Eastern Illinois vs. Southeast Missouri
O'Brien Field (10,000)  •   Charleston, Ill.
October 24, 2026  •   2:00 pm   •   TV: ESPN+

GAME INFORMATION
EIU Complete Notes
Southeast Missouri Notes
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois remains at home for a second consecutive week as the Panthers host Southeast Missouri for the 2026 Homecoming Game.  EIU suffered its first OVC loss of the season on Saturday falling at home to Lindenwood as the Panthers dropped to 2-5 overall, 1-1 in the OVC.  Southeast Missouri rallied last week in its homecoming game to beat Western Illinois and improve to 4-3 overall, 2-0 in the OVC.  They are one of two unbeaten OVC teams.

• Safety Brandon Worsley came up with a team takeaway for the third straight game for the Eastern Illinois defense as he picked off a pass against Lindenwood.  It was the second interception of the season for Worsley which ranks him tied for 41st in the FCS.  Worsley had his first interception at South Dakota State and came up with a fumble recovery last week at Gardner-Webb.  Worsley has 27 tackles this season making six against Lindenwood.

• Make it ten straight games with at least one turnover gained for the Eastern Illinois defense as the Panthers came up with an interception against Lindenwood.  The game was on the heels of a six takeaway game in the OVC road win at Gardner-Webb on October 10.   EIU has 13 total turnovers gained this season which ranks the Panthers 19th in the FCS and first in the OVC.  EIU enters the week ranked eighth in the FCS and first in the OVC in turnover margin at 1.14 with just five turnovers lost this season.

• Sophomore wide receiver Jeremy Reeves came up with a couple of big catches on Saturday against Lindenwood including a 49-yard catch and run in the second quarter for his second touchdown of the season.   It was the longest touchdown pass of the season and third Panthers touchdown of 45 yards or more this season.  Reeves ended the game with four catches for 79 yards as he now has ten catches for 178 yards.  

• Lonnie Burt was among the team leaders in tackles for the third straight game as the transfer linebacker from Portland State finished with nine tackles on Saturday against Lindenwood.  Burt made 11 tackles last week at Gardner-Webb after a nine tackle game at South Dakota State.  In Saturday's game he made three of his tackles for loss moving into the team lead with 5.5 tackles for loss this season.  Burt is second on the EIU team with 47 tackles this season.  Last season at Portland State he made 37 tackles in 12 games.  

• Eastern Illinois will be playing its 105th homecoming game this Saturday when the Panthers host Southeast Missouri.  EIU is 52-44-8 all-time in homecoming games but has lost six straight homecoming contests.   The last EIU homecoming win for the Panthers was in 2018 with a 24-21 overtime victory against UT Martin.  This will mark the fifth time that Eastern Illinois has hosted Southeast Missouri for its homecoming game (W 12-0 in 2001, W 24-21 in 2008, W 55-33 in 2013, L 27-38 in 2024).  EIU's first homecoming game was in 1915, a 52-6 win over Shurtleff College (located in Alton, Illinois - closed in 1957).