** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com looks back at 14 events, moments and players that helped shape the 2025-26 academic year. **

Eastern Illinois had success both on and off the field during the 2025-26 academic year with teams winning several OVC championships, EIU finishing second in the OVC Commissioner's Cup and the department once again posting a GPA over 3.30 for the year.
 
In addition to those successes, several of EIU's teams faced memorable opponents to create a lifetime of memories for both those players and fans.
 
One of the more notable games was played by EIU football with the Panthers visiting multi-time national champion Alabama.  The Panthers closed out their 2025 season in front of 100,077 fans, the second largest crowd to ever see an EIU football game in person.
 
The fall wrapped up with the EIU volleyball team playing in the NCAA Tournament at eventual Final Four participant Wisconsin at historic UW Fieldhouse.   During the season EIU also played two regular season matches against Illinois and Iowa State with both matches at Illinois Huff Hall.
 
During the basketball season the women's program made trips to Big Ten member Purdue along with games at nationally ranked opponents Michigan State and Louisville.
 
The men's basketball program faced multi-time national champion Kentucky in Rupp Arena while also playing at top five ranked teams Purdue and Iowa State.   The Panthers faced the Boilermakers when they were ranked No. 1 in the nation, the first time EIU had ever faced the number one ranked team.
 
The spring continued more memorable games as the EIU softball team played three different nationally ranked opponents during a weekend trip to Arizona playing at Arizona, Arizona State and Grand Canyon during a weekend tournament event.  The season concluded for the Panthers at the NCAA Regional playing at nationally ranked Oklahoma State, the Cowgirls program a consistent representative at the Women's College Series.

Year In Review
No. 14 - EIU Gives Back In The Community
No. 13 - Will Klein Pitches In World Series
No. 12 - EIU Spring Fling Event Returns To Campus