Katin Houser's 54-yard Hail Mary on the last play of the first half turned a season opener into a memorable moment. Watch UAB vs Illinois highlights on FOX Sports or stream on FOX One. The nightcap of Week 1's Thursday doubleheader opening the 2026 college football season came from Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. Illinois won 42–23 in the first meeting ever between the two programs.

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UAB vs Illinois Highlights

Houser, a transfer from East Carolina, went 13-of-17 for 182 yards with three touchdown passes and a rushing score in his Illini debut, and the win pushed Bret Bielema to 6-0 in season openers at Illinois. Collin Dixon caught two of those touchdowns, and Ca'Lil Valentine broke a 51-yard run. The box score tells a stranger story than the scoreboard: UAB outgained Illinois 413–332 and held the ball for 41:03, but Alex Mortensen's Blazers never led. Ryder Burton threw for 219 yards and a touchdown and ran for another in the losing effort. Catch every scoring play on FOX One, where live FOX College Football games, highlights, expert analysis, and on-demand FOX programming all live in one place. Start your 3-day free trial and stream on supported devices.

Where to Watch UAB Blazers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Football

FOX + ESPN College Football Schedule 2026 — Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Week 2 — Watch Missouri vs Kansas — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Week 2 — Watch Oklahoma vs Michigan — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Wake Forest vs Purdue — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Howard vs Indiana — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Arizona vs BYU — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Duke vs Illinois — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Eastern Michigan vs Michigan State — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Utah State vs Washington — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Bowling Green vs Nebraska — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch San Diego State vs UCLA — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Western Illinois vs Wisconsin — 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Ohio State vs Texas — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch North Dakota State vs Air Force — 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT
Week 2 — Watch Louisiana vs USC — 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT

FOX + ESPN College Football Schedule 2026 — Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026
Week 1 — Watch UMass vs Rutgers — 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch UAB vs Illinois — 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Friday, Sept. 4, 2026
Week 1 — Watch Indiana State vs Purdue — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Toledo vs Michigan State — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Fresno State vs USC — 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
Week 1 — Watch North Texas vs Indiana — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Ohio vs Nebraska — 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Ball State vs Ohio State — 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Boston College vs Cincinnati — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Marshall vs Penn State — 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Northern Illinois vs Iowa — 4:15 p.m. ET / 1:15 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Abilene Christian vs Texas Tech — 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Clemson vs LSU — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Hampton vs Maryland — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch South Dakota State vs Northwestern — 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Week 1 — Watch Central Michigan vs New Mexico — 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT

Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
Week 1 — Watch Louisville vs Ole Miss — 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Thursday night was the first football game these two programs have ever played, so Illinois' 42–23 win opens the series at 1–0 with nothing behind it. It was also UAB's first game ever played in the state of Illinois and only the fifth meeting in program history with a Big Ten opponent, the first since 2012.