Illinois Fighting Illini v UAB Blazers

College Football (NCAA)Week 1

Final

Illinois Fighting Illini

42–23

UAB Blazers

Match events

Illinois Fighting IlliniUAB Blazers

By period (Illinois Fighting Illini-UAB Blazers): Q1 14-3, Q2 7-10, Q3 7-3, Q4 14-7

1st quarter

TouchdownCollin Dixon 18 Yd pass from Katin Houser (Ethan Moczulski Kick)
7:557–0
2:247–3
Field goalJonah Delange 26 Yd
TouchdownCa'Lil Valentine 51 Yd Run (Ethan Moczulski Kick)
1:1814–3

2nd quarter

5:5014–6
Field goalJonah Delange 23 Yd
0:1814–13
TouchdownRoderick Robinson II 10 Yd pass from Ryder Burton (Jonah Delange Kick)
TouchdownTy Robinson 54 Yd pass from Katin Houser (Ethan Moczulski Kick)
0:0021–13

3rd quarter

TouchdownCollin Dixon 14 Yd pass from Katin Houser (Ethan Moczulski Kick)
10:1528–13
3:5828–16
Field goalJonah Delange 35 Yd

4th quarter

TouchdownKatin Houser 6 Yd Run (Ethan Moczulski Kick)
12:2535–16
TouchdownIsmael Kante 59 Yd Interception Return (Ethan Moczulski Kick)
5:4842–16
0:0942–23
TouchdownRyder Burton 5 Yd Run (Jonah Delange Kick)

Player stats

UAB BlazersUAB Passing

Player	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	QBR
Ryder Burton	18/31	219	7.1	1	1	39.5

UAB BlazersUAB Rushing

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Rod Robinson II	14	59	4.2	0	13
Bam McReynolds	13	56	4.3	0	9
Ryder Burton	12	38	3.2	1	14
Kaleb Brown	1	24	24.0	0	24
Ja'Vin Simpkins	8	17	2.1	0	5

UAB BlazersUAB Receiving

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
CJ Smith	2	57	28.5	0	42

Highlights

0:23Katin Houser throws 18-yard touchdown pass vs. UABESPN 0:09Jonah Delange makes 26-yard field goalESPN 0:24Ca'Lil Valentine runs for 51-yard rushing touchdownESPN 0:37Ryder Burton connects for 10-yard TD passESPN 0:38Katin Houser connects for 54-yard TD passESPN

Compare these twoAll-time head to head, form, this season's numbers and our analyst's verdict

News and reaction

Match reportHeisman race after Week 10: CJ Carr, new contenders emergeLike so much of this college football season, the Heisman race is officially in a state of flux.ESPN47m ago

Match reportCollege Football Playoff Bubble Watch after Week 10A conference-by-conference look at which teams are contending for the playoff, who's close, and who's out.ESPN56m ago

Match reportWhat would a 24-team College Football Playoff bracket look like?Using the CFP committee's final ranking from the 2025 season, here's what the new format would look like.ESPN

Where to watch

ESPNStreaming on Kayo / Disney+ / Foxtel NowCollege football games on ESPN, streaming via Kayo, Disney+ or Foxtel Now. Not every game.SubscriptionWatch on Kayo Watch on Disney+Watch on Foxtel Now

DAZNStreaming on DAZN (NCAA College Sports)DAZN shows one free game each week; other games need its paid NCAA College Sports subscription.SubscriptionWatch on DAZN

Usual broadcasters for this competition in Australia.

Match details

Date: Friday 4 September 2026
Started: 11:00 am Sydney time
Venue: Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign
Competition: College Football (NCAA), Week 1
Crowd: 52,673

Form and ladder

Illinois Fighting IlliniUAB Blazers

–Ladder–

–Record–

WWLast 5WL

Team lists

Team lists aren’t available for this game.

Updated 10 Nov, 3:02 am

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Ca'Lil Valentine	11	88	8.0	1	51
Katin Houser	3	29	9.7	1	16
Aidan Laughery	8	29	3.6	0	7
Jordan Anderson	3	5	1.7	0	4
Team	1	-1	-1.0	0	1

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Collin Dixon	6	70	11.7	2	18
Ty Robinson	1	54	54.0	1	54
Hudson Clement	3	26	8.7	0	12
Aidan Laughery	1	17	17.0	0	17
Brayden Trimble	1	11	11.0	0	11
Ca'Lil Valentine	1	4	4.0	0	4