CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia’s annual rivalry clash with Virginia Tech, the teams’ finale regular-season contest, will kickoff at 7 p.m. at Scott Stadium and be televised nationally on ESPN. Part of the reason for the primetime treatment for the battle for the Commonwealth Cup?

A win puts UVA in the ACC championship game for the first time since 2019. That was also the last time the Cavaliers beat the Hokies.

Tech has won four straight over UVA, and 19 of the last 20 in the series.

Virginia is 8-2 overall and 6-1 in league play, part of a three-way tie atop the conference standings with SMU and Pittsburgh. Based on tiebreakers, if all three teams win Saturday, UVA and SMU would meet for the title.

The Cavaliers could back into the title game if they lose to Tech, but would need losses by SMU and Pitt.

The Mustangs play at Cal on Saturday night, so the title game matchup won’t be set until close to midnight.

This will be UVA’s sixth night game of the season, all at home. It is 4-1 in those games so far.

Virginia beat Duke 34-17 in its last game Nov. 15. It had an open date this past week.

The Hokies, playing under interim coach Phil Montgomery since firing Brent Pry after a Week 3 loss to Old Dominion, fell 34-17 at home to Miami on Saturday. Tech has lost three straight.

This week, Tech announced the hiring of James Franklin as its next coach. Franklin attended Saturday’s loss to the Hurricanes in Blacksburg. It’s not yet known if he’ll be at the Commonwealth Clash on Saturday.