In Week 2, Virginia hosts an opponent from the Big Ten it has only played twice in its history. Illinois won both of those matchups, the last one of which came before this century. Like UVa in the ACC, Illinois has had fits and starts of success in the past 20 years mixed in with quite a few losing seasons, and it has never been able to hang with the big boys of the Big Ten. Now, the Fighting Illini turn to a tough-nosed coach who returns to his Big Ten stomping grounds of a few years ago after a sojourn in the SEC and NFL.
When: Sept. 11, 11 a.m. Where: Charlottesville
Series record: Illinois leads, 2-0
Last meeting: Dec. 30, 1999, in the MicronPC.com Bowl; Illinois won, 63-21
Last year's record: 2-6
Best win: at Nebraska, 41-23
Worst loss: vs. Minnesota, 41-14; the Gophers went 3-4
Coach: Bret Bielema (first year; 97-58 career)
Starters returning: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Brandon Peters. A sixth-year veteran, Peters stands tall at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. He originally committed to Michigan as a four-star recruit. He redshirted in 2016 and then started four games in 2017 for the Wolverines. In 2018, he was relegated to being a backup, and before the 2019 season, he transferred. In 2019 for Illinois, he completed 55.3% of his passes for 1,884 yards, 18 touchdowns, and eight interceptions as Illinois went 6-7 and lost to Cal in the Redbox Bowl. Notably that season, Illinois trailed at Michigan State, 31-10, going into the fourth quarter. The Illini had never rallied from more than 20 points in their history in a win. But Illinois won, 37-34, with Peters throwing for 369 yards and three TDs, including the game-winning TD with 5 seconds left. In 2020, Peters started five of the eight games (was in COVID isolation for the three others) and completed 48.8% of his passes for 429 yards with three TDs and no picks. Though Bielema has been known for loving to run the ball at Wisconsin and Arkansas, I think Peters is just good enough to challenge the Cavaliers' pass defense, especially if the secondary continues to struggle as much as it did last year. Peters is not very accurate, but he seems to be effective and avoids interceptions.
Defensive player to watch: LB Jake Hansen. As a junior in 2020, Hansen led the team with 68 tackles, 10 for losses, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, two breakups, and two forced fumbles. In 2019, he played in nine games and racked up 72 tackles, 7.5 for losses, 3.5 sacks, an INT, and a nation-leading seven forced fumbles. UVa ball carriers will need to be extra careful around Hansen.
Special teams player to watch: P Blake Hayes. An Aussie, Hayes was the Big Ten's punter of the year in 2019, and he continued his solid play in 2020, booting punts an average of almost 44 yards and putting 16 inside the 20-yard line. Hayes also got a first down on this hilariously executed fake punt against Nebraska last season:
Season prediction: Illinois was picked to finish last in the Big Ten West by the conference's media.
Early game thoughts: Bielema had a lot of success at Wisconsin from 2006-12, but he never quite got things up to speed in the tough SEC West at Arkansas, though he did take the Razorbacks to three bowls in a row. The problem was Bielema bookended his career there with 3-9 and 4-8 seasons and was fired after the 2017 season. After that, he spent three years in the NFL -- 2018-19 with the Patriots and 2020 with the Giants. I don't think anyone will be surprised if Bielema can get the Illinois program back to respectability in an easier division, though it may be a lot to expect a bowl berth in Year 1. That said, Bielema has an experienced QB in Peters, and Illinois' run game has already been pretty good recently. Bielema must fix the defense though, the Big Ten's worst in 2020. Any game against a Power Five opponent still feels like a toss-up for UVa, but this feels like one the Wahoos need to win if they are going to have a successful season. Lose, and Virginia is likely 1-1 with a really tough matchup with North Carolina the next week.
Starters returning: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)
Offensive player to watch: QB Brandon Peters. A sixth-year veteran, Peters stands tall at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds. He originally committed to Michigan as a four-star recruit. He redshirted in 2016 and then started four games in 2017 for the Wolverines. In 2018, he was relegated to being a backup, and before the 2019 season, he transferred. In 2019 for Illinois, he completed 55.3% of his passes for 1,884 yards, 18 touchdowns, and eight interceptions as Illinois went 6-7 and lost to Cal in the Redbox Bowl. Notably that season, Illinois trailed at Michigan State, 31-10, going into the fourth quarter. The Illini had never rallied from more than 20 points in their history in a win. But Illinois won, 37-34, with Peters throwing for 369 yards and three TDs, including the game-winning TD with 5 seconds left. In 2020, Peters started five of the eight games (was in COVID isolation for the three others) and completed 48.8% of his passes for 429 yards with three TDs and no picks. Though Bielema has been known for loving to run the ball at Wisconsin and Arkansas, I think Peters is just good enough to challenge the Cavaliers' pass defense, especially if the secondary continues to struggle as much as it did last year. Peters is not very accurate, but he seems to be effective and avoids interceptions.
Special teams player to watch: P Blake Hayes. An Aussie, Hayes was the Big Ten's punter of the year in 2019, and he continued his solid play in 2020, booting punts an average of almost 44 yards and putting 16 inside the 20-yard line. Hayes also got a first down on this hilariously executed fake punt against Nebraska last season:
Fun fact: Bielema brought in experienced offensive coordinator Tony Petersen to lead the Illini's offense. From 1999-2006, Petersen was the co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and eventually the passing coordinator at Minnesota. This is a fun fact because Virginia defeated Minnesota, 34-31, in the 2005 Music City Bowl in Nashville.Blake Hayes (@HayesBla1) had so much field ahead of him on this fake punt that it looked like he was about to reconsider. 😂@IlliniFootball delivers one of the most unique fakes you'll ever see #ForTheBrand: pic.twitter.com/bMv8OWtmN9
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 21, 2020
Season prediction: Illinois was picked to finish last in the Big Ten West by the conference's media.
Early game thoughts: Bielema had a lot of success at Wisconsin from 2006-12, but he never quite got things up to speed in the tough SEC West at Arkansas, though he did take the Razorbacks to three bowls in a row. The problem was Bielema bookended his career there with 3-9 and 4-8 seasons and was fired after the 2017 season. After that, he spent three years in the NFL -- 2018-19 with the Patriots and 2020 with the Giants. I don't think anyone will be surprised if Bielema can get the Illinois program back to respectability in an easier division, though it may be a lot to expect a bowl berth in Year 1. That said, Bielema has an experienced QB in Peters, and Illinois' run game has already been pretty good recently. Bielema must fix the defense though, the Big Ten's worst in 2020. Any game against a Power Five opponent still feels like a toss-up for UVa, but this feels like one the Wahoos need to win if they are going to have a successful season. Lose, and Virginia is likely 1-1 with a really tough matchup with North Carolina the next week.
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