2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team

2025 Illinois State Redbirds football
Conference	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 18
FCS Coaches	No. 20
Record	4–3 (1–2 MVFC)
Head coach	Brock Spack (17th season)
Offensive coordinator	Tony Petersen (4th season)
Defensive coordinator	Travis Niekamp (8th season)
Home stadium	Hancock Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 North Dakota State		4	–	0					7	–	0
No. 2 South Dakota State		3	–	0					7	–	0
No. 8 North Dakota		3	–	0					5	–	2
No. 21 South Dakota		3	–	1					5	–	3
No. 18 Illinois State		1	–	2					4	–	3
No. 16 Southern Illinois		1	–	2					4	–	3
No. 22 Youngstown State		1	–	2					4	–	3
Indiana State		0	–	3					2	–	5
Northern Iowa		0	–	3					2	–	5
Murray State		0	–	3					0	–	7
As of October 20, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll

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

Preseason

MVFC poll

Main article: 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference season § Preseason

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

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	5:00 pm	at No. 18 (FBS) Oklahoma *	No. 6	Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	SECN+/ESPN+	L 3–35	83,218
September 6	6:00 pm	Morehead State *	No. 7	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	W 41–13	9,671
September 13	2:00 pm	at Eastern Illinois *	No. 7	O'Brien Field Charleston, IL (Mid-America Classic)	ESPN+	W 42–30	6,720
September 20	12:00 pm	North Alabama *	No. 6	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	W 38–36 2OT	11,287
October 4	6:00 pm	No. 1 North Dakota State	No. 6	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	L 16–33	9,829
October 11	6:00 pm	at Murray State	No. 9	Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY	ESPN+	W 46–32	5,647
October 18	2:00 pm	Youngstown State	No. 10	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	L 35–40	9,834
October 25	1:00 pm	at No. 21 South Dakota	No. 18	DakotaDome Vermillion, SD	ESPN+
November 1	2:00 pm	Northern Iowa		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+
November 8	12:00 pm	at Indiana State		Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	ESPN+
November 15	2:00 pm	at South Dakota State		Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium Brookings, SD	ESPN+
November 22	12:00 pm	Southern Illinois		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming 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

See also: 2025 Oklahoma Sooners football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 6 Redbirds	0	0	3	0	3
No. 18 (FBS) Sooners	7	14	0	14	35

at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, 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)

Statistics	ILST	OU
First downs	8	24
Total yards	151	495
Rushing yards	117	103
Passing yards	34	392
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	10–20	30–37–1
Time of possession	27:04	32:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing	Tommy Rittenhouse	6/13, 22 yards
	Rushing	Wenkers Wright	7 carries, 50 yards
	Receiving	Scotty Presson Jr.	2 receptions, 8 yards
Oklahoma	Passing	John Mateer	30/37, 392 yards, 3 TD's, 1 INT
	Rushing	Tory Blaylock	8 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Keontez Lewis	9 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD's

Morehead State

See also: 2025 Morehead State Eagles football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	-	-	-	-	0
No. 7 Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: September 6
• Game time: 6:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	MORE	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Morehead State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Eastern Illinois (Mid-America Classic)

See also: 2025 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team and Mid-America Classic

No. 7 Illinois State Redbirds (1–1) vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0

at O'Brien Field, Charleston, IL

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 12:00 PM
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Bradd (play-by-play), Dave Kidwell (analyst) and Kaylee Unruh (sideline)

Statistics	ILST	EIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Eastern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

North Alabama

See also: 2025 North Alabama Lions football team

North Alabama Lions (1–2) vs. No. 6 Illinois State Redbirds (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Lions	0	7	7	13	3	6	36
No. 6 Redbirds	3	14	7	3	3	8	38

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: September 20
• Game time: 12:00 PM
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C)
• Game attendance: 11,287
• Referee: John Shay
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Kurt Pegler (play-by-play), Clay Harbor (analyst) and Kalia Butler (sideline)

