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New Illinois QB, new UAB coach in spotlight in season opener

UAB at Illinois, Thursday, 9 p.m. ET

How to watch: Big Ten Network

Key stats

Illinois (2025)

Overall offense: 373.8 yards per game (78th in FBS)

Passing: 235.8 yards per game (58th)

Rushing: 138.1 yards per game (89th)

Scoring: 29.4 points per game (53rd)

Overall defense: 344.9 yards allowed per game (46th in FBS)

Passing: 218.4 yards allowed per game (63rd)

Rushing: 126.5 yards allowed per game (36th)

Scoring 23.6 points allowed per game (57th)

UAB (2025)

Overall offense: 404.3 yards per game (48th in FBS)

Passing: 265.6 yards per game (26th)

Rushing: 138.7 yards per game (87th)

Scoring: 26.4 points per game (76th)

Overall defense: 423.3 yards allowed per game (117th in FBS)

Passing: 232.3 yards allowed per game (93rd)

Rushing: 191.1 yards allowed per game (118th)

Scoring 38.3 points allowed per game (133rd)

Team leaders

Illinois (2025)

Passing: Luke Altmyer, 3,007 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INTs, 67.4 completion percentage

Rushing: Ca’lil Valentine, 614 yards on 131 carries, 4 TDs

Receiving: Hank Beatty, 864 yards on 70 catches, 3 TDs

UAB (2025)

Passing: Jalen Kitna, 2,462 yards, 13 TDs, 10 INTs, 66.4 completion percentage.

Rushing: Jevon Jackson, 900 yards on 167 carries, 5 TDs.

Receiving: Iverson Hooks, 927 yards on 72 catches, 7 TDs.

Last game

Illinois beat Tennessee 30-28 in the Music City Bowl to cap a 9-4 season.

UAB beat Tulsa 31-24 for its first road win since Nov. 26, 2022, and finished 4-8.

Next game

Illinois: Hosts Duke on Sept. 12

Alabama-Birmingham: Hosts Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 12.

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College football picks: Look for lots of blowouts, as usual, as season begins in earnest

For all the changes happening in college football nowadays, one thing remains the same: Week 1 blowouts. There should be a bunch of them when the season hits full stride with Labor Day weekend games scheduled Thursday through Monday. The average predicted point spread is 26 points for the 18 games involving Top 25 teams and fellow Bowl Subdivision members. Seven teams are favored to win by at least four touchdowns and only two by fewer than 10 points. There are 48 games matching Championship Subdivision teams against the FBS, with six involving Top 25 teams.
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