Eastern Illinois at Indiana
Memorial Stadium (52,656) • Bloomington, Ind.
Sept. 7, 2019 • 2:30 p.m. • TV: Big Ten Network
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois opened the 2019 season last Thursday with a 24-10 loss at Chattanooga. It marked the third straight season that EIU has opened the year on the road. It marked the head coaching debut for
Adam Cushing who was hired as the 25th head coach in Eastern Illinois history in December of 2018.
• Eastern Illinois started three true freshmen on its offensive line in the season opener at Chattanooga.
Chad Strickland,
Elkhanan Tanelus and
Anthony Sottosanto all began their collegiate careers as starters. The line helped the Panthers finish with 354 yards of total offense allowing only one sack which ranks 22nd in the FCS.
• Eastern Illinois defense forced two turnovers against Chattanooga as
Raymond Crittenden and
Bryce Dewberry both came up with interceptions for the Panthers. EIU currently ranks 20th in the FCS in turnovers gained. Last season the Panthers forced at least one turnover in seven of their 11 games finishing the year with 15 turnovers gained.
• Eastern Illinois will have several players returning to the Hoosier state when the Panthers play at Indiana on Saturday. It will be the first of two trips to the state for EIU this year with a return visit to Indiana State on Sept. 21.
Kylan Cole,
D'Mitri George,
Eric Johnson Kirk Pinkston Jr.,
Courtney Rowell and
Ben Solomon are all Indiana natives.
THE SERIES
• Eastern Illinois and Indiana will be meeting for the first time in program history. This will be the ninth time that EIU has faced a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Panthers are 0-8 in previous meetings with the last match-up coming during the 2015 season when EIU lost at Northwestern with current Panthers head coach
Adam Cushing on the Wildcats staff. This will be the third time Indiana has faced a team from the Ohio Valley Conference with previous wins over Eastern Kentucky and Murray State.
