Eastern Illinois at No. 4/5 Illinois State
Hancock Stadium (12,440)  •   Normal, Ill.
September 19, 2026  •   2 pm   •   TV: ESPN+

GAME COVERAGE
EIU Complete Game Notes
ISU Game Notes
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Live Stats


NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois and Illinois State meet on Saturday for the 114th playing of the Mid-America Classic, the most played rivalry game between two FCS non-conference opponents and 14th most played overall at the FCS level.  Eastern Illinois lost its home opener on Saturday night to Indiana State falling to 1-2 on the season.  Illinois State beat FBS member Northern Illinois to improve to 3-0 on the year.  The Redbirds are ranked No. 4 in the AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll and No. 5 in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25.

• Quarterback Cole LaCrue nearly helped the Panthers engineer a late come back against Indiana State.  For his efforts he was named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week.  LaCrue passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 65 yards and another score.  For the season LaCrue has now passed for 434 yards with five touchdowns competing 59.4 percent of his passes (38-of-64).  LaCrue went over the 1,000 yard passing mark for his Panthers career at Minnesota and has now passed for 1,285 yards with nine touchdowns.

• Ja'Wuan Nickson was active leading the Panthers defensive unit on Saturday against Indiana State and earned OVC co-Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.  Nickson had ten tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and one interception.   The interception in the fourth quarter helped set up a late EIU score.  It was the second of the season for Nickson who ranks sixth in the FCS in interceptions entering the week.  Nickson is 14th in the FCS in tackles for loss with 4.5.  The ten tackle game was the second of the season for Nickson and seventh of his career.

• Eastern Illinois turned the ball over for just the first time this season on Saturday night against Indiana State as the Sycamores forced and recovered an EIU fumble.  On the season EIU has collected four turnovers while only committing the one miscue to rank 21st in the FCS and 1st in the OVC in turnover margin this season.  The Panthers rank fourth in the FCS in fewest turnovers lost with only three teams (Bryant, Butler and Lafayette) yet to commit a turnover this season.  EIU turned the ball over 16 times last season ranking 59th in the FCS.

• Charles Kellom ripped off another long touchdown run as he raced for a 76-yard score against Indiana State, one of two touchdowns on the night for the senior running back.  In the game Kellom went over the 1,000 yard mark for his EIU career becoming the 32nd back in program history to accomplish that.  He has 1,008 career yards at EIU.  On the season Kellom ranks tenth  in the FCS in rushing yards and seventh in scoring with his five touchdowns.  

• Samuel Gonzalez hauled in four passes for 78 yards on Saturday night with a long reception of 33 yards.  On the season Gonzalez is now the Panthers leader in receiving yards with 128 and his 18.3 yards per reception ranks the transfer 38th in the FCS in yards per reception.   Gonzalez has seven total receptions this year which ranks third on the team.  He is averaging 42.7 receiving yards per game.