Illinois got the result it needed Thursday night, but the opener left a few loose ends hanging.
The Illini handled UAB 42-23 to start 1-0, and there was no shortage of fireworks on offense. Katin Houser accounted for four touchdowns in his Illinois debut, Collin Dixon hauled in two scoring catches, and Ca’Lil Valentine broke free for a 51-yard touchdown run. Illinois also got a pair of momentum-changing splash plays from the special teams and defense, with Mac Resetich’s 65-yard punt return setting up an early touchdown and Ismael Kante’s 59-yard pick-six helping put the game out of reach.
Still, this wasn’t a clean first step. UAB had the ball for more than 41 minutes and piled up 194 rushing yards, which kept Bobby Hauck’s new-look defense under real pressure for much of the night.
On the other side of the ball, Illinois did what good teams do in openers: it made the big plays when the game called for them.
The weekend is already packed with more Illinois action. Volleyball is back on the floor today after falling in three straight sets to No.
22 Tennessee on Tuesday, and the Illini will try to reset against McNeese State at 1 p.m. CT.
The soccer team keeps rolling, too. Illinois stayed unbeaten after a 3-0 win over Western Michigan on Thursday night, getting goals from Cayla Jackson and Hedda Ornberg plus an own goal.
Izzy Lee added another clean sheet as the Illini moved to 2-0-3. They’ll be back in action Sunday morning at Virginia Tech at 11 a.m.
CT.
There’s also already a big-picture note coming out of basketball season prep. In a recent preview, Brad Underwood set the tone for the 2026-27 team by saying the goal remains a national championship after last season’s Final Four run. He also talked about the team’s new identity and pointed to several newcomers and returning players who should matter.
Illinois’ next football test comes Sept. 12 against Duke at 2:30 p.m. CT, and the biggest question now is whether the defense can tighten things up before then.
The offense showed plenty. The other side of the ball has a week to catch up.
In Other News...
Illinois May Have Found A Transfer Lineman Who Can Change Everything
Will Holmes has already given Illinois something every defense hopes for in August and September, a new body on the line with a different kind of background and a fast-rising sense of comfort. The junior transfer arrived from Utah State after two seasons there, and his path to Champaign is hardly the usual one, considering he did not even start playing football until three years ago following a minor league baseball career. Even so, Holmes has worked his way from linebacker to defensive lineman and into a spot where the Illini are starting to see what the upside can look like.
His recent debut for Illinois suggested the adjustment may be coming together at the right time. Holmes showed encouraging signs in that first game, the latest step in a spring-to-fall climb that had already built some confidence around him in practice. For a line looking for more disruptive options, his development is the sort of detail that can matter long before the full season picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
CaLil Valentine Just Gave Illinois A Clear Backfield Favorite
Illinois opened its season against UAB with a backfield that still looks like it is sorting itself out, but CaLil Valentine made a strong early case to be the one leading the way. He finished with 88 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, highlighted by a 51-yard scoring run that gave the offense an explosive lift and helped set the tone for the night.
Aidan Laughery also got work, carrying eight times for 29 yards and coming close to a touchdown before the play was wiped out on review. The depth chart is still not fully settled, but Valentines showing gave Illinois a clear front-runner in a rotation that figures to keep getting watched closely as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Got New Hope For Its Toughest 2026 Road Test
Illinois projected 2026 path still looks strong overall, with a forecast that has the Illini finishing 10-2 and taking losses only to Oregon and Ohio State. But one of those road tests suddenly looks a little less daunting after Oregons latest outing, a game that showed the Ducks are not quite the runaway force many expected heading into the season.
For Illinois, the bigger question remains how its defense will handle that matchup if the game unfolds the way recent performances suggest. The Illinis offense appears capable of doing enough to keep things interesting, but the tension in that trip is still the same: can Illinois hold up against an Oregon attack that has already given opponents a lot to sort out? [Read more 🡒]