Virginia is bowl eligible for the first time since 2011 after beating Georgia Tech this weekend.
With the victory, the Cavaliers avoided what would have been a stressful stretch run.
Virginia won five of its first six games this season, but a difficult November schedule put win No. 6 in question. The Cavaliers now have to play at Louisville and Miami before hosting Virginia Tech in the regular-season finale - but Virginia took a weight off its shoulders with a 40-36 win Saturday that improved its record to 6-3.
Virginia is in its second season under Bronco Mendenhall. The Cavaliers went 2-10 in 2016.
Elsewhere in the postseason chase:
- Florida Atlantic is bowl eligible in its first season under Lane Kiffin. The Owls are undefeated in Conference USA play after beating Marshall 30-25 on Friday night.
- Florida International beat Texas-San Antonio 14-7 on Saturday to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2011. FIU has played in two bowls in program history.
There are spots for 78 FBS teams in bowls this season, and the following 50 are already bowl eligible:
Alabama
Alabama-Birmingham
Arizona
Army
Auburn
Boise State
Central Florida
Clemson
Colorado State
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
Fresno State
Georgia
Houston
Iowa
Iowa State
Kentucky
LSU
Marshall
Memphis
Miami
Michigan
Michigan State
Mississippi State
N.C. State
North Texas
Northern Illinois
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Ohio
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Penn State
San Diego State
SMU
South Carolina
South Florida
Southern California
Stanford
TCU
Toledo
Troy
Virginia
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Washington State
Washington
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More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 .
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