When Olsen struggled during the season opener, a loss to Pittsburgh, both McCabe and Sewell received playing time.

Sewell did not play in the following game, when McCabe relieved Olsen and led the Cavaliers to a victory over Wyoming.

Despite generally positive opinions of Sewell's progress by fans and the media, Virginia finished near the bottom in most offensive categories in NCAA Division I-A.

Lalich continued to be the quarterback in a few series for the next few games until Sewell led the Cavaliers to several narrow victories with fourth-quarter scoring drives.

[2] He decided against transferring to a Division I-AA school which would have allowed him to play in the 2008 season and announced plans to return to Virginia for the spring 2009 semester.

[4] On February 28, 2011, Sewell signed with the Milwaukee Mustangs of the Arena Football League (AFL).

On March 16, 2011, Sewell signed with the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League (IFL).