Watch Illinois football’s Katin Houser connect with Ty Robinson on epic Hail Mary in season opener

The Illinois Fighting Illini already have a prayer answered this early in the 2026 college football season.

During Thursday night’s season opener between Illinois football and the UAB Blazers at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, senior quarterback Katin Houser launched a prayer and connected on an insane Hail Mary touchdown with fellow senior and wide receiver Ty Robinson in the end zone.

On a 2nd-and-10 with seconds left in the second quarter, Houser took his sweet time in the pocket before throwing up a prayer that was caught by Robinson amid a phalanx of Blazers players around him for a 54-yard touchdown.

Thanks to that play and the made extra point, Illinois stretched a one-point lead into a seven-point advantage and built momentum for the second half.

TY ROBINSON CATCHES THE HAIL MARY IN TRAFFIC FOR ILLINOIS

College Football is so BACK!

(via @BigTenNetwork)
pic.twitter.com/7VbW8HVLKG

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 4, 2026

It was quite a way for Houser and Robinson to make their impressions in their first game with their new team.

Houser started his college career with the Michigan State Spartans and played two years in East Lansing before transferring to the East Carolina Pirates. After two seasons with the Pirates, Houser took his talents back to the Big Ten to play for the Fighting Illini.

Meanwhile, Robinson suited up for the Colorado Buffaloes (two seasons) and Ball State Cardinals (three seasons) before going to Illinois football.

The UAB game is turning out to be a great tone-setter for the Fighting Illini, who won three straight games to start their 2025 campaign. And just like last season, Illinois’ second assignment in 2026 will be against the Duke Blue Devils on Sept. 12 at Gies Memorial Stadium.

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