McLean County Times

The Illinois State Redbirds, ranked No. 19/20 in the FCS, are set to open their 2024 season against the No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes of the FBS on August 31 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.

Illinois State and Iowa will meet for only the second time in program history. The previous encounter took place on September 5, 2015, when Iowa secured a 31-14 victory. In that game, Illinois State's redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Kolbe finished strong with two touchdowns in the final quarter.

Illinois State head coach Brock Spack is entering his 16th season with a record of 101-70. He has led the team to five playoff appearances and became the program's all-time wins leader in 2021. Meanwhile, Kirk Ferentz is in his 26th year as head coach at Iowa with an overall record of 208-140 over his collegiate coaching career.

The University of Iowa returns a significant number of starters this season—19 in total—which includes nine on offense and eight on defense. However, both Ferentz and assistant coach Jon Budmayr will miss Saturday’s game due to a school-imposed suspension for past recruiting violations. Assistant Head Coach Seth Wallace will step in as acting head coach.

In their last matchup against Big Ten teams, Illinois State achieved its first win against such opponents by defeating Northwestern in a close game during the 2016 season.

This year, Illinois State boasts several players who have received preseason honors from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). Thirteen Redbirds were named to the preseason All-Conference team, including running back Mason King and linebacker Amir Abdullah who were also recognized as Preseason All-Americans by Stats Perform FCS.

Senior safety Keondre Jackson, junior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, and junior placekicker Ian Wagner have been selected as team captains for this season following votes from their teammates at fall camp’s conclusion.

Three standout players—Hunter Zambrano, Amir Abdullah, and Daniel Sobkowicz—have been named to prestigious postseason all-star watch lists including the East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List and Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.

Brock Spack reached another milestone last year by securing his 100th career win against Missouri State. Under his leadership since taking over in his first season with ISU football back in [year], he continues to break records within both Illinois State’s program history and Missouri Valley Conference history.

On offense last year ISU ranked No.12 nationally averaging nearly thirty-three points per game while returning eight starters from that group which included key playmakers like Hunter Zambrano Mason King Daniel Sobkowicz among others

Senior running back Mason King earned himself spot-on prestigious Walter Payton Award watch list given annually top offensive player Division I FCS college football after stellar performance last year leading team rushing yards touchdowns points scored

Defensively speaking Redbird squad managed rank top twenty-five nationally thanks largely success getting opposing quarterbacks bringing down ball carriers behind line scrimmage ranking third country sacks per game sixteenth tackles loss per contest return most those contributors led All-American Amir Abdullah Jalan Gaines along seven top tacklers making them formidable unit once again

Finally notable former quarterback Matt Brown inducted into ISU Athletics Percy Family Hall Fame class part upcoming Homecoming festivities recognition outstanding collegiate career setting multiple school conference records during tenure