UAB Blazers to Face Illinois Fighting Illini in Season Opener

The UAB Blazers are set to play against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. CT at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

This matchup marks the beginning of the 2026 college football season for Illinois, which finished the previous year with a 9-4 record in Big Ten play. In contrast, UAB ended their 2025 season with a 4-8 record in the AAC. Illinois is favored to win by 27.5 points, with the total points set at 54.5.

Illinois will introduce a new quarterback, Houser, who has prior starting experience and threw for 3,300 yards with 19 touchdowns last season at East Carolina. UAB's quarterback, Burton, aims to build on his previous performance, which included a notable game against UConn. The outcome of this game will be significant for both teams as they begin their respective seasons.