Beau Pribula named Virginia football’s starting quarterback, and other news from ACC Kickoff

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JULY 15: Quarterback Beau Pribula #17 of the Virginia Cavaliers speaks during the ACC Kickoff media days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown on July 15, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With college football season rapidly approaching, the Atlantic Coast Conference descended upon downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday for the 2026 ACC Kickoff media days.

The news of the day for the Virginia Cavaliers, though it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, is that Missouri transfer Beau Pribula has officially been named UVA’s starting quarterback by Tony Elliott heading into the 2026 season.

“I didn’t publicly make a big announcement,” Elliott told Greg Madia of The Daily Progress. “But I told the guys at the start of the summer, based on the body of work, that [Pribula] is where we’re going.”

#UVa news from ACC kickoff.
Tony Elliott tells me Beau Pribula is QB1. "That's where we are going in," Elliott said. "I didn't publicly make a big announcement. But I told the guys at the start of the summer based on the body of work, that this is where we're going."

— Greg Madia (@GregMadia) July 15, 2026

Pribula, who posted 1,941 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 297 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns in 10 appearances for Mizzou in 2025, was the presumed starter as soon as he announced his decision to join Elliott and the ’Hoos for the 2026 season. Still, Pribula had to stand out in a crowded quarterback room that includes fellow transfer Eli Holstein, who appeared in seven games for Pittsburgh last season, and sophomore Cole Greer.

“You’ve got to earn the respect of [the team] by being in the facility 24/7, [and] putting your head down and working right away,” Pribula said of becoming a leader in the Cavaliers’ locker room. “As time progresses and you get around the guys more and do spring ball, you become more comfortable, and they become more comfortable with you.”

Respect is earned. @beauprib#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/3kw3Uge3SU

— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) July 15, 2026

At 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, Pribula is an athletic, mobile quarterback whose legs figure to be a crucial component of Virginia’s 2026 offense. Though his decision-making as a passer is still a work in progress — Pribula threw nine interceptions in 2025 — the York, Pennsylvania, native will have the benefit of playing behind an experienced offensive line in Charlottesville as Virginia looks to build off its ACC Championship game appearance.

Though quarterback news always garners the most attention, the most important tidbit from Wednesday’s ACC Kickoff concerns senior linebacker Kam Robinson. A three-time ACC linebacker of the week in 2025, Robinson tore his ACL in a mid-November game against Duke. According to Elliott, however, Robinson is hoping to return to action by Virginia’s Week 0 home matchup against NC State.

“We anticipate once we crank up, [Robinson] will be ready to roll,” Elliott told Madia. “I believe he’ll be close for Week 0. That’s what we’re shooting for.”

More important #UVa news from my chat with Tony Elliott.
LB Kam Robinson's ACL recovery is going well and it's possible he plays Week 0 vs. NC State. "We anticipate once we crank up, he'll be ready to roll," Elliott said. "I believe he'll be close for Week 0. That's what we're…

— Greg Madia (@GregMadia) July 15, 2026

Robinson’s return would be a major lift for the ’Hoos as they try to avenge their heartbreaking loss to the Wolfpack in 2025.

“We’ve been waiting on [the NC State game] all year,” Robinson said on ACC Network. “They got us last year, so going into the summer it was like ‘how good can we train, how on track can we be’ [for Week 0].’”

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