McLean County Times

Illinois State University’s football team is set to host Morehead State in its home opener at Hancock Stadium on September 6, 2025. The Redbirds enter the game with a 0-1 record after playing before a program-record crowd against Oklahoma last week. Morehead State arrives with a 1-0 record following a win over Allen (S.C.).

The two teams have met four times previously, with Illinois State leading the series 3-1. The most recent matchup was in 2019, when Illinois State won 42-14 at Hancock Stadium.

Illinois State head coach Brock Spack is entering his 17th season and holds a record of 111-75. Under Spack, the Redbirds have made six playoff appearances and became co-champions of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in both 2014 and 2015. Spack became the program's all-time wins leader in 2021.

Morehead State is led by Jason Woodman, who is in his second season as head coach of the Eagles and twelfth overall as a collegiate head coach. In his first year at Morehead State, Woodman guided the team to seven wins and third place in their conference.

The Redbird football program has reached the FCS playoffs nine times and advanced to the quarterfinals six times since its first appearance in 1998. The team has been particularly successful at home under Spack, compiling a record of 67-24 overall and going 50-18 at Hancock Stadium since renovations were completed in 2013.

In their season opener, Morehead State gained over 400 yards on offense against Allen (S.C.), highlighted by quarterback Carter Cravens’ combined passing and rushing performance. Running back Craig Cunningham contributed nearly one hundred yards on the ground while wide receiver Ryan Upp caught eight passes for ninety yards.

Last year’s contest between these teams saw Illinois State accumulate almost five hundred yards of total offense. James Robinson rushed for three touchdowns, tying his career high.

Under Coach Spack’s leadership, Illinois State has posted a strong record in home openers, winning fifteen out of sixteen such games since he took charge.

The Redbirds played before their largest-ever crowd last week against Oklahoma, drawing more than eighty-three thousand spectators—surpassing previous attendance records set at Wisconsin and Iowa over recent seasons.

This preseason, Illinois State was picked fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference poll—their highest preseason ranking since 2019—and fourteen players were named to the league’s watch list for top student-athletes heading into fall camp.

Six Redbird players received preseason All-American honors from Stats Perform across various positions including linebacker Tye Niekamp and running back Wenkers Wright. Illinois State matched UIW for most selections nationally with six each.

Four ISU players were also named to national player-of-the-year watch lists: Daniel Sobkowicz and Wenkers Wright for offensive honors; Tye Niekamp and Jake Anderson for defensive recognition.

Returning this season are forty-three letterwinners including twelve starters from last year’s squad that reached round two of the FCS playoffs. Team captains selected by vote include Tommy Rittenhouse (quarterback), Tye Niekamp (linebacker), and Dylan Calabrese (longsnapper).

Defensively, Illinois State extended its streak to sixteen consecutive seasons with at least one defensive touchdown scored after key plays during last year’s playoffs.

In postseason play last year—their ninth FCS playoff appearance—the Redbirds entered as No.12 seed under Coach Spack’s guidance who now holds an all-time playoff coaching record of eight wins to six losses at ISU.

During regular-season road games last year, Illinois State went six-and-two away from home—including five straight victories over FCS opponents—matching road success not seen since their notable run in 2012.

Wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz moved up school career receiving charts after surpassing two thousand four hundred receiving yards during postseason play; he now ranks sixth all-time at ISU for receiving yardage.

Coach Brock Spack was again named a finalist for national coach-of-the-year honors following another strong campaign leading his team into postseason competition—a distinction he previously earned twice before during playoff years.

Running back Wenkers Wright surpassed one thousand rushing yards last season—the first ISU player to do so since James Robinson accomplished it in 2019—and moved into elite company among school rushers by topping two thousand career rushing yards.

Former standout Colton Underwood will be inducted into ISU Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame during Homecoming this October after earning multiple All-America honors as well as ranking among school leaders in tackles-for-loss and sacks.