2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team

2025 Illinois State Redbirds football
Conference	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 7
FCS Coaches	No. 5
Record	3–1 (0–0 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		0	–	0					3	–	0
No. 2 South Dakota State		0	–	0					3	–	0
No. 7 Illinois State		0	–	0					3	–	1
No. 11 Southern Illinois		0	–	0					3	–	1
No. 24 Youngstown State		0	–	0					3	–	1
Indiana State		0	–	0					2	–	2
No. 14 North Dakota		0	–	0					2	–	2
Northern Iowa		0	–	0					2	–	2
No. 17 South Dakota		0	–	0					2	–	2
Murray State		0	–	0					0	–	4
As of September 22, 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	North Dakota State		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+
October 11	6:00 pm	at Murray State		Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY	ESPN+
October 18	2:00 pm	Youngstown State		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+
October 25	1:00 pm	at South Dakota		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	Total
Lions	-	-	-	-	0
No. 6 Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: September 20
• Game time: 12:00 PM
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Kurt Pegler (play-by-play), Clay Harbor (analyst) and Kalia Butler (sideline)

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

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Alabama	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

North Dakota State

See also: 2025 North Dakota State Bison football team

North Dakota State Bison (0–0) vs. Illinois State Redbirds (3–1) – Game summary

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

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 6:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

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

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

at Murray State

See also: 2025 Murray State Racers football team

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

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

at Roy Stewart Stadium, Murray, KY

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 6:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

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

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

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

• Date: October 18
• Game time: 2:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

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

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

at South Dakota

See also: 2025 South Dakota Coyotes football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Redbirds	-	-	-	-	0
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
Coaches	6	7	4	4	5

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.