UAB
Illinois
1:00 AM · Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)

Fan take

Illinois fans

r/CFB
“I just don't why they keep playing man coverage with corners that can't cover in man.”
1d ago

UAB fans

r/CFB
“With how low the bar is, I was really pleasantly surprised. We actually had a game with a P4 team that was close at one point. Last year it felt like we…”
1d ago

What’s at stake

Illinois

  • Illinois sits at 1% to make the CFP field — 1% with a win here, 0% with a loss.
  • Illinois is coming off a 19-point win.

UAB

  • UAB is still shaking off a 19-point loss.

See this week’s biggest postseason implications ›

The series

Illinois leads the series 1-0

1 meeting since 2026 · Illinois won the last meeting

  • 2026Illinois 42–23

Best players

Illinois

  • Matthew Bailey (DB) · 8 tackles
  • Ismael Kante (LB) · 6 tackles
  • Ca'Lil Valentine (RB) · 88 rushing yards

UAB

  • Eli Ennis (LB) · 8 tackles
  • Muaaz Byard (LB) · 7 tackles
  • Brandon Franklin (LB) · 7 tackles

The line, and the room

UAB fans are feeling better about their season (74th percentile) than Illinois fans are (46th) — even with Illinois favored here.

  • Model · 60%
  • Market · 98%
  • Illinois fans · 46th
  • UAB fans · 74th

Home −25.5 · O/U 54.5

Conditions

79°F · 3 mph wind · Fair

Home-field advantage: Strong

Illinois is 58% at home, 44% on the road since 2018 (30-22 home, 17-22 away).

UAB 23 – Illinois 42

Illinois 42: 65%UAB 23: 35%

Called it — picked Illinois to win.

Players to watch

Illinois

  • Matthew Bailey DB8 Tackles
  • Ismael Kante LB6 Tackles
  • Ca'Lil Valentine RB88 Rushing yards
  • Collin Dixon WR70 Receiving yards
  • Joe Barna DL5 Tackles

UAB

  • Eli Ennis LB8 Tackles
  • Muaaz Byard LB7 Tackles
  • Brandon Franklin LB7 Tackles
  • Ryder Burton QB219 Passing yards
  • Darrell Sweeting DB5 Tackles

The market

Spread: −27.5 → −25.5

Book hold: 3.5%

Illinois beat UAB 42-23 — exactly what the pregame pick had.