2021 Eastern Washington Eagles football team

2021 Eastern Washington Eagles football
2021 Eastern Washington Eagles football
NCAA Division I Second Round, L 41–57, vs. Montana
Conference	Big Sky Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 7
FCS Coaches	No. 9
Record	10–3 (6–2 Big Sky)
Head coach	Aaron Best (5th season);
Co-offensive coordinator	Ian Shoemaker (first nine games) (3rd season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Pat McCann (interim season)
Defensive coordinator	Eti Ena (3rd season)
Home stadium	Roos Field
	Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

Last updated December 13, 2023

2021 Big Sky Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 10 Sacramento State $^	8	–	0	9	–	3
No. 2 Montana State ^	7	–	1	11	–	3
No. 7 Eastern Washington ^	6	–	2	10	–	3
No. 6 Montana ^	6	–	2	10	–	3
No. 17 UC Davis ^	5	–	3	8	–	4
Weber State	5	–	3	6	–	5
Northern Arizona	4	–	4	5	–	6
Portland State	4	–	4	5	–	6
Idaho	3	–	5	4	–	7
Northern Colorado	2	–	6	3	–	8
Cal Poly	1	–	7	2	–	9
Idaho State	1	–	7	1	–	10
Southern Utah	0	–	8	1	–	10

$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2021 Eastern Washington Eagles football team represented Eastern Washington University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Aaron Best, the Eagles played their home games at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington.

Preseason

Polls

On July 26, 2021, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Eagles were predicted to finish third in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media.^[1]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Weber State	(7)
2	Montana	(3)
3	Eastern Washington	(2)
4	Montana State	(1)
5	Sacramento State	(1)
6	UC Davis
7	Northern Arizona
8	Idaho
9	Idaho State
10	Portland State
11	Southern Utah
12	Cal Poly
13	Northern Colorado

Media poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Weber State	(14)
2	Montana	(4)
3	Eastern Washington	(3)
4	Montana State	(3)
5	Sacramento State
6	UC Davis
7	Northern Arizona
8	Idaho
9	Idaho State
10	Portland State
11	Southern Utah
12	Northern Colorado
13	Cal Poly

Preseason All–Big Sky team

The Eagles had four players selected to the preseason all-Big Sky team.^[2]

Offense

Eric Barriere – QB

Talolo Limu-Jones – WR

Tristen Taylor – OT

Defense

Mitchell Johnson – DE

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	7:00 p.m.	at UNLV *	No. 11	Allegiant Stadium Paradise, NV	Stadium	W 35–33 ^2OT	21,970
September 11	1:00 p.m.	Central Washington *	No. 7	Roos Field Cheney, WA	SWX/ESPN+	W 63–14	4,523
September 18	1:00 p.m.	at Western Illinois *	No. 7	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	ESPN+	W 62–56	5,385
September 25	5:00 p.m.	at Southern Utah	No. 6	Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT	ESPN+	W 50–21	7,096
October 2	7:30 p.m.	No. 4 Montana	No. 6	Roos Field Cheney, WA (EWU–UM Governors Cup)	ESPN2	W 34–28	7,944
October 9	12:00 p.m.	at Northern Colorado	No. 4	Nottingham Field Greeley, CO	ESPN+	W 63–17	5,413
October 16	1:00 p.m.	Idaho	No. 2	Roos Field Cheney, WA	RTNW	W 71–21	5,380
October 23	1:00 p.m.	Weber State	No. 2	Roos Field Cheney, WA	SWX/ESPN+	L 34–35	5,676
November 6	1:00 p.m.	No. 4 Montana State	No. 5	Roos Field Cheney, WA	SWX/ESPN+	L 20–23	6,981
November 13	5:00 p.m.	at No. 6 UC Davis	No. 7	UC Davis Health Stadium Davis, CA	ESPN+	W 38–20	7,344
November 20	2:05 p.m.	at Portland State	No. 5	Hillsboro Stadium Portland, OR (The Dam Cup)	ESPN+	W 42–28	0
November 27	1:00 p.m.	Northern Iowa *	No. 4	Roos Field Cheney, WA (NCAA Division I First Round)	ESPN+	W 19–9	3,845
December 3	6:00 p.m.	at No. 5 Montana*	No. 4	Washington–Grizzly Stadium Missoula, MT (NCAA Division I Second Round)	ESPN+	L 41–57	24,065
*Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time

