Illinois Hosts UAB in Week 1 College Football Matchup

Illinois will host UAB on Thursday for a Week 1 college football game, which will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.

Head coach Bret Bielema returns to lead the Fighting Illini, who are coming off a 9-4 season in 2025. The team will start Katin Houser, a transfer from East Carolina, as their new quarterback after Luke Altmyer moved to the NFL. Houser has 26 career starts and threw for 3,330 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.

UAB's head coach Alex Mortensen, who took over midway through the previous season, aims to guide the Blazers to their first winning season since 2021. The team has undergone significant changes, with only three returning starters and 39 transfers, making their matchup against Illinois challenging. The Fighting Illini have consistently scored over 30 points in season openers under Bielema, suggesting a tough game ahead for UAB.