Game information

First Quarter (5:18) ILST – Matt Maldonado 42-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 32 yards, 1:50; ILST 3-0) Second Quarter (14:21) ILST – Wenkers Wright 38-yard run (Matt Maldonado kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 2:00; ILST 10-0) (9:42) ILST – Luke Mailander 10-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Matt Maldonado kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 2:05; ILST 17-0) (0:09) UNA – Noah Gregg 10-yard pass from Ari Patu (Ian Vachon kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 0:22; ILST 17-7) Third Quarter (9:24) UNA – Jayvian Allen 1-yard run (Ian Vachon kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 4:08; ILST 17-14) (1:54) ILST – Daniel Sobkowicz 6-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Matt Maldonado kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 46 yards, 2:52; ILST 24-14) Fourth Quarter (5:54) UNA – Justin Pegues 39-yard pass from Ari Patu (Ian Vachon kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 90 yards, 5:26; ILST 24-21) (2:36) ILST – Matt Maldonado 51-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 3:06; ILST 27-21) (0:33) UNA – KJ Fields 25-yard pass from Ari Patu (Ian Vachon kick no good) (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 2:03; Tied 27-27) Overtime UNA – Ian Vachon 42-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 1 yards; UNA 30-27) ILST – Matt Maldonado 38-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards; Tied 30-30) Double overtime ILST – Daniel Sobkowicz 25-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Daniel Sobkowicz pass) (Drive: 1 play, 25 yards; ILST 38-30) UNA – Justin Pegues 18-yard pass from Ari Patu (Two point conversion failed) (Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards; ILST 38-36)

Statistics	UNA	ILST
First downs	24	29
Total yards	409	506
Rushing yards	144	217
Passing yards	265	289
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–37–1	21–37–0
Time of possession	30:30	29:30

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Alabama	Passing	Ari Patu	17/31, 243 yards, 4 TD, INT
	Rushing	Ari Patu	14 carries, 60 yards
	Receiving	KJ Fields	7 receptions, 94 yards, TD
Illinois State	Passing	Tommy Rittenhouse	20/36, 250 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Tommy Rittenhouse	9 carries, 89 yards
	Receiving	Daniel Sobkowicz	10 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD

No. 1 North Dakota State

See also: 2025 North Dakota State Bison football team

No. 1 North Dakota State Bison (4–0) vs. No. 6 Illinois State Redbirds (3–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 1 Bison	7	8	3	15	33
No. 6 Redbirds	2	7	7	0	16

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 6:00 PM
• Game weather: Sunny; 82 °F (28 °C); Wind: N 10 mph
• Game attendance: 9,829
• Referee: Jason Berg
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Greg Halbleib (play-by-play) and Clay Harbor (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter (9:35) ILST – Tye Niekamp 0-yard safety (Illinois State 2–0) (2:50) NDSU – Cole Payton 13-yard run, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 3:53; North Dakota State 7–2) Second Quarter (11:37) ILST – Wenkers Wright 6-yard run, Matt Maldonado kick (Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 6:13; Illinois State 9–7) (4:56) NDSU – Barika Kpeenu 42-yard run, Cole Payton rush (Drive: 3 plays, 68 yards, 1:25; North Dakota State 15–9) Third Quarter (8:15) NDSU – Eli Ozick 38-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 6:38; North Dakota State 18–9) (3:06) ILST – Daniel Sobkowicz 3-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse, Matt Maldonado kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:09; North Dakota State 18–16) Fourth Quarter (13:14) NDSU – Bryce Lance 23-yard pass from Cole Payton, Eli Ozick kick (Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 4:45; North Dakota State 25–16) (8:21) NDSU – DJ Scott 5-yard run, Cole Payton rush (Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 3:51; North Dakota State 33–16)

Statistics	NDSU	ILST
First downs	21	22
Total yards	50–407	66–238
Rushing yards	36–213	31–137
Passing yards	194	191
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–14–0	20–35–1
Time of possession	29:38	30:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Dakota State	Passing	Cole Payton	12/14, 194 yards, TD
	Rushing	Barika Kpeenu	14 carries, 116 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jackson Williams	3 receptions, 71 yards
Illinois State	Passing	Tommy Rittenhouse	20/35, 191 Yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Victor Dawson	11 carries, 68 yards
	Receiving	Daniel Sobkowicz	7 receptions, 75 yards, TD

at Murray State

See also: 2025 Murray State Racers football team

No. 9 Illinois State Redbirds (3–2) vs. Murray State Racers (0–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 9 Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0
Racers	-	-	-	-	0

at Roy Stewart Stadium, Murray, KY

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 6:00 PM
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Casey Roehl (play-by-play) and Drayton Charlton-Perrin (analyst)

