Defensive lineman Nicholas Oliveira-Chace, who transferred to EIU in 2023 from Division II Franklin Pierce University, was a first team All-Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association selection. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
Coming off an eight-win 2023 season, expectations were high for Eastern Illinois football.
Things, however, don’t always go according to plan.
A pair of early matchups with Big Ten programs Illinois and Northwestern may well have taken their toll on the Panthers as injuries mounted during the season.
Eastern suffered losses to FCS playoff participants Illinois State, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State and UT Martin along the way. Three of those losses were on the road.
All three of EIU’s wins came at O’Brien Field in Charleston.
Here’s our look back on Eastern’s 2024 season:
Head coach: Chris Wilkerson
Conference: Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association
Overall record (conference record): 3-9 (2-6)
Biggest win: The Panthers snapped a pair losing streaks with their 45-38 win against rival Western Illinois Nov. 2 in Charleston. The victory broke a six-game losing streak that marred the 2024 season. The triumph also ended a five-game losing streak to Western dating back to 1995, the last time the two schools were in the same conference.
Most disappointing loss: Eastern appeared well on its way to victory with a 17-0 halftime lead against Lindenwood. However, all-conference Lions receiver Jeff Caldwell burned the Panthers for four second-half touchdowns and Lindenwood came away with a 28-25 win. EIU had a chance to force overtime, but freshman kicker Drew Schiller’s 30-yard field goal attempt was no good.
Breakout players
Offense: Receiver and return specialist Cooper Willman capped his Panther career by earning first team all-league selections at both positions. Willman ranked second in the Big South-OVC with 955 receiving yards on 66 catches and eight touchdowns. The Sterling High School product set the EIU single-game record with 291 receiving yards against Gardner-Webb. Willman racked up 1,019 all-purpose yards as the Panthers’ punt returner and primary kick return man in the latter half of the fall.
Defense: Nicholas Oliveira-Chace earned first-team all-conference honors on the defensive line. The Cambridge, Mass., native led EIU in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (6). He recorded 40 tackles on the season.
2025 season opener: According to FBSchedules.com, the Panthers kick off the season hosting Dayton, a member of the non-scholarship Pioneer League, Aug. 30 at O’Brien Field.
Up next: Barry Bottino examines 5 Burning Questions facing Eastern Illinois football.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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