McLean County Times

Illinois State University’s football team, ranked No. 21/22, will continue its road trip with a non-conference game against North Alabama on September 7, 2024. The match will take place at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, and will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Coming off an opener against No. 25 Iowa, Illinois State (0-1) is set to begin its Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schedule against North Alabama (0-2). The Redbirds have previously faced five other teams from the United Athletic Football Conference and hold a 7-4 record against those programs.

Head Coach Brock Spack leads Illinois State in his 16th season with a record of 101-71. Under his guidance, the Redbirds have achieved back-to-back shares of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title in 2014-15 and appeared in the FCS Championship game in 2014. They have made five playoff appearances overall and Spack became the program's all-time wins leader in 2021.

North Alabama is coached by Brent Dearmon, who is in his second season with a record of 3-10. Dearmon's first season saw the Lions achieve a 3-8 record against one of the toughest schedules in FCS football. Before joining UNA, he served as head coach at Bethel and as offensive coordinator at several universities including Arkansas Tech and Kansas.

The University of North Alabama transitioned from NCAA Division II to Division I in 2018 and is now eligible for both the United Athletic Conference championship and an FCS Playoff berth. This season, they started with losses to Southeast Missouri State and Memphis.

A total of thirteen Illinois State players were named to the preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference team while four received Preseason All-America honors from Stats Perform FCS: Amir Abdullah (First-Team), Mason King (Third-Team), Daniel Sobkowicz, and Hunter Zambrano.

Senior safety Keondre Jackson, junior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, and junior placekicker Ian Wagner were elected captains for Illinois State this season.

Three Illinois State players—Hunter Zambrano, Amir Abdullah, and Daniel Sobkowicz—were named to postseason all-star watch lists including the East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List. Zambrano was also added to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch list.

Coach Spack reached his milestone of 100 career wins last year against Missouri State. His current record stands at 101-70 (.591), making him one of only four coaches in Missouri Valley Conference history to achieve such a feat at a member school.

The Redbird offense ranked No.12 nationally last year averaging 32.8 points per game with eight starters returning this season including preseason All-Americans Hunter Zambrano, Mason King, and Daniel Sobkowicz.

Mason King has been placed on the watch list for the Walter Payton Award presented annually to the national offensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football after being named MVFC Newcomer of the Year last year.

Amir Abdullah has been named to this year's Buck Buchanan Award watch list for defensive player of the year after finishing ninth last year.

Illinois State’s defense excelled last year ranking top three nationally in team sacks per game (3.27) thanks largely due to players like Amir Abdullah who returns with nine-and-a-half sacks from last season.

Redbird teams under Coach Spack have scored defensive touchdowns every season since he took over; Keondre Jackson extended that streak with an interception return touchdown last year against Indiana State.

Former quarterback Matt Brown will be inducted into ISU Athletics Percy Family Hall Of Fame during Homecoming festivities this September recognizing his numerous school records set during his career.