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Last season Eastern Illinois football finished the season with an 8-3 record and ranked No. 24 in the final FCS Coaches poll.
 
This season with a core group of starters returning the Panthers are picking up some preseason recognition as they were ranked No. 25 in the HERO Sports FCS Top 25 preseason poll.
 
The ranking follows a No. 24 preseason ranking by Craig Haley in his personal preseason Top 25 which was released online in the past two weeks.
 
EIU is set to open the 2024 12-game schedule on August 29 at Illinois as one of two games this season against Big Ten schools.  EIU also plays at Northwestern.
 
The schedule includes two traditional regional rivalry games with Missouri Valley Football Conference schools playing at Illinois State and hosting Indiana State in the home opener on Sept. 7 with a 6 pm start at O'Brien Field.
 
EIU opens the Big South-OVC Football schedule at home on Sept. 28 hosting Lindenwood.  The Panthers play their first two conference games at home hosting Southeast Missouri on Oct. 5 for homecoming.
 
Season ticket renewals and sales for the 2024 season are now available online at www.eiupanthers.com or by calling 217-581-2106 (EIU Ticket Office … Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am)
 
Defending FCS National Champion South Dakota State was the preseason No. 1 followed in the top five by North Dakota State, Montana, Montana State and South Dakota.  Villanova, Idaho, Sacramento State, Southern Illinois and Chattanooga rounded out the top ten.
 
Central Arkansas was the preseason No. 11 team with Incarnate Word, Richmond, Furman, UAlbany, Western Carolina, William & Mary, Tarleton State, Delaware and Lafayette in the top twenty.
 
The final five preseason ranked schools were led by UC Davis at No. 21 followed by Weber State, Youngstown State, Illinois State and Eastern Illinois.