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

• When: Thursday, September 3, 2026
• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT
• Where: Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
• Final Score: Illinois 42, UAB 23
• TV Channel: BTN
• Live Stream: FOX One

FOX College Football Schedule 2026 - Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026

• Missouri vs Kansas - 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026

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

FOX College Football Schedule 2026 - Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026

• UMass vs Rutgers - 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT
• UAB vs Illinois - 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Friday, Sept. 4, 2026

• Indiana State vs Purdue - 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
• Toledo vs Michigan State - 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
• Fresno State vs USC - 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026

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

Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026

• 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.