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Coach Bret Bielema's Illinois Fighting Illini are currently in a bye week leading up to Oct. 24's home game against coach Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks and will be without starting QB Katin Houser when they take the field at Gies Memorial Stadium. 

Houser has played like one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks so far in 2026 and will be replaced by Michael Clayton, who passed for 88 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-37 overtime win over the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, Mich. during Week 6 action. 

Illinois lost starting QB Katin Houser to a broken right (throwing) hand in the Michigan State game and now must move on without him. 

Clayton looks like a capable backup so far, but Illinois will greatly miss Houser, who has played like one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks. 

Houser One of Big Ten's Best QBs 

Houser has been everything advertised and more for Bielema's team, one year removed from a 3,300 passing yard season with the East Carolina Pirates.

He's played like one of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks so far this season, ranking fourth in the Big Ten with 1,440 yards passing. His 66.3% completion percentage ranks eighth in the Big Ten and his 12 touchdown passes ranks fifth in the conference. 

Houser has struggled at times with interceptions, ranking near the bottom of the Big Ten with four so far this season (tied with Rutgers' AJ Surace, UCLA's Nico Iamaleava, and Michigan's Bryce Underwood), albeit with a higher volume of passes than most other quarterbacks. 

He is not expected to have eligibility after this season because of the NCAA's new five-for-five rule, adding pressure to the former East Carolina and Michigan State star to return this season. 

Bielema Sticks to 4-6 Weeks Timeframe

Bielema spoke to media about Houser's return in comments posted by Glenn Kinley of WCIA-3. He sounded cautiously optimistic about a return at some point this season but appeared ready to turn the page. 

"You know, a lot of you want to ask about Katin, so Katin had a procedure done, originally after the game I was told anywhere from 4-6 weeks, so, we'll stay in that timeframe, just knowing him and where he's at, and what we were able to get him around I think has been a positive step in the right direction, so, when that one happens I'll give you plenty of notice.

"Obviously there's an injury report, so you guys will find out just like everybody else, but right now, we're just kinda playin' in that mode, and move forward." 

Houser has shown he is more than capable of being an upper-tier Big Ten starter so far this season, and will do everything in his power to get back on the horse and become the starting QB again for Bielema's team before the end of the season. 

Broken hand injuries are tough for any player, but especially difficult for quarterbacks. The odds look challenging for a successful Houser return right now, but Bielema knows what type of worker, and what type of player, he is, two factors in Houser's favor as he works toward a potential return later this season. 

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