Katin Houser throws 3 TD passes and
runs for a score as Illinois beats UAB 42-23 in season opener
[September 04, 2026]
By STEVE STEIN
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Katin Houser threw three touchdown passes and
ran for a score in his Illinois debut as the Illini defeated UAB
42-23 on Thursday night in a season opener.
Houser, who transferred from East Carolina, completed 13 of 17
passes for 182 yards. Collin Dixon caught six passes for 70 yards
and two TDs, and Ca’Lil Valentine rushed 11 times for 88 yards and a
score.
UAB's Ryder Burton completed 18 of 33 passes for 219 yards and a TD.
He also rushed for a score. Jonah Delange kicked three field goals
for the Blazers.
Illinois scored two TDs on its first six plays and led 21-13 at
halftime.
A 65-yard punt return by Mac Resetich set up the first TD — an
18-yard pass from Houser to Dixon. Valentine scored on a 51-yard
run.
The Illini scored on the final play of the half, a 54-yard “Hail
Mary” pass from Houser to Ty Robinson, who caught the ball after it
was bobbled in the end zone by a UAB player.
“I thought Katin had a 50-yard arm,” said Illinois coach Bret
Bielema. “I think he surprised some people there.”
UAB coach Alex Mortensen said he didn't want the “Hail Mary” to
negatively impact his team emotionally, and it avoided that for the
most part.
“My message was OK, it happened,” he said. “There's a half of
football left.”
Ismael Kante scored on a 59-yard interception return for Illinois in
the fourth quarter.
The takeaway
It was difficult to judge the success of Illinois’ new 3-5-5
defense, brought to Champaign by new defensive coordinator Bobby
Hauck.
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The Illini were hurt by several missed tackles, not
a lack of familiarity of the new scheme. Bielema said his team
didn't work much on tackling during fall camp to prevent injuries
after a player was hurt making a tackle.
Despite the 19-point loss, UAB didn’t look like a
team that went 4-8 a year ago, fired head coach Trent Dilfer at
midseason after the Super Bowl-winning QB had lost 21 of 30 games in
two-plus seasons, and finally ended a four-year, 42-game road losing
streak in its final game last season.
The Blazers outgained Illinois 413-333 and if wasn’t for the pass at
the end of the first half that changed the game's momentum, would
have made Illinois sweat a little more on the warm, muggy night.
Bright lights
It was opening night for the Illini and their new 17,315-square-foot
videoboard on the south side of Gies Memorial Stadium, billed the
largest in college football. Auburn’s videoboard is next at 10,690
square feet.
Mort’s son
Mortensen is the son of the late Chris Mortensen, a longtime NFL
analyst for ESPN who died from throat cancer in 2024 at age 72. Alex
Mortensen was named interim coach at UAB after Dilfer was fired and
went 2-4. He had been the team’s offensive coordinator since 2023.
He was named coach in December.
Up next
Illinois: Hosts Duke on Sept. 12.
UAB: Hosts Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 12.
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