Houser Shines, Defense Struggles | Illinois Fighting Illini Football News

Illinois stunned UAB with a 42-23 win despite being outgained and having less than half the ball—thanks to Katin Houser’s efficient, turnover-free performance with 182 yards and four touchdowns. But the real test looms: can he handle tougher defenses like Duke and Ohio State? Meanwhile, the defense showed alarming vulnerabilities, surrendering 194 rushing yards and too many big plays as the new coordinator still finds his footing. Bright spot? Safety Matthew Bailey was a disruptive force with eight tackles, a hurry, and a tipped pass—his aggression is promising, but the unit needs major improvement before Big Ten games arrive. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7614daf368ec6334