The UAB Blazers visit the Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. CT from Gies Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL), Champaign, IL.
Illinois opens its 2026 season at home Thursday night against UAB. The Blazers finished 4-8 in 2025, 12th in the AAC, while the Fighting Illini went 9-4 in Big Ten play. Illinois is a 27.5-point favorite, with the total set at 54.5.
Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.
How to Watch UAB vs. Illinois
Players to Watch
Ryder Burton
QBUAB Blazers
Burton’s numbers from a year ago do not scream breakout, but the moment does. In a loss to UConn, he went 21 for 30 for 209 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, the kind of outing that got offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen promoted to head coach once Trent Dilfer was let go. Mortensen’s Blazers went on to upset then-No. 22 Memphis, and Burton’s growth is central to whether UAB can build on that momentum instead of returning to the years Dilfer never solved. Illinois brings a Big Ten defense that will hit differently than anything UAB saw in the American Conference, and how Burton responds to that jump says more about this UAB team than anything from a year ago.
Katin Houser
QBIllinois Fighting Illini…