UVA is a legit team nowadays. Mendenhal, their coach, reminde me of what I am seeing in BB. He took over from a pretty deisasterous coach in '16 who absolutely could not rectuir in state, giving way the VT on the very good player while great players went out of state all together after Beamer retire at VT. The team lacked discipline and Mendenhall definitlely got them back to basics. They went 9-5 in '19, losing close games to Miami and Louisville and were competetive until the 4th quarter with ND. They got blown out in the ACC champioship game to Clemson, but that was to be expected. I'd like to see the Illini there 3 years into the BB era. The fifth loss was to I think Florida in the Orange Bowl.
Most of that team is back. Not a juggernaut, but a legit power 5 now. We can win this game, and I'll be there to cheer them - the Illini of course - on.
By the way, as a parent of three UVA alums, while i see the snubbery from some current and former Wahoos, there are a lot of grounded alum as well
It is less of a tradition, but the gentelman students were wearing coats and ties to the games. Not sure how much of that is still happening, but don;t be surprised if you see that.
With all of that I am still going to predict an Illini victory in a fairly high scoring game. Illinois 33 - UVA 29