Game summaries

At UNLV

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
No. 11 Eagles	0	3	17	0	7	8	35
Rebels	0	6	0	14	7	6	33

Central Washington

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	7	0	0	7	14
No. 7 Eagles	18	28	10	7	63

At Western Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Eagles	28	27	7	0	62
Leathernecks	21	0	14	21	56

At Southern Utah

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 6 Eagles	9	21	13	7	50
Thunderbirds	7	7	7	0	21

No. 4 Montana

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Grizzlies	7	7	7	7	28
No. 6 Eagles	7	3	0	24	34

At Northern Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Eagles	22	21	10	10	63
Bears	3	7	7	0	17

Idaho

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vandals	7	7	0	7	21
No. 2 Eagles	29	14	14	14	71

Weber State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	13	7	15	35
No. 2 Eagles	7	7	7	13	34

No. 4 Montana State

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Bobcats	7	9	0	7	23
No. 5 Eagles	13	0	0	7	20

At No. 6 UC Davis

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Eagles	0	14	10	14	38
No. 6 Aggies	7	3	7	3	20

At Portland State

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 5 Eagles	7	7	21	7	42
Vikings	7	7	7	7	28

FCS Playoffs

Northern Iowa–First Round

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	7	0	2	9
No. 4 Eagles	6	3	7	3	19

At No. 5 Montana–Second Round

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Eagles	14	7	7	13	41
No. 5 Grizzlies	10	10	24	13	57

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
**Legend:**██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
( ) = First place votes.
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Final
STATS	11	7	7	6	6	4	2 (9)	2 (14)	7	5	7	5	4	7
Coaches	14	8	6	6	6	4 (2)	2 (1)	2 (2)	7	5	8	6	6	9

Related Research Articles

The 2017–18 Eastern Washington Eagles men's basketball team represented Eastern Washington University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Eagles were led by first-year head coach Shantay Legans and played their home games at Reese Court in Cheney, Washington as members of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 20–15, 13–5 in Big Sky play to finish in a tie for third place. At the Big Sky tournament they defeated Portland State and Southern Utah to advance to the championship game where they lost to Montana. They were invited to the College Basketball Invitational where they lost in the first round to Utah Valley.

The 2018 Eastern Washington Eagles football team represented Eastern Washington University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was coached by second year head coach Aaron Best. The Eagles played their home games at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington and were a member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 12–3, 7–1 in Big Sky play to finish in a three-way tie for the Big Sky championship with UC Davis and Weber State. They received an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, where they defeated Nicholls, UC Davis, and Maine to advance to the National Championship Game, where they lost to North Dakota State.

The 2018 Montana State Bobcats football team represented Montana State University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by third-year head coach Jeff Choate, the Bobcats compiled an overall record of 8–5 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the Big Sky. Montana State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Incarnate Word in the first round before losing to the eventual national champion, North Dakota State, in the second round. The Bobcats played their home games at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana.

The 2018 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team represented Northern Arizona University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 21st-year head coach Jerome Souers and played their home games at the Walkup Skydome. They were a member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 4–6, 3–4 in Big Sky play to finish in eighth place.

The 2018 Portland State Vikings football team represented Portland State University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Bruce Barnum and played their home games at Hillsboro Stadium and Providence Park. They were a member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 3–5 in Big Sky play to finish in a tie for ninth place.

