Illinois starting quarterback Katin Houser will miss four to six weeks after undergoing a procedure on his throwing hand, coach Bret Bielema said Wednesday.
Houser sustained a fracture in his hand late in the third quarter of Saturday's game at Michigan State while trying to make a tackle following an interception. Backup Michael Clayton II replaced him and helped Illinois to a 38-37 win in overtime.
Houser, a transfer from East Carolina who started his college career with Michigan State, has 1,440 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in six games this season. He completed more than 68% of his passes in four contests.
Clayton, a freshman from Orlando, Florida, completed 6 of 8 pass attempts for 88 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State.
"I had a long conversation with him Sunday night kind of about what it means to be a starting quarterback in this league and in college football," Bielema told reporters Wednesday. " ... Excited about his opportunity."
Illinois is off this week before hosting Oregon on Oct. 24.