Eastern Illinois football returns eight starters between the offensive and defensive side of the ball as the Panthers enter the 2025 season under fourth-year head coach Chris Wilkerson.
 
On Wednesday, the OVC-Big South Football Association released its 2025 preseason poll with Eastern Illinois slated to finish in a tie for sixth with Gardner-Webb.
 
Tennessee Tech was tabbed the preseason favorite with five of the nine first place votes as voted on by the nine head coaches in the league.  UT Martin and Southeast Missouri both picked up two first place votes to finish second and third in the preseason poll.
 
Lindenwood was fourth followed by Western Illinois in fifth.   EIU and GWU were tied for sixth with Tennessee State and Charleston Southern rounding out the poll.
 
Earlier this week the conference announced its preseason players to watch on both sides of the football with a total of nine EIU players represented in 11 total positions.
 
Cooper Willman was listed in three spots at wide receiver, all-purpose and punt returner.  He was joined on the offense by Jay Pearson (running back), Nic DiSanto (offensive line) and Alex Herrera (tight end).  On the defensive side the Panthers were represented by Drake Van Hyfte (defensive line), Phoenix Porter (linebacker), Tienne Fridge (defensive back), Brett Galletti (long snapper) and Mason Miller (punter).
 
EIU opens the 2025 season at home hosting Dayton on Thursday, August 28 at O'Brien Field.   It will be the first of six home games with season tickets now available at www.eiupanthers.com/fbtickets
 
The Panthers OVC-Big South opener will be on the road with a September 27 game at Western Illinois.  The first home OVC-Big South game will be October 4 against Tennessee State.