The University of Virginia football program is headed to Boston to play in the inaugural Wasabi Fenway Bowl, which matches the Hoos (6-6) against the SMU Mustangs (8-4) of the American Athletic Conference. UVA and SMU faceoff Wednesday, December 29, at 11 a.m. EST.

“We are pleased to be the Atlantic Coast Conference’s representative for the inaugural Wasabi Fenway Bowl,” University of Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams said in this official press release. “Playing at such a historic venue will be a special opportunity for our football program and a great experience for our fans. I am grateful for everything that Bronco Mendenhall has done to elevate our football program over the past six years and excited to see him be able to coach this team one more time. It will be a very special moment for everyone associated with Virginia football.”

The Wasabi Fenway Bowl will be Virginia football’s fourth postseason bowl appearance in the past five seasons. Under the guidance of head coach Bronco Mendenhall, the Hoos played in the 2017 Military Bowl (Lost to Navy), the 2018 Belk Bowl (Defeated South Carolina), and the 2019 Orange Bowl (Lost to Florida). UVA opted out of bowl consideration following the 2020 season, which was played amidst numerous, taxing COVID-19 protocols.

Virginia’s latest bowl appearance will be the final game for Bronco Mendenhall as the program’s head coach. Mendenhall resigned from his post last Thursday, almost six full years after taking the position.

“As you know, there’s different kind of preferences as the ACC or any conference you’re in, there’s different tiers and kind of a selection order within that, and so Carla reached out and within our options she was asking what would be our first preference, second, third, et cetera of our options, and I really like the idea of going to Boston and playing a football game in [Fenway Park],” Mendenhall said, giving his thoughts on the Hoos playing in the inaugural Fenway Bowl. “It’s a historic stadium, really good matchup, and it just seemed like a really good opportunity to continue to grow and advance UVA’s football program. And so it made a lot of sense to me and I was hopeful that this would be the game we were selected for. Really excited for our players, our fans, and everyone associated with UVA.”

The prospect of playing in historic Fenway Park and visiting Boston appeals to Mendenhall.

“I haven’t been to Boston before,” Mendenhall said. “I grew up a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, and Willie Stargell and those guys. But I know the Big Green Monster. I know about that and I know about the legacy, but I’ve never seen the stadium from the inside. I have played at least two other bowl games, if I remember right, in a baseball stadium. It’s a little weird. It’s kind of sideways and it takes a minute to kind of get your bearings, but I think it’s an amazing experience to play a football game and a memorable one for UVA and for our players. Part of the job besides winning and playing well is continuing the educational part, and Boston is a really cool place to go. And so it made a lot of sense to me.”

A win will give Virginia football its third winning season in the past four years. After starting 6-2 in 2021, the Hoos closed with four straight losses, including a season-ending home defeat to Virginia Tech in the Commonwealth Cup. Virginia fell to 2021 ACC champion Pittsburgh the previous week, ending the Cavaliers’ hopes of a second ACC Coastal Division title under Mendenhall.

Like UVA, SMU did not finish the season on a high note. The Mustangs won their first seven games, including a victory at Big 12 conference foe TCU, before dropping four of their final five contests. College Football Playoff no. 4 seed Cincinnati dispatched SMU, 48-14, in the second-to-last game of the regular season. The Mustangs ended the regular season with a 34-31 home loss to Tulsa.

SMU is dealing with coaching turnover too. On November 29, head coach Sonny Dykes was announced as TCU’s new head coach, exiting after three seasons in Dallas. Miami (FL) offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has since been named the team’s new head coach, while UVA remains in search of its new head man.

“I don’t think it will continue once we focus on our opponent,” Mendenhall said of his resignation being a distraction for his players in the bowl game. “I do believe once the prep starts for the game and the schemes are installed and the practices specifically for the opponent begin, I think that will really help.”

“I want [to win the bowl game] for our team,” Mendenhall said. “I love my players and I would love to see them have success one last time together. I really would like to see that happen.”

VirginiaSports.com has posted a “Fenway Bowl Central” page, which you can access by clicking here. This site includes information on tickets, Boston, fan events and much more.

What will Brennan Armstrong do? ~ Photo by Kris Wright/The Sabre

Brennan Armstrong Update

Quarterback Brennan Armstrong set numerous UVA single season records in 2021, including total offense, passing yards and passing touchdowns. A redshirt junior, Armstrong can return to Charlottesville for one more season if he chooses. Bronco Mendenhall has not spoken with the Ohio native regarding his future since resigning; however, he did note that Armstrong is among a group of players that filed for NFL input regarding the 2022 NFL Draft.

“We haven’t really talked beyond that or since the team meeting about what all this means,” Mendenhall said.

When the two do talk, Mendenhall says the conversation likely mostly be “in relation to what the report comes back saying.”

Mendenhall notes that the requested NFL Draft report indicates whether a prospect would be a possible first or second round pick, or if they should “return to school.” The report says “return to school” if a prospects falls outside of the first or second rounds.

Mendenhall says no players have opted out of the bowl game at this point. He did not rule out the possibility of this happening, but said, “Our team, they want to play. They’d like to win. They’d like to finish this season with a bowl victory.”

“I’m not worried about numbers,” Mendenhall added.

The Transfer Portal

Redshirt freshman quarterback Iraken Armstead, redshirt junior wide receiver Jaylon Baker, redshirt junior offensive lineman Joe Bissinger, redshirt junior defensive lineman Jordan Redmond, true freshman quarterback Jacob Rodriguez, and redshirt junior defensive back Joseph White have entered the transfer portal since the regular season ended.

In terms of players who were significant contributors on offense or defense, Bissinger, an offensive guard, started the first part of the season before playing a reserve role in the latter half, while Armstead and Rodriguez saw playing time in a “football player” type of role. Redmond provided depth on the defensive line. Neither Baker nor White saw much time on offense or defense, though White was a regular on special teams.

Although all six players are exploring their collegiate options, they could play for the Hoos in the Fenway Bowl. Mendenhall said his typical policy for players the moment they enter the transfer portal is that they are no longer part of the football team (no practice or anything football related). In this case, in the midst of a coaching change, these players are allowed to practice with the team and play in the bowl game if they choose.