Virginia cornerback Omillio Agard has torn his ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, confirmed Coach Tony Elliott on Tuesday. Agard, Virginia's top cornerback with a season grade of 92.1 from Pro Football Network, had already been sidelined for the game against Syracuse and is undergoing surgery today. He will have two years of eligibility after the 2026 season ends.
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In addition to Agard, other key players are also battling injuries ahead of the matchup against No. 24 SMU. Starters including wide receiver Dillon Newton-Short, safety Jaylen Jones, offensive linemen Noah Hartsoe and Dylan Biehl, and defensive lineman Bull Richardson remain unavailable. Virginia faces a challenging stretch with a series of injuries as the season progresses.
WR Rico Flores Jr., who is expected to be Virginia's primary receiver, will not play against SMU. The team is awaiting imaging results for Flores, who suffered a non-contact knee injury during the Syracuse game, requiring him to leave for the locker room after spending time in the medical tent.
Safety Brandyn Hillman is currently a game-time decision due to a shoulder injury. Virginia may choose to rest him, prioritizing his long-term health.
Cornerback Jacobie Henderson, who also struggled with a shoulder injury in the last game, is expected to play but remains day-to-day.
Linebacker Maddox Marcellus is dealing with stingers and is also classified as day-to-day. He is anticipated to play against SMU, though the coaching staff might limit his snaps for caution's sake.
Defensive end Devon Baxter will miss several more games after undergoing shoulder surgery and could potentially miss the rest of the regular season. Baxter, a key backup lineman, has two seasons of eligibility left.