The Big South – OVC Football Association has released its 2024 schedule as the league enters its second year as a partnership between the two conferences. After playing just six conference games last season, the league will move back to the traditional eight game format this season with all teams in the league playing each other.
Eastern Illinois, which finished 8-3 overall, 4-2 in the Big South-OVC last season, opens conference play on Sept.28 hosting Lindenwood. The Panthers will also have home Big South-OVC games with Southeast Missouri (Oct. 5), Western Illinois (Nov. 2) and Charleston Southern (Nov. 16).
EIU's four conference road games are at Tennessee State (Oct.12), UT Martin (Oct. 26), Gardner-Webb (Nov. 9) and Tennessee Tech (Nov.23).
The Big South-OVC added Western Illinois as a football member this season as the Leathernecks joined the Ohio Valley Conference as a full-time member during the 2023-24 academic year. Departing from the conference are Bryant and Robert Morris (Pa.), two schools EIU beat last season.
The Panthers also have four scheduled non-conference games with Illinois, Illinois State, Indiana State and Northwestern. Dates for those four games will be released along with selected home EIU promotional dates (Homecoming, Family Weekend, etc.) in the coming weeks as non-conference dates have shifted due to conference realignments.
Season ticket renewals and sales for the 2024 season will begin in early April.
EIU 2024 Big South-OVC Football Schedule
Sept. 28 – LINDENWOOD
Oct. 5 – SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Oct. 12 – at Tennessee State
Oct.26 – at UT Martin
Nov. 2 – WESTERN ILLINOIS
Nov. 9 – at Gardner-Webb
Nov. 16 – CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Nov. 23 – at Tennessee Tech
