2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team

Last updated

2025 Illinois State Redbirds football
Illinois State Redbirds Wordmark.png
Conference Missouri Valley Football Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 7
FCS CoachesNo. 7
Record0–1 (0–0 MVFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Tony Petersen (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorTravis Niekamp (8th season)
Home stadium Hancock Stadium
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Indiana State  0 0   1 0  
No. 1 North Dakota State  0 0   1 0  
Northern Iowa  0 0   1 0  
No. 2 South Dakota State  0 0   1 0  
No. 14 Southern Illinois  0 0   1 0  
Youngstown State  0 0   1 0  
No. 7 Illinois State  0 0   0 1  
Murray State  0 0   0 1  
No. 20 North Dakota  0 0   0 1  
No. 4 South Dakota  0 0   0 1  
As of September 3, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team will represent Illinois State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They will be led by 17th-year head coach Brock Spack. The Redbirds will play their home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

Contents

Preseason

MVFC poll

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Redbirds were predicted to finish fourth in the conference. [1]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 305:00 pmat No. 18 (FBS) Oklahoma *No. 6 SECN+/ESPN+ L 3–3583,218
September 66:00 pm Morehead State *No. 7ESPN+
September 132:00 pmat Eastern Illinois *ESPN+
September 2012:00 pm North Alabama *
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
ESPN+
October 46:00 pm North Dakota State
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
ESPN+
October 116:00 pmat Murray State ESPN+
October 182:00 pm Youngstown State Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
ESPN+
October 251:00 pmat South Dakota ESPN+
November 12:00 pm Northern Iowa
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
ESPN+
November 812:00 pmat Indiana State ESPN+
November 152:00 pmat South Dakota State ESPN+
November 2212:00 pm Southern Illinois
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
ESPN+
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[2] [3]

Game summaries

All times are Central time

at No. 18 (FBS) Oklahoma

No. 6 Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) at No. 18 (FBS) Oklahoma Sooners (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 6 Redbirds00303
No. 18 (FBS) Sooners71401435

at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, Oklahoma

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: • Cloudy Temperature: 79
  • Game attendance: 83,218
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Richard Cross (play-by-play), Tyoka Jackson (analyst), and Madison Hock (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • (0:39) OKLA – John Mateer 7 yard rush, Tate Sandell kick (Drive: 10 plays, 94 yards, 5:04; OKLA 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (11:50) OKLA – Deion Burks 27 yard pass from John Mateer, Tate Sandell kick (Drive: 4 plays, 77 yards, 1:08; OKLA 14–0)
  • (0:51) OKLA - Tory Blaylock 5 yard rush, Tate Sandell kick (Drive: 15 plays, 81 yards, 7:27; OKLA 21–0)
Third quarter
  • (6:26) ISU – Matt Maldonado 33 yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:58; OKLA 21–3)
Fourth quarter
  • (14:52) OKLA – Keontez Lewis 28 yard pass from John Mateer, Tate Sandell kick (Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 6:34; OKLA 27–3)
  • (4:33) OKLA – Keontz Lewis 20 yard pass from John Mateer, Tate Sandell kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:02; OKLA 35–3)
StatisticsILSTOU
First downs824
Total yards151495
Rushing yards117103
Passing yards34392
Passing: Comp–Att–Int10–2030–37–1
Time of possession27:0432:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Illinois StatePassingTommy Rittenhouse6/13, 22 yards
RushingWenkers Wright7 carries, 50 yards
ReceivingScotty Presson Jr.2 receptions, 8 yards
OklahomaPassing John Mateer 30/37, 392 yards, 3 TD's 1 INT
RushingTory Blaylock8 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Keontez Lewis 9 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD's

Morehead State

Morehead State Eagles (1–0) at No. 7 Illinois State Redbirds (0–1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Eagles----0
No. 7 Redbirds----0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 6:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsMOREILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Morehead StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Eastern Illinois (Mid-America Classic)

Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Redbirds----0
Panthers----0

at O'Brien Field, Charleston, IL

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 12:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsILSTEIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Eastern IllinoisPassing
Rushing
Receiving

North Alabama

North Alabama Lions (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Lions----0
Redbirds----0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 12:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsUNAILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North AlabamaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

North Dakota State

North Dakota State Bison (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bison----0
Redbirds----0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 6:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsNDSUILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North Dakota StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Murray State

Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) vs. Murray State Racers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Redbirds----0
Racers----0

at Roy Stewart Stadium, Murray, KY

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 6:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsILSTMURR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Murray StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Youngstown State

Youngstown State Penguins (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Penguins----0
Redbirds----0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsYSUILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Youngstown StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at South Dakota

Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) vs. South Dakota Coyotes (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Redbirds----0
Coyotes----0

at DakotaDome, Vermillion, SD

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 1:00 PM CDT
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsILSTSDAK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
South DakotaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Northern Iowa

Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers----0
Redbirds----0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsUNIILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Northern IowaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Indiana State

Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) vs. Indiana State Sycamores (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Redbirds----0
Sycamores----0

at Memorial Stadium, Terre Haute, IN

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 12:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsILSTINST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Indiana StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at South Dakota State

Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Redbirds----0
Jackrabbits----0

at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsILSTSDST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
South Dakota StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Southern Illinois

Southern Illinois Salukis (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Salukis----0
Redbirds----0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 12:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
StatisticsSIUILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Southern IllinoisPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
STATS FCS 67
Coaches 67

References

  1. "Missouri Valley Football Announces predicted order of finish". valley-football.org. Missouri Valley Football Conference. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  2. "2025 Football Schedule". goredbirds.com. Illinois State Athletics. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  3. "2025 Illinois State Football Schedule". fbschedules.com. FBSchedules. Retrieved March 27, 2025.