Collin Dixon has spent three games making the Illinois offense look a whole lot simpler than it probably should.
When the Illini drop back, the ball keeps finding him. Sometimes it feels inevitable.
Another throw, another chunk gain, another touchdown. At this point, he’s not just the top option in the passing game - he’s the engine of it.
That matters even more when you look at the rest of the receiver room. Illinois came into the season with Dixon back, Hudson Clement returning and FAU transfer Jayshon Platt added to the mix.
But Platt has missed the first three games because of injury, and Clement didn’t top 50 receiving yards for the first time this season until the game against Southern Illinois. Meanwhile, Dixon has been Katin Houser’s go-to target from the jump.
The production gap is enormous. Illinois pass-catchers have combined for 758 receiving yards through three games, and Dixon has accounted for 369 of them - nearly half. He also has seven touchdown catches, while only one other player has found the end zone through the air this season, Ty Robinson on Illinois’ Hail Mary at the end of the first half against UAB.
That seven-touchdown total already puts Dixon in the record book at Gies Memorial Stadium. He now owns the single-season receiving touchdown mark there, and he did it in Week 3.
“Another touchdown and a new record.
Collin Dixon breaks the Gies Memorial Stadium single-season receiving touchdown record with a 27-yard reception.
9:44 2Q | Illinois 28, SIU 7 pic.twitter.com/q9KWiFaYsg
- Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) September 19, 2026”
Illinois hasn’t had to leave home yet, which is worth noting. Still, the way Dixon has carved up every defense in front of him is impossible to ignore. Nobody has figured out how to slow him down, and if this kind of pace holds, the record book at Illinois may not stay intact for long.
He’s already closing in on another mark, too. Dixon is just three touchdowns shy of the Illinois single-season receiving touchdown record, which is 10 and is shared by Pat Bryant II, David Williams and Brandon Lloyd. With nine games left, he has a real chance to get there fast.
And that’s not the only chase he’s in. The overall Illinois receiving touchdown record belongs to David Williams, who scored 24 during his time with the Illini from 1983-1985. Dixon has already moved past the total he had in 2025 and sits at 12 career receiving touchdowns, putting him halfway to Williams’ mark.
That pace is outrageous. Keeping it up for an entire season is another matter.
“- Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) September 19, 2026”
For now, though, Dixon is making a strong case as Illinois’ next great receiver. He’s already doing things that belong in bigger conversations about the best wideouts in program history. The real test comes when Big Ten play starts, but through three games, he’s made one thing clear: this is no ordinary hot streak.
In Other News...
Illinois May Have A New Offensive Star Before Big Ten Play
Illinois rolled past Southern Illinois 48-10, and the biggest sign of what might be coming for the Illini offense came from Collin Dixon. Katin Houser found him for two second-quarter touchdown passes, and Dixon finished with eight catches for 131 yards while adding another entry to the record book at Gies Memorial Stadium with a single-season touchdown reception mark.
Bret Bielema had plenty of reason to praise Dixon after the game, especially with Big Ten play looming and Illinois looking for reliable playmakers who can tilt the field. Southern Illinois coach Nick Hill was left to absorb the loss and turn the page toward conference play of his own, while Illinois gets a clearer picture of how dangerous this passing game can be when Dixon is involved. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Win Eases One Concern But Raises Another For Fans
Illinois opened the season with a comfortable 48-10 win over Southern Illinois, and the kind of result fans wanted to see after a summer of questions. The offense had stretches that looked sharp, with the line doing its part and Katin Houser putting together a productive day through the air, which at least gave Illinois something to build on heading into a tougher stretch.
Still, the final margin did not hide everything. Even with Southern Illinois limited to 10 points, there were defensive issues that showed up enough to keep the staff's attention, and the performance left a mixed feeling for fans who wanted a cleaner all-around start. One concern may have eased, but the next one is already waiting. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Defense Finally Gave Fans A Reason To Feel Better
After a rocky stretch on defense, Illinois finally had a Saturday it could feel good about. In the 48-10 win over Southern Illinois, the Illini limited the Salukis to 257 yards and just 10 points, a showing that looked much more like the unit the staff had been looking for. The defense also finished with six tackles for loss and a sack, small but meaningful signs of disruption after earlier issues had left plenty to clean up.
The response did not happen by accident. Illinois defensive leaders had met to sort through the communication and tackling problems that had shown up in previous games, and the work showed in a sharper, more connected performance. Now the bigger question is whether this was a one-game reset or the first real sign that the Illini have started to solve the issues that were hanging over them. [Read more 🡒]