Illinois football is heading into the 2026 season with hopes of making the College Football Playoff.
To get to that point, the Illini need to win nearly every game. It all starts with UAB on Thursday night.
This game could put a lot of Illinois players on the map. There is an opportunity for the Illini to show our teeth against a much lesser opponent. I have a few predictions for the contest, too.
Here are five bold Illinois football predictions heading into the game vs UAB Blazers
1. Grant Beerman leads Illinois front seven with 2.5 sacks
The UAB offensive line isn’t good. They have a total of 22 starts across all five positions. Only three offensive linemen for the Blazers have starts with the program.
Illinois is going with a 3-3-5 defense, meaning we are going to have three linebackers out there trying to cause chaos. Daniel Brown is out for week one, so Illinois is likely to put out James Kreutz and Robert Edmonson as two of the primary linebackers.
I think Grant Beerman is going to get a lot of play against UAB, too. In fact, his athletic ability and tenacity could wreak havoc on the Blazers’ offensive line. With his speed and strength, Beerman has a breakout game against a bad offensive line and finishes with 2.5 sacks in the first game of the season.
2. Welcome back Xavier Scott and his two interceptions against UAB
Illinois only got three games with Xavier Scott last season. He went down with a lower-leg injury and missed the final 10 games.
Scott was projected to be an All-American and a high NFL Draft pick. That went out the window, as his injury tanked all of his national stock.
The first game back for Scott in 2026 is against UAB. They are going to feel the wrath of this big-time player, and the Blazers have a quarterback in Ryder Burton who throws picks. He threw five interceptions in 98 attempts last season.
Scott has been waiting nearly a year to get back on the field. You bet he is going to be hungry. I could see Scott coming out of this game with two interceptions in a big-time welcome-back party.
3. A career-high is achieved, as Ca’Lil Valentine runs for over 100 yards
I was happy with what Illinois did with the offensive line in the offseason. It all starts in the middle.
Jake Renfro is arguably the best center the Illini have had in a very long time. He has a chance to be an All-Big Ten center this season. We also added great pieces around him, and I think this should help open up so many opportunities for Ca’Lil Valentine.
The most intriguing thing about the game on Thursday night is how badly UAB has been stopping the run.
In 2025, the Blazers gave up 190.9 yards per game on the ground. This was bad enough to rank No. 113 in the country. Illinois should feast. Valentine should feast.
I fully expect Valentine to get the start for the Illini. On top of that, he could easily average over 7.0 yards per carry. Coming into the game, Valentine’s career high is 95 yards. I expect him to go over 100 yards and set a career high.
4. In Jayshon Platt’s absence, Brayden Trimble is Katin Houser’s security blanket
Illinois took a big hit to the wide receiver corps in the past couple of weeks. Jayshon Platt was supposed to be a big part of the Illini offense, but he is out for week one.
Hudson Clement and Collin Dixon should have good games, but the UAB defense will be focusing on those two in the absence of Platt. What that does is free up someone like Brayden Trimble.
I think Trimble could have his coming-out party on Thursday night. While the Blazers are focusing on Illinois’ top two wide receivers, Trimble becomes Katin Houser’s security blanket to help move the ball down the field. Don’t be shocked if he leads Illinois in catches against UAB.
5. Newly installed Illinois offensive line is impenetrable, allows zero sacks against UAB
I touched on the Illinois offensive line in the section propping up Valentine. That same offensive line could have a big game in general.
While Renfro and the rest of his offensive line coworkers open holes for Valentine, I think Houser could have time all day in the pocket.
This is Houser’s first game for Illinois. He hasn’t played big-boy football in a few years. It will be nice to have him be able to sit back in the pocket and fling the ball around. This will enable him to get more chemistry heading into the meat of the 2026 schedule.
Look for the Illinois offensive line to have an efficient outing. Houser could stand upright the entire night, and the offensive line gives up zero sacks.
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