The 2018 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team represented Southern Utah University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Demario Warren and played their home games at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City, Utah as seventh-year as members of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 1–10, 1–7 in Big Sky play to finish in 12th place.

The 2018 UC Davis football team represented the University of California, Davis as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Dan Hawkins, the Aggies compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, sharing the Big Sky titlewith Eastern Washington and Weber State. UC Davis received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs where, after a first round bye, they defeated Northern Iowa in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to Eastern Washington. The Aggies played home games at Aggie Stadium in Davis, California.

The 2018 Weber State Wildcats football team represented Weber State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by fourth-year head coach Jay Hill and played their games at Stewart Stadium as members of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 10–3, 7–1 in Big Sky play to finish in a three-way tie for the Big Sky championship with Eastern Washington and UC Davis. They received the Big Sky's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where, after a first round bye, they defeated Southeast Missouri State in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to Maine.

The 2019 Eastern Washington Eagles football team represented Eastern Washington University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was coached by third year head coach Aaron Best. The Eagles played their home games at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington and were a member of the Big Sky Conference. They finished the season 7–5, 6–2 in Big Sky play to finish in a three-way tie for third place.

The 2020 Eastern Washington Eagles football team represented Eastern Washington University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Aaron Best, the Eagles played their home games at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington.

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The 2021 Montana Grizzlies football team represented the University of Montana as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Grizzlies were led by 11th-year head coach Bobby Hauck and played their home games at Washington–Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana.

The 2021 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team represented Northern Arizona University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Chris Ball and played their home games at the Walkup Skydome.

The 2021 Sacramento State Hornets football team represented California State University, Sacramento in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Troy Taylor and played their home games at Hornet Stadium. They competed as a member of the Big Sky Conference.

The 2021 UC Davis football team represented the University of California, Davis as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The season Led by fifth-year head coach Dan Hawkins, the Aggies compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, tying for third place in the Big Sky. UC Davis received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoff, where they lost to South Dakota State in the first round. The Aggies played home games at UC Davis Health Stadium in Davis, California.

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The 2022 Eastern Washington Eagles football team represented Eastern Washington University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Aaron Best, the Eagles played their home games at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington.

The 2022 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the Big Sky Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Jason Eck, the Vandals were 7–4 in the regular season and played their home games on campus at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. It was the program's first winning season in six years.

The 2022 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represented California Polytechnic State University as a member of the Big Sky Conference the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Mustangs were led by third-year head coach Beau Baldwin and now played their home games at Mustang Memorial Field in San Luis Obispo, California.

The 2023 Eastern Washington Eagles football team represents Eastern Washington University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Aaron Best, the Eagles play their home games at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington.

References

↑ "Eastern Washington Football Picked to Finish Third by both the Coaches and Media". July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
↑ "Four Eagles Represent Eastern Washington on the Big Sky Preseason Team". goeags.com. July 26, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.

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[1] "Eastern Washington Football Picked to Finish Third by both the Coaches and Media". July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.

[2] "Four Eagles Represent Eastern Washington on the Big Sky Preseason Team". goeags.com. July 26, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.

[1]

[2]

v t e Eastern Washington Eagles football
Venues	Roos Field (1967–present) Joe Albi Stadium (alternate)
Bowls & rivalries	Montana: EWU–UM Governors Cup Portland State: The Dam Cup
Culture & lore	Swoop The Inferno "Go, Eagles, Go"
People	Head coaches Award winners Retired jerseys NFL draftees
Seasons	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917–1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
National championship seasons in bold

v t e 2021 NCAA Division I FCS playoff participants
Davidson East Tennessee State Eastern Washington Florida A&M Holy Cross Incarnate Word James Madison Kennesaw State Missouri State Montana Montana State North Dakota State Northern Iowa Sacramento State Sacred Heart Sam Houston South Dakota South Dakota State Southeastern Louisiana Southern Illinois Stephen F. Austin UC Davis UT Martin Villanova
Champion – North Dakota State