McLean County Times

Illinois State University will host Youngstown State University in a Top 25 college football matchup on October 18, 2025, at Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois. The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Marquee Sports Network and ESPN+, with radio coverage available on WJBC 1230 AM, 102.1 FM, 98.9 FM WJEZ, and The Varsity Network.

Both teams are seeking their second win in Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) play this season. Illinois State enters the contest ranked No. 9 nationally with a 4-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in conference games. Youngstown State holds the No. 25 spot with a 3-3 overall record and is also looking for its second conference victory.

The two programs have met 32 times previously, with the series tied at 16 wins each. Youngstown State has won three of the last four meetings, but Illinois State secured a home victory last season by a score of 23-16.

Illinois State head coach Brock Spack is in his seventeenth season leading the Redbirds, holding a record of 115-76 and having guided the team to six playoff appearances as well as an FCS Championship game appearance in 2014. Under Spack's leadership, Illinois State has posted a strong home record of 69-25, including a mark of 52-19 at Hancock Stadium since its renovation in 2013.

Youngstown State is coached by Doug Phillips, now in his sixth year with the Penguins and holding a career record of 26-33 at the school. Last year, Phillips led Youngstown State to its first FCS Playoff appearance since reaching the finals in 2016.

Illinois State’s football program has made nine FCS playoff appearances and reached the quarterfinals six times since 1998.

Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio, with an enrollment of over twelve thousand students. The Penguins play their home games at Stambaugh Stadium.

In their most recent game against North Dakota, Youngstown State lost by a score of 35-17. Wide receiver Max Tomczak became the program’s all-time leader in career receptions during that contest.

Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard has been effective both rushing and passing this season, ranking second in league rushing yards per game while also contributing nine passing touchdowns.

In last year's meeting between these teams on November 2, linebacker Amir Abdullah returned from injury to contribute six tackles for Illinois State as they defeated Youngstown State by seven points.

Illinois State will celebrate Homecoming during this weekend’s game. Since head coach Brock Spack took over in 2009, the Redbirds have gone 11-4 in Homecoming contests.

Wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz recently moved into third place on Illinois State’s all-time receiving yards list after recording significant yardage against Murray State. He needs just fourteen more yards to become only the third player in school history to surpass three thousand career receiving yards.

Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse has had notable performances against Murray State over consecutive seasons—including throwing for four touchdowns this year—and ranks highly for single-game completion percentage records at ISU.

Several Redbird players scored their first touchdowns either of their careers or seasons during the recent win over Murray State; defensive back Doreon Dubose also recorded his first career interception.

Illinois State recorded its first safety since 2018 during its game against North Dakota State earlier this season when Tye Niekamp tackled an opponent behind their own goal line on NDSU's opening play from scrimmage.

A recent overtime win against North Alabama included lengthy weather delays but ultimately resulted in an ISU victory after two extra periods.

Transfer defensive back Shadwel Nkuba II has recorded interceptions in each of his first four games for Illinois State and currently ranks among national leaders for interceptions per game this season.

Redshirt freshman Luke Mailander stepped up as a key wide receiver following another player's transfer out; he currently ranks second on the team for receiving yards through six games played this year.

Illinois State retained possession of the Mid-America Classic Trophy after defeating Eastern Illinois University for the fourth straight time; running back Wenkers Wright led ISU with three rushing touchdowns during that rivalry win.

The Redbirds have maintained a streak under Coach Spack—now spanning seventeen seasons—of scoring at least one defensive touchdown each year thanks to Cam Wilson's fumble return earlier this fall.

During Homecoming festivities, former defensive end Colton Underwood will be inducted into the ISU Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2025. Underwood was twice named an FCS All-American and remains among school leaders for tackles-for-loss and sacks.