McLean County Times

Illinois State University is set to face Murray State in a Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup on October 19, 2024, at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Kentucky. The Illinois State Redbirds are coming off a loss against Missouri State and will look to improve their season record of 4-3.

The series between Illinois State and Murray State dates back to 2001, with the Redbirds leading the all-time series 6-1. Their last meeting ended in a dominant victory for Illinois State, who defeated Murray State 44-7 on November 11, 2023.

Illinois State's head coach Brock Spack has been with the team for sixteen seasons and holds a record of 105-73. Under his leadership, the team has achieved multiple playoff appearances and conference titles. Meanwhile, Jody Wright is in his first season as head coach of Murray State. Wright previously served as an assistant coach at South Carolina.

Murray State Racers have struggled this season with a current record of 1-5. They are yet to win a game within their conference. Despite recent losses, players like Jayden Johannsen and Justice Hill have shown potential in recent games.

Illinois State's offense has seen contributions from key players such as Daniel Sobkowicz and Xavier Loyd, both leading receivers for the team this season. On defense, sophomore linebacker Tye Niekamp was recently recognized as FCS National Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against Southern Illinois.

With Illinois State aiming for another victory before their bye week, they seek to maintain their strong performance history against Murray State while continuing to build momentum through their current football campaign.