UAB Blazers vs Illinois Fighting Illini

College Football

UAB

0-1

23-42

Final

Illinois

1-0

Gies Memorial Stadium

Drive chart

Drives

End of Game
Touchdown
Interception Touchdown
Touchdown
Field Goal
Touchdown

Team	1	2	3	4	T
UAB	3	10	3	7	23
ILL	14	7	7	14	42

Who won: Illinois 42-23

The Illinois Fighting Illini beat the UAB Blazers 42-23 on Thursday, September 3, 2026 at Gies Memorial Stadium. The Illinois outscored the UAB 14-3 in the 1st quarter. Katin Houser led the Illinois in passing yards (13/17, 182 YDS, 3 TD). Ryder Burton led the UAB in passing yards (18/31, 219 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT).

Win probability

100%ILL final

UABILL

Tap or hover the line to see the play. Dots mark the biggest swings.

Play by play

Q4 0:00
End of 4th quarter.
Q4 0:09
Kneel down by Illinois at ILL24 for loss of 1 yard
1st & 10 at ILL 25
Q4 0:09
#35 O.Simpson kickoff 65 yards to the ILL00, Touchback
TOUCHDOWNQ4 0:09
Touchdown! 5 yd run
Ryder Burton 5 Yd Run (Jonah Delange Kick)
UAB 23 - 42 ILL
Q4 0:41
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton rush right for 1 yard loss to the ILL05 (#40 E.Rhea)
2nd & Goal at ILL 4
Q4 1:14
+1
Shotgun #7 J.Simpkins rush middle for 1 yard loss to the ILL04 (#8 C.Thomas)
1st & Goal at ILL 3
UAB 16 - 42 ILL
Q4 1:38
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass complete short right to #0 T.Mims caught at ILL11, for 24 yards to the ILL03 (#22 D.Fillmore), 1ST DOWN
1st & 10 at ILL 27
Q4 1:51
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass complete short right to #4 E.Reid caught at ILL43, for 14 yards to the ILL27 (#40 E.Rhea), 1ST DOWN
1st & 10 at ILL 41
Q4 2:00
Timeout UAB, clock 02:00
Q4 2:00
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass complete short middle to #44 S.Isacks caught at ILL46, for 15 yards to the ILL41 (#21 B.Clawson), 1ST DOWN
3rd & 3 at UAB 44
Q4 2:50
No Huddle-Shotgun #7 J.Simpkins rush left for 4 yards gain to the UAB44 (#52 P.Farrell)
2nd & 7 at UAB 40
Q4 3:21
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton rush right for 3 yards gain to the UAB40 (#20 A.Thomas), out of bounds
1st & 10 at UAB 37
Q4 4:09
No Huddle-Shotgun #3 B.McReynolds rush left for 3 yards gain to the UAB37 (#3 N.Hankins Jr.), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
4th & 1 at UAB 34
Q4 4:49
No Huddle-Shotgun #3 B.McReynolds rush middle for 0 yards to the UAB34 (#98 J.Davis)
3rd & 1 at UAB 34
Q4 4:58
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass complete short left to #4 E.Reid caught at UAB34, for 4 yards to the UAB34 (#3 N.Hankins Jr.)
2nd & 5 at UAB 30
Q4 5:37
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass complete short left to #0 T.Mims caught at UAB29, for 5 yards to the UAB30 (#3 N.Hankins Jr.)
1st & 10 at UAB 25
Q4 5:48
#37 E.Moczulski kickoff 65 yards to the UAB00, Touchback
TOUCHDOWNQ4 5:48
Touchdown! 59 yd return
Ismael Kante 59 Yd Interception Return (Ethan Moczulski Kick)
UAB 16 - 42 ILL
Q4 6:22
Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass complete short right to #7 J.Simpkins caught at ILL33, for 5 yards to the ILL31 (#0 M.Resetich)
3rd & 12 at ILL 36
Q4 6:39
Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass incomplete short left to #44 S.Isacks thrown to ILL33
2nd & 12 at ILL 36
Q4 7:06
FLAG
Shotgun #2 R.Robinson II rush left for 10 yards gain to the ILL16 (#38 J.Paris; #43 J.Barna) PENALTY UAB Holding (#77 K.Cox) 10 yards from ILL26 to ILL36. NO PLAY
2nd & 2 at ILL 26
Q4 7:40
Shotgun #5 R.Burton rush middle for 8 yards gain to the ILL26 (#26 I.Kante)
1st & 10 at ILL 34
Q4 8:37
No Huddle-Shotgun #2 R.Robinson II rush middle for 2 yards gain to the ILL34 (#38 J.Paris), 1ST DOWN
3rd & 2 at ILL 36
Q4 9:16
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass complete short right to #3 B.McReynolds caught at ILL44, for 8 yards to the ILL36 (#38 J.Paris)
2nd & 10 at ILL 44
Q4 9:27
No Huddle-Shotgun #5 R.Burton pass incomplete deep middle to #8 K.Brown thrown to ILL05
1st & 10 at ILL 44