The Illinois Fighting Illini enter this week’s matchup with the Virginia Cavaliers at 1-1 — an outcome most fans probably would be okay with had Illinois not lost to UT-San Antonio at home last Saturday. Nonetheless, the Illini look to get back on track against an improving UVA squad. But history is not on Illinois’ side. More on that later.
The Cavaliers are coming off a 43-0 shutout win versus FCS William & Mary in their season opener, and enter this week as a double-digit home favorite against the Fighting Illini. Head coach Bronco Mendenhall is in his sixth season at the helm of UVA after a highly-successful 11-year run at BYU in which he won 99 games and led the Cougars to a bowl appearance every season.