WATCH: Illinois produces craziest touchdown of college football season with wild Hail Mary

The 2026 college football season did not need long to produce a touchdown that will be almost impossible to top. Illinois quarterback Katin Houser launched a 54-yard Hail Mary that somehow found wide receiver Ty Robinson in a crowd of UAB defenders as time expired in the first half Thursday night.

The improbable touchdown sent the Fighting Illini into halftime with a 21-13 lead and turned what appeared to be a momentum-shifting UAB drive into one of the wildest sequences of Week 1.

Yahoo Sports shared video of the remarkable play, which immediately became an early contender for the craziest touchdown of the college football season.

Illinois turns 13 seconds into seven points

The circumstances made the touchdown even more incredible. UAB quarterback Ryder Burton connected with Rod Robinson II for a 10-yard touchdown with only 18 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The extra point cut Illinois’ lead to 14-13 and appeared to guarantee the Blazers would enter halftime with all the momentum.

Instead, Illinois needed only 13 seconds to answer. Jase Morris returned the ensuing kickoff 31 yards to the Illinois 34-yard line. Houser then completed a 12-yard pass to Hudson Clement, who wisely got out of bounds with seven seconds remaining.

An incompletion left Illinois at its own 46-yard line with four seconds on the clock. Both teams called timeouts before the final snap, giving Bret Bielema and his staff time to organize one last attempt. Houser dropped back, stepped into the throw and launched the ball toward a collection of players near the goal line.

The pass traveled more than 50 yards through the air. Robinson fought his way into position and came down with it while surrounded by UAB defenders, disappearing beneath a pile of bodies in the end zone.

Officials signaled touchdown as Illinois players raced from the sideline to celebrate. Ethan Moczulski’s extra point gave the Fighting Illini an eight-point halftime advantage.

Illinois officially covered 66 yards in three offensive plays following the kickoff. The drive lasted just 13 seconds.

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Katin Houser and Ty Robinson create an unforgettable connection

The play also represented quite an introduction for two of Illinois’ most important transfer additions. Houser arrived at Illinois after throwing for 3,300 yards and 19 touchdowns at East Carolina during the 2025 season. He entered the opener with 26 career starts and was named an Illinois team captain before playing his first game for the program.

Robinson transferred from Ball State after recording 11 receptions for 113 yards in 10 games last season. The 6-foot-4 receiver’s size proved essential when Illinois needed somebody to win a crowded battle in the end zone.

The touchdown was officially recorded as a 54-yard connection between Houser and Robinson. It was not the cleanest offensive play Illinois will run this season. It might be the most memorable.

UAB had spent most of the second quarter cutting into Illinois’ lead and moved within one point just seconds before halftime. One deep throw erased all of that work and gave the Fighting Illini control of the game again.

There will be hundreds of touchdowns scored throughout the opening weekend of college football. It will take something truly unbelievable to knock Illinois’ Hail Mary out of the conversation for the craziest one.

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