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Virginia Cavaliers Football: The 5 Best Wins of The Mike London Era

Believe it or not, Mike London has had some big wins during his mostly-difficult time as UVA's head coach.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Before we continue our summer stroll down memory lane with a look at the best wins of the Mike London Era, we might has well address the elephant in the room. Frankly, there aren't a lot of wins to choose from. It's well-known that London's record at UVA has been dreadful. But despite the lack of win quantity, London actually has a decent number of quality wins during his tenure. Let's look back at some of the best.

5) Virginia 31, Maryland 13 -- November 5, 2011

Perry Jones took his opening hand-off 47 yards for a touchdown, and Virginia never really looked back. This was the sixth win of the season for the 2011 Cavaliers, ensuring that the team would return to a bowl game after a three-year drought. It was Virginia's last victory over the hated Terps, and at the time it gave Wahoo fans a feeling that the program had turned a corner.

4) Virginia 23, #21 Louisville 21 -- September 13, 2014

Virginia welcomed their new crossover "rivals" to the ACC with an upset victory in front of a sparse Scott Stadium crowd. After squandering a 20-7 fourth-quarter lead, the Wahoos pounced on a Louisville fumbled punt to set up a game-winning field goal from Ian Frye. It was Virginia's first ACC win in eleven tries and first win over a ranked opponent since 2011.

3) Virginia 24, #22 Miami 19 -- October 30, 2010

Deep into a frustrating 2010 season, Virginia pulled a shocker over visiting Miami. The play of the game came when lineman John-Kevin Dolce knocked out Hurricane quarterback Jacory Harris early in the first half. Virginia led 24-0 in the fourth quarter and barely staved off a desperate Hurricane rally. It was UVA's first ACC win in nine games and first win over a ranked opponent in since 2008.

2) Virginia 24, #12 Georgia Tech 21 -- October 15, 2011

The 12th-ranked Yellow Jackets were 6-0 and off to their best start since 1966 before Virginia upset them during homecomings weekend in Charlottesville. Virginia got 149 rushing yards from Perry Jones and withstood Georgia Tech's triple option attack en route to the victory. The Yellow Jackets only completed two passes the whole game and only gained 297 total yards.

1) Virginia 14, #23 Florida State 13 -- November 19, 2011

Unquestionably the highlight of the Mike London era, Virginia got its first win ever in Tallahassee by shocking the Seminoles in late November. The victory set up a de facto ACC Coastal playoff game in the season finale between Virginia and rival Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers staged a late fourth-quarter touchdown drive that culminated in a Kevin Parks touchdown run with 1:16 left in the game. After the Seminoles drove into Cavalier territory, the Wahoos were called for back-to-back penalties, giving FSU kicker Dustin Hopkins a 42-yard game-winning field goal attempt. Hopkins pulled the kick left, and Wahoo nation exulted in victory.

Almost four years later, it's hard to imagine where the Virginia program stood after that crazy ending in Tallahassee. Virginia sat 8-3 and had a chance to make the ACC title game for the first time in program history. Mike London was 12-11 at that point in his Cavalier career. Since then, he's gone 11-28 and the program has missed a bowl game in each of the past three seasons.

This list is just one writer's opinion, Cavalier fans. What do you think? Are there other wins that should have been included instead?