Few signs are positive for long-term planning (or even beyond next month).

Start with a 3-6 record, which puts Virginia on the cusp of having back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since the 1981-82 campaigns. Add in a three-game losing streak, with another tough Atlantic Coast Conference game today against Boston College. Then factor in a decline in attendance, season-ticket sales, and fund-raising.

Small wonder one Virginia paper publishes an ongoing survey: Should Al Groh return as coach next season?

In the latest results, 60 percent favored firing Groh.

Yet Groh and the Cavaliers do the best they can, breaking each week into a one-game season (Virginia’s final two games are against Clemson and Virginia Tech).

Groh, who has been the Cavaliers’ coach for nine seasons, with a résumé that includes NFL stops with the Patriots, Jets, Falcons, Browns, and Giants, has a nearly $4 million buyout of the remaining two years of his contract.

Groh is old school. He grew up on Long Island, went to Virginia, and began a career in coaching that included a stint at Army, where he was the plebe (freshman coach) for Bill Parcells when Bob Knight was the basketball coach and Mike Krzyzewski was his star player. Groh’s X’s and O’s tour went back and forth between college and the pros, including a six-season run as head coach at Wake Forest (1981-86) and a one-year stint as head coach of the Jets (2000), where he went 9-7. Then he came home to Virginia to be the head coach of the Cavaliers.

Groh’s ties to New England and the Patriots, where he was linebackers coach and defensive coordinator from 1993-96, remain strong. He keeps in touch with Bill Belichick. Two summers ago, Groh talked about going back to New England for a summer vacation. When asked what he did, Groh smiled and said, “I went down to Foxborough and looked at film with Bill.’’

Looking at film hasn’t fixed what has plagued the inconsistent Cavaliers this season.

“You look at them and you see talent,’’ said Boston College coach Frank Spaziani. “But you’re not sure which team you are going to get. They have gone up and down.’’

The Cavaliers ended last season with four consecutive losses and finished 5-7. Groh felt an influx of talent could turn momentum the same way it did in 2007, when the Cavaliers went 9-4 and Groh was named ACC Coach of the Year.

But the talent was too raw as Virginia staggered to an 0-3 start, which included a 26-14 loss to Championship Subdivision school William & Mary in the opener. Just when Groh’s coaching seat was starting to sizzle - he is No. 3 on the coacheshotseat.com list behind Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis and Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen - the Cavaliers won three straight as the 14 true freshmen Groh is playing began to meld into a unit.

“This was one of the best groups,’’ said Groh. “They are pretty precocious.’’

The last three weeks have brought another reality check, however, as the Cavaliers have dropped three straight, the latest a 52-17 blowout at Miami.

That prompted a cryptic message from Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage, who said he would evaluate the team at the end of the season.

Groh knows there is not much he can do about the future, so he deals with the present. BC is a new challenge because the Cavaliers have not played the Eagles in four seasons.

“We have not seen very much of them,’’ said Groh. “They are a very disciplined team. They are one of those teams that are line-of-scrimmaged based.’’

Virginia comes into the game with its Nos. 1 and 2 quarterbacks dealing with injuries. Jameel Sewell (shoulder) and Marc Verica (head injury) are listed as questionable, although Sewell probably will play.

While the game is important for Virginia, it is crucial for BC, which is still in the hunt for its third consecutive Atlantic Division title. For that to happen, BC must win its remaining games (Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland) and Clemson must lose one of its remaining games (North Carolina State and Virginia).

It is also important for Spaziani, who coached nine years at Virginia (1982-90).

“Getting seven [wins] is a big deal because it is a benchmark of sorts [guaranteeing a winning season],’’ said Spaziani.

A victory is also crucial for Groh, who must win out to have any chance of saving his job.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.