CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — J’Mari Taylor became the first Atlantic Coast Conference running back since 2021 to run for a touchdown and throw for a score in the same game as No. 17 Virginia beat Virginia Tech 27-7 on Saturday night to clinch a spot in the conference championship game.

Virginia will play Duke, which it beat 34-17 two weeks ago on the road, next Saturday night in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“It's just confirmation of what's possible,” said Virginia coach Tony Elliott, who was 11-23 his first three seasons in Charlottesville.

Taylor ran for 80 yards and a score and quarterback Chandler Morris threw for 182 yards and ran 8 yards for a touchdown as the Cavaliers beat the Hokies for just the second time in the last 21 meetings between the schools.

“These past two weeks, it’

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