The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Photo by: Ken Shepherd
UAB Adds Illinois and Samford to Future Football Schedule
11/13/2025 12:46:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football program has announced changes to its future football schedule, which includes opening the 2026 season at Illinois and hosting Samford at Protective Stadium both in 2026 and 2027.
In the first meeting between the two programs, UAB and Illinois will square off on Sept. 5, 2026 in Champaign. Meanwhile, the Blazers will no longer open the season at home against Alabama A&M on Sept. 3, which has opened the door to play Samford in consecutive seasons. Those matchups are set for Oct. 3, 2026 and Sept. 25, 2027.
The game at Illinois marks UAB's first contest against a Big Ten team since 2012 at Ohio State and will be just the fifth time ever playing a team from the Big Ten.
UAB and Samford have met just once on the gridiron which was a Samford victory back in 1992.
Future UAB Football Schedules:
2026:
Sept. 5 – at Illinois
Sept. 12 – ULM
Sept. 19 – at Louisiana
Oct. 3 – Samford
TBA – Charlotte*
TBA – East Carolina*
TBA – Navy*
TBA – UTSA*
TBA – at Memphis*
TBA – at North Texas*
TBA – at South Florida*
TBA – at Temple*
Home Games in Bold | *American Conference
2027:
Sept. 11 – Jacksonville State
Sept. 18 – at Georgia State
Sept. 25 – Samford
The Blazers return to Protective Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 15, to host North Texas. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
In the first meeting between the two programs, UAB and Illinois will square off on Sept. 5, 2026 in Champaign. Meanwhile, the Blazers will no longer open the season at home against Alabama A&M on Sept. 3, which has opened the door to play Samford in consecutive seasons. Those matchups are set for Oct. 3, 2026 and Sept. 25, 2027.
The game at Illinois marks UAB's first contest against a Big Ten team since 2012 at Ohio State and will be just the fifth time ever playing a team from the Big Ten.
UAB and Samford have met just once on the gridiron which was a Samford victory back in 1992.
Future UAB Football Schedules:
2026:
Sept. 5 – at Illinois
Sept. 12 – ULM
Sept. 19 – at Louisiana
Oct. 3 – Samford
TBA – Charlotte*
TBA – East Carolina*
TBA – Navy*
TBA – UTSA*
TBA – at Memphis*
TBA – at North Texas*
TBA – at South Florida*
TBA – at Temple*
Home Games in Bold | *American Conference
2027:
Sept. 11 – Jacksonville State
Sept. 18 – at Georgia State
Sept. 25 – Samford
The Blazers return to Protective Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 15, to host North Texas. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
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