Statistics	ILST	MUR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Murray State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Youngstown State

See also: 2025 Youngstown State Penguins football team

Youngstown State Penguins (3–3) vs. No. 10 Illinois State Redbirds (4–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Penguins	6	6	7	21	40
No. 10 Redbirds	0	14	14	7	35

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: October 18
• Game time: 2:00 PM
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: SW at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
• Game attendance: 9,834
• Referee: David Hergert
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Kurt Pegler (play-by-play), Clay Harbor (analyst) and Kacy Standohar (sideline)

Game information

First Quarter (9:37) YSU – Andrew Lastovka 32-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 5:16; YSU 3–0) (4:40) YSU – Andrew Lastovka 23-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 30 yards, 4:16; YSU 6–0) Second Quarter (8:49) YSU – Beau Brungard 2-yard run, two-point conversion failed (Drive: 13 plays, 92 yards, 7:27; YSU 12–0) (6:45) ILST – Javon Charles 13-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse, Matt Maldonado kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:04; YSU 12–7) (0:31) ILST – Wenkers Wright 12-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse, Matt Maldonado kick (Drive: 3 plays, 39 yards, 0:18; ILST 14–12) Third Quarter (14:43) ILST – Eddie Kasper 37-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse, Matt Maldonado kick (Drive: 1 play, 37 yards, 0:08; ILST 21–12) (10:41) YSU – Mike Solomon 36-yard pass from Beau Brungard, Andrew Lastovka kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:02; ILST 21–19) (2:43) ILST – Luke Mailander 18-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse, Matt Maldonado kick (Drive: 4 plays, 44 yards, 1:35; ILST 28–19) Fourth Quarter (11:52) YSU – Beau Brungard 1-yard run, Andrew Lastovka kick (Drive: 11 plays, 81 yards, 5:45; ILST 28–26) (8:06) YSU – Fresh Walter 53-yard pass from Beau Brungard, Andrew Lastovka kick (Drive: 5 plays, 79 yards, 1:56; YSU 33–28) (5:51) YSU – Beau Brungard 48-yard run, Andrew Lastovka kick (Drive: 2 plays, 52 yards, 0:53; YSU 40–28) (3:12) ILST – Wenkers Wright 3-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse, Matt Maldonado kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 2:39; YSU 40–35)

Statistics	YSU	ILST
First downs	27	23
Total yards	561	348
Rushing yards	233	142
Passing yards	328	206
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–34–1	16–30–2
Time of possession	39:15	20:45

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Youngstown State	Passing	Beau Brungard	23/34, 328 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Beau Brungard	30 carries, 200 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Ethan Wright	4 receptions, 86 yards
Illinois State	Passing	Tommy Rittenhouse	16/29, 206 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Tommy Rittenhouse	10 carries, 65 yards
	Receiving	Luke Mailander	4 receptions, 51 yards, TD

at No. 21 South Dakota

See also: 2025 South Dakota Coyotes football team

No. 18 Illinois State Redbirds (4–3) vs. No. 21 South Dakota Coyotes (5–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 18 Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0
No. 21 Coyotes	-	-	-	-	0

at DakotaDome, Vermillion, SD

• Date: October 25
• Game time: 1:00 PM CDT
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	ILST	SDAK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
South Dakota	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Northern Iowa

See also: 2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	-	-	-	-	0
Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: November 1
• Game time: 2:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	UNI	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Indiana State

See also: 2025 Indiana State Sycamores football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0
Sycamores	-	-	-	-	0

at Memorial Stadium, Terre Haute, IN

• Date: November 8
• Game time: 12:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	ILST	INST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Indiana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at South Dakota State

See also: 2025 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0
Jackrabbits	-	-	-	-	0

at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD

• Date: November 15
• Game time: 2:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	ILST	SDST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
South Dakota State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Southern Illinois

See also: 2025 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Salukis	-	-	-	-	0
Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: November 22
• Game time: 12:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	SIU	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
STATS FCS	6	7	7	6	7	6	9	10	18
Coaches	6	7	4	4	5	6	10	9	20

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.