By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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There is still plenty of football left to be played before things sort themselves out in the wacky ACC Coastal Division. For now, however, we can at least acknowledge that Virginia is a serious team with which to be reckoned in the race to get to Charlotte.

In the cluttered hodgepodge of a mess that is the ACC Coastal Division, there is currently only team that sits with an unblemished record in conference play: the Virginia Cavaliers.

Both of the Cavaliers losses on the campaign have come against non-conference opponents ranked inside the top 25. While obviously not scoring enough to points to come out victorious in those showdowns, Virginia did lose both contests by just one score.

Such an extended run of solid play is certainly a remarkable turnover for a team which went winless in conference play in 2013. In eight conference games last season, the Cavaliers only managed to even play even one team within on possession, displaying a complete lack of ability to execute on either side of the football.

Heading into 2014, the prognosis for the Cavaliers was undoubtedly grim. Head coach Mike London was firmly positioned on the hot seat following back-to-back seasons of finishing dead last in the Coastal Division. Virginia also still appeared to be behind many of its conference brethren in terms of talent and athleticism, and was also looking forward to facing one of the most difficult schedules in the country.

Despite facing an uphill battle, there has been any sort of magic formula which has resulted in the relative early success this fall. Simply put, the team has just been playing harder and executing more crisply than it did a season ago.

x9cWeve done the things that we need to do in terms of executing and performing, which has led to some opportunities to win some games,x9d London commented on the Southern Pigskin Radio Network. x9cWeve had some really good opponents here early in the season, but were just coming out of our bye week, which gave guys a chance to get healed and gave us a chance to x98self-scout. Its been productive, and we are continuing to try to find ways to improve our football team and finish strong.x9d

While his team has made significant progression since the end of last season, London also realizes that the margin for error is incredibly small in a division which is filled with teams that appear to be relatively close to one another in terms of ability. One miscue or mental lapse, he knows, often could be the difference between losing and winning.

With that in mind, London is remaining focused on keeping his team motivated towards continuing its steady progression as the season wears along. The Cavaliers are in very good position at the halfway mark of the season, but the Coastal Division is a race which almost assuredly will not be won until the final week of the regular season.

x9cIf you are not prepared, on any given opportunity, one team that is ready to play has a chance to beat the other,x9d London commented on the Coastal Division. x9cOur guys understand that they have to come to play every game. There are very good teams that we have left to play on our schedule, and we are going to have to play our best football. Every contest is going to be one that is going to challenge you to eliminate the mental errors.x9d

Virginia will unquestionably receive its next tough challenge from a Duke team which is coming off of an impressive road victory over a ranked Georgia Tech squad last weekend. The Blue Devils have won five of the past six contests in this series, and have been a constant thorn in the side of the Cavaliers.

If they can figure out a way to put some of their past troubles against Duke to rest this Saturday, the Cavaliers will move one step closer towards realizing their goal of competing for in their first ACC Championship Game.

There is still plenty of football left to be played before things sort themselves out in the wacky ACC Coastal Division. For now, however, we can at least acknowledge that Virginia is a serious team with which to be reckoned in the race to get to Charlotte.