets struggle past Cavs, 17–9|date=October 1, 1978|accessdate=February 2, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Duke
| site_stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Durham, NC
| score = 13–20
| attend = 20,375
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rocky-mount-telegram-duke-sneaks-by-cavs/139705832/|work=The Rocky Mount Telegram|title=Duke sneaks by Cavs|date=October 8, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| w/l = l
| opponent = Clemson
| site_stadium = Scott Stadium
| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA
| score = 14–30
| attend = 19,243
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-tigers-41-wear/139700350/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=Tigers (4–1) wear down Virginia|date=October 15, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 21
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Virginia Tech
| site_stadium = Scott Stadium
| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 17–7
| attend = 34,275
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90633208/virginia-upsets-vpi-177/|work=The Daily News Leader|title=Virginia upsets VPI 17–7|date=October 22, 1978|accessdate=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = West Virginia
| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field
| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV
| score = 17–20
| attend = 29,291
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-cavaliers-too-la/139665855/|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|title=Cavaliers too late 20–17|date=November 5, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| w/l = l
| opponent = Maryland
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = Scott Stadium
| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 7–17
| attend = 19,874
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-maryland-topples/139702489/|work=Bristol Herald Courier|title=Maryland topples Virginia Cavs, 17–7|date=November 12, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = North Carolina
| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC
| gamename = South's Oldest Rivalry
| score = 20–38
| attend = 44,000
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-tar-heels-sharp/139704838/|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|title=Tar Heels, Sharpe topple Cavaliers 38–20|date=November 19, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 25
| w/l = l
| opponent = NC State
| site_stadium = Scott Stadium
| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA
| score = 21–24
| attend = 14,227
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-state-escapes-near-upse/139703763/|work=Greensboro Daily News|title=State escapes near 'upset'|date=November 26, 1978|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}}}
}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/virginia/1978-schedule.html |title=1978 Virginia Cavaliers Schedule and Results |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=June 11, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://virginiasports.com/all-time-virginia-box-score-game-statistics/ |title=All-Time Virginia Box Score Game Statistics |publisher=Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site |access-date=June 5, 2021}}