Illinois quarterback Katin Houser leads the nation in ESPN QBR metric

Illinois quarterback Katin Houser topped the FBS rankings in ESPN’s quarterback rating following a 42-23 victory over UAB on September 3, 2026. The East Carolina transfer finished his Fighting Illini debut with 182 passing yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-17 passing, while also rushing for 29 yards and one score. Houser’s 98.0 QBR currently leads all quarterbacks nationally, placing him ahead of Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Miami’s Darian Mensah. The performance marked an efficient start for the quarterback, who committed no turnovers and was not sacked during the game at Gies Memorial Stadium. Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema previously coached Russell Wilson at Wisconsin, where Wilson set the Big Ten single-season QBR record. The Illinois coaching staff aims to replicate that historical success as the team prepares for upcoming Big Ten conference play.

• 2:02 AMYahoo Sports — Illinois Quarterback Katin Houser Leads NCAA in This Passing Stat