Preview: Illini set to host UAB, Ryder Burton

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) - Illinois football's season opener on Thursday will feature some new looks for both teams on the field. As the Illini host UAB, the Blazers come to town hoping to start their first full season under Ryan Mortensen's leadership on a high note. Mortensen, previously serving as OC in Birmingham, was promoted to interim head coaching during the 2025 season - and named permanent head coach in December. Mortensen was in his third season as the Blazers' offensive coordinator in 2025 before being promoted. He replaces Trent Dilfer, who was 9-21 at UAB before being let go. "Illinois definitely presents a challenge, we're looking forward to taking that challenge on," Mortensen said. "I have a ton of respect for Coach Bielema." He also mentioned familiarity with Illini offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., and new Illini defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck's success at Montana. Mortensen brings back a quarterback he has grown close with. Ryder Burton took over as the starter in the same week Mortensen was promoted to interim head coach, and the duo helped lead UAB to an upset of No. 22 Memphis. Burton played in nine games in 2025, his first season in Birmingham after previous stops at BYU and West Virginia. He finished the fall with seven passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and five interceptions. Jacob Morris, the Sports Director at WIAT TV in Birmingham, calls Burton 'a self-proclaimed gun gunslinger' and says the QB-HC connection for the Blazers is strong. "Talking with Ryder and time and time again, [he says] like, 'I think [Mortensen] is different. I think Mort is different.'" Morris said. "And it's not just come into your coach's defense, it's these two guys have really bonded. These two guys really believe that this offense is capable of a lot of things... [Burton will] kind of smile and be like 'I need to cut down the mistakes' But he's also talked about Mortensen tells him to be him. Like he would rather him throw the pick than watch him on tape, holster a ball and not go somewhere and take a sack like he wants him to be Ryder Burton." UAB went 2-4 the end the 2025 since after Mortensen took over as the head man. On the season as a whole, it finished fifth in offensive yards per game in the American Athletic Conference, but 10th in points per game. The Blazers' defense more work. It allowed 38.3 points per game in 2025, worst in the conference. Morris says there is a high amount of roster turnover on the defensive side of the ball, and the team also has a new defensive coordinator in Todd Grantham. Of course, Illinois has has a new defensive scheme under new DC Bobby Hauck. Mortensen acknowledged, in his weekly press conference, that its hard to know exactly what to expect from this Illinois team with 50+ new players and an entirely different looking defensive approach. "You never see the hay is in the bar and you prepare up until game time," Mortensen said. "You learn as the game goes on. We feel like that is as much the case this week as ever because again, they have a lot of new guys that we've got film of them, but we haven't seen them play for Illinois and their scheme the way they're going to use them. We'll be observing and analyzing early in the game too, to get a better feel for that." UAB did not field a football team for the 2015 and 2026 seasons. It returned to action in 2017 and strung together six winning seasons in a row - including 11 wins in 2018. The Blazers have not won more than four games in a season since 2022. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.