Box Score  |  Photo Gallery, Senior Gallery (by Sandy King)

Eastern Illinois honored its 2025 football senior class on Saturday prior to the Panthers hosting No. 5 ranked Tennessee Tech.   The Panthers were unable to send their seniors out with a win falling 21-9 to the Golden Eagles at O'Brien Field.
 
TTU (10-0, 7-0) locked up at least a share of the OVC-Big South regular season title with the win while EIU fell to 3-7 overall, 2-5 in the OVC.
 
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter with Q'Daryius Jennings scoring on a 5-yard run with 6:13 to play in the quarter.  Maury Sullivan scored with 37 seconds left in the opening quarter as he wrestled a pass away from an EIU defender and then scored on a 48-yard reception.
 
EIU was able to drive into the red zone midway through the second quarter walking away with a Drew Schiller 20-yard field goal to trail 14-3 at the half.
 
The Panthers continued to battle and move the ball finishing with 326 yards of total offense compared to 308 for Tennessee Tech.
 
The Golden Eagles were able to put the EIU threat away late in the fourth quarter with Theron Gaines scooping up a fumble and racing ten yards for a touchdown.  Gaines had 11 tackles with two sacks.
 
Senior DeAirious Smith put the Panthers on the board one final time catching an 18-yard touchdown from Cole LaCrue with 1:16 left in the game.  EIU failed on the extra point.  Smith had six catches for 77 yards.  Alex Herrera had seven catches for 88 yards.  LaCrue passed for 174 yards going 15-of-31 with one interception and the touchdown to Smith.
 
Ja'Wuan Nickson led EIU's defense with 11 tackles including two sacks and a forced fumble.