Katin Houser produced four of Illinois's seven explosive plays

Katin Houser scored 24 of Illinois's points. They beat UAB, 42-23 at Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL). Illinois was the steadier side of a 19-point win. Katin Houser threw for 182 yards on 17 attempts with three touchdowns and ran three times for 29 yards and one score.

The standouts

Katin Houser threw for 182 yards on 17 attempts with three touchdowns and ran three times for 29 yards and one score — three of them from inside the 20 and a hand in four plays of 15 yards or more. Collin Dixon caught six passes for 70 yards, two of them for touchdowns — two of them from inside the 20. Ca'Lil Valentine ran 11 times for 88 yards and one score. For UAB, Ryder Burton threw for 219 yards on 31 attempts with one touchdown and ran 12 times for 38 yards and one score — that score from inside the 20, seven third-down conversions and a hand in five plays of 15 yards or more. Braylon McReynolds ran 13 times for 56 yards and caught two passes for 25 yards. Roderick Robinson II ran 14 times for 59 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards, one of them for a touchdown — that score from inside the 20. Ean Rhea was the disruptive one for Illinois: 1 sack, 2 TFLs, 4.5 tackles.

The plays that turned it

It came down to a few snaps. Ryder Burton's 42-yard throw to C.J. Smith on 3rd-and-7 at Q1 03:26. Then Ca'Lil Valentine's 51-yard run for a touchdown on 2nd-and-3 at Q1 01:18. Later, Ryder Burton's 15-yard throw to C.J. Smith on 3rd-and-5 at Q4 09:50.

How it unfolded

Illinois struck first through Katin Houser, led 21-13 at the half and the final points came on a late score by Ryder Burton.

Against the line

The closing line had Illinois -25.5. UAB covered. The total was 54.5; the teams combined for 65, an over. Ryder Burton accounted for 12 of UAB's points.

The takeaway

A solid, earned win for Illinois; UAB is left to clean up the details that cost it.