Eastern Illinois at Charleston Southern
Buccaneer Field (4,000)  •   Charleston, SC
October 25, 2025  •   1 pm   •   TV: ESPN+ 

GAME LINKS
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois makes its first-ever trip to OVC Big South member Charleston Southern on Saturday with the Panthers looking to snap a two-game losing skid.  EIU fell to 3-4 overall, 2-2 in the OVC Big South with Saturday's road loss at Southeast Missouri.  EIU visits a Charleston Southern team that won on the road on Saturday at Western Illinois snapping a 13-game OVC Big South losing streak dating back to the 2023 season when the two leagues (OVC & Big South) began their football association.  CSU improved to 2-6 overall, 1-3 in the conference.   The Panthers will be CSU's homecoming opponent as EIU plays a third straight week in a homecoming game (Oct. 11 for EIU's homecoming vs Gardner-Webb and Oct. 18 at Southeast Missouri homecoming).

• Eastern Illinois defense and special teams forced multiple turnovers for the third straight week as the Panthers had two fumble recoveries and one interception at Southeast Missouri.  EIU's turnovers gained total has now climbed to ten for the season which ranks 43rd in the FCS.   For the second straight week EIU had a fumble recovery on special teams with Christopher Sharp coming up with the loose ball.  Knowledge Davis had the other Panthers fumble recovery on defense while Moses Alexander had an interception in the end zone for the second EIU interception this season. 

• Punter Mason Miller continues to be among the NCAA leaders while chasing the EIU single season punt average record.  Miller punted four times on Saturday at Southeast Missouri for an average of 53.8 yards with three punts inside the 20-yard line.  He pinned one punt at the 1-yard line and sent another over the returner's head which lead to a fumble on the return.  For the season Miller ranks fourth in the FCS in punting average at 46.8 yards per punt.  Last season he led the NAIA level with a 47.7 yards per punt average earning All-America honors.  EIU's single season punting average record is 44.6 set by Kevin Cook in 2007.

• Ja'Wuan Nickson was active for the Panthers defense on Saturday at Southeast Missouri finishing the game with 12 tackles (four solo) and 2.5 tackles for loss.  It was the fourth time this season that Nickson has led the Panthers in tackles for a game and third time he has registered double figure tackles.  He tied his season high of 12 tackles previously set against Illinois State.  Nickson moved back into the team lead for season tackles with 56 including a team-high 6.5 tackles for loss.  Nickson enters the week fifth in the OVC Big South in total tackles while ranking eighth in tackles for loss.