The game counts for 1 point in the Commonwealth Clash each year, and is part of the greater Virginia–Virginia Tech rivalry.

More recently, Virginia Tech won a series record 15 straight games in the rivalry from 2004–2018 before the Cavaliers defeated the Hokies in 2019.

Currently, the Virginia Tech Hokies football team holds the cup, having won the 2024 edition of the contest.

[2] The cup is engraved with the names of the two schools and is mounted atop a trapezoidal base that makes up most of the trophy's length.

Traditionally, Virginia's primary rival had been the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in a game which became known as the South's Oldest Rivalry.

Hokie Hunter Carpenter, played nearly two full modern college football careers with Virginia Tech and the University of North Carolina.

The Cavaliers' last attempt to win the game was then snuffed out when a Mike Groh pass was intercepted and taken to the endzone by Antonio Banks, who avoided a sideline trip by a UVA athletic trainer, Joe Gieck.

By erasing a 22-point deficit in the second half, the Cavalier victory made for the greatest comeback win of the long series by either program.

Virginia Tech avenged their rivalry loss by easily defeating Alabama in the 1998 Music City Bowl.

The Virginia Cavaliers entered the '03 Commonwealth Cup looking to snap a four game losing streak against the Hokies.

Up by seven with only a few minutes left, Virginia pulled off a fake field goal on fourth down to keep possession away from the Hokies.

This game also saw Matt Schaub tie Shawn Moore for all time passing touchdowns at Virginia.

Virginia had high hopes of ending the 14-game losing streak against a Tech team that had mostly limped through the season.

Hokie running back Steven Peoples fumbled the ball inside the five-yard line but it was recovered by wide receiver Hezekiah Grimsley in the endzone for a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, Cavalier kicker Brian Delaney made a 48-yard field goal with 1:23 left in the game to give UVA a 33–30 lead.