McLean County Times

Illinois State University’s football team is set to face North Dakota State University in a top 10 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) matchup on October 4, 2025. The game will take place at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. Central Time.

The Illinois State Redbirds, currently ranked No. 6 and holding a 3-1 record, will open their Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) slate against the defending national champions and No. 1 ranked North Dakota State Bison, who are undefeated at 4-0 this season and have already secured a conference win.

This meeting marks the 18th contest between the two programs. North Dakota State leads the all-time series with a record of 15-2, including victories in the last 13 matchups. The teams last faced each other on September 28, 2024, when the Bison won 42-10 at Hancock Stadium.

Illinois State is led by head coach Brock Spack, now in his 17th season with the program. Spack has guided the Redbirds to six playoff appearances and holds the school record for career coaching wins. Under his leadership, Illinois State has achieved back-to-back MVFC titles in 2014 and 2015 and made an appearance in the FCS Championship game in the 2014 season.

North Dakota State is coached by Tim Polasek, who is in his second year leading the Bison. In his first season, Polasek led NDSU to its eleventh MVFC championship and tenth NCAA Division I FCS national title.

Illinois State’s football program has made nine FCS playoff appearances and reached the quarterfinals six times since its first berth in 1998. The team has also been strong at home under Spack, posting a record of 69-24 overall and going 52-18 at Hancock Stadium since renovations were completed in 2013.

North Dakota State comes into this week’s game following a decisive victory over South Dakota, where quarterback Cole Payton threw for two touchdowns and running back Barika Kpeenu scored twice on the ground. The Bison defense ranks among the top nationally in passing defense, scoring defense, and total defense through four games this season.

In their most recent encounter with North Dakota State last year, Illinois State trailed by only seven points at halftime before NDSU pulled away for a convincing win. Senior captain Keondre Jackson led the Redbird defense with nine tackles during that game.

On individual performances this season, transfer defensive back Shadwel Nkuba II has recorded an interception in each of Illinois State’s first four games, tying him for the national lead in interceptions per game. His efforts earned him Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week honors.

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Luke Mailander has stepped up after roster changes and ranks second on the team with three touchdown receptions so far this year. Wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz continues to climb up ISU’s all-time receiving charts after recording his fourth career game with over 150 yards receiving against North Alabama.

Defensively, Illinois State extended its streak to seventeen consecutive seasons with at least one defensive touchdown after Cam Wilson returned a fumble for a score earlier this year.

The Redbirds have been successful in home openers under Coach Spack, now holding a record of sixteen wins to just one loss in their first home games each season at Hancock Stadium.

The current roster features many returning players from last year’s squad that advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs, including twelve starters—eight on offense and four on defense—with hopes for another postseason run this fall.