How will the Illinois Fighting Illini fare in 2026 football opener vs UAB: Predictions

The Illinois Fighting Illini are set to begin their 2026 season with a matchup against the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) on Thursday night. Head coach Bret Bielema has guided the team to three consecutive winning seasons, culminating with a 9-4 record and a Music City Bowl victory last year. The Illini are favored by 27.5 points in most betting services for this opener at Gies Memorial Stadium.

According to Dave Eminian and Adam Duvall, Illinois is currently ranked fourth in the Coaches Poll and eighth in the AP Top 25, just four and eight spots shy of the top rankings. The team boasts the fourth-best record in the Big Ten over the past two seasons, with back-to-back 9+ win seasons in 2024 and 2025. Illinois' offense led by new starting quarterback Katin Houser, a fifth-year transfer from Michigan State and East Carolina, and a defense that has lost two key players to the NFL Draft.

UAB, on the other hand, is under new head coach Alex Mortensen, who is in his first full season. UAB finished the 2025 season with a 4-8 record, and the team includes 43 transfers and 19 freshmen in 2026. Redshirt junior quarterback Ryder Burton will be the starter for UAB, having appeared in nine games last season.