Thursday, September 3, 2026. Kickoff 9:00 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Illinois opens its season at Memorial Stadium against UAB in the late Thursday window, sharing the 9 p.m. slot with Idaho at Utah.
| Kickoff | 9:00 p.m. ET · 8:00 CT · 7:00 MT · 6:00 PT |
| TV | Big Ten Network |
| Streaming | FOX Sports App, Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream |
| Venue | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois |
An Odd Late Slot
A 9 p.m. Eastern kickoff is 8 p.m. locally in Champaign, which is late for a Thursday season opener in a college town. The scheduling is driven by Big Ten Network wanting to bookend the night rather than by anything about the matchup.
For Illinois it means a full extra day of recovery before the following weekend, which is the practical benefit of a Thursday opener.
UAB’s Trip North
UAB has been through significant program upheaval over the past decade, including a period when the program was shut down entirely and then revived. A road opener at a Big Ten school is the kind of game that funds a Group of Five athletic department for a season.
How to Watch
Big Ten Network is a cable channel — no antenna option. Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream all carry it. Sling includes it only on certain packages, so check before relying on it. The FOX Sports App streams BTN for authenticated subscribers.
The Bottom Line
UAB at Illinois kicks off 9:00 p.m. ET Thursday, September 3 on Big Ten Network from Memorial Stadium in Champaign. A cable or streaming subscription including BTN is required.