Illinois State running back Victor Dawson rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 35-14 win against Murray State at Hancock Stadium. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
NORMAL – Perhaps it is only fitting that our clocks moved back during the dim hours of Sunday morning. After all, it’s an annual sign of change.
It’s also a symbolic shift from the bright sunshine of October to the darker, colder days of November.
For Illinois State (7-2 overall, 3-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference), it’s a shift from back-to-back-to-back wins against the three teams at the bottom of the MVFC standings to the challenge of three straight games against FCS Top 10 opponents in the league.
The season began with the promise of ISU’s 4-0 non-conference start that translated into a No. 3 national ranking.
Then came the reality check courtesy of consecutive losses to open the MVFC schedule.
Nevertheless, head coach Brock Spack’s Redbirds got back to their winning ways by knocking off Southern Illinois (35-14), Indiana State (17-10) and Murray State (35-14) in succession.
“It’s momentum,” Spack said. “It’s hard to make up your own momentum. Winning games helps with that.”
Now comes the stretch drive of the “gauntlet” as Spack often refers to the MVFC schedule.
ISU heads to No. 9 North Dakota on Saturday to face a Fighting Hawks team that had No. 4 Youngstown State on the ropes over the weekend before losing, 31-28, in the waning moments.
Saturday’s game in Grand Forks, N.D., could serve as a de facto play-in game to the postseason bracket.
North Dakota (6-4, 3-3) can’t afford another loss. ISU will be facing a difficult road environment. The Redbirds lost at UND the last two trips — 17-14 in 2021 and 22-21 in 2023.
On Nov. 14, Illinois State travels to Youngstown State, led by quarterback Beau Brungard, the reigning Walter Payton Award winner. The Penguins are 7-2 overall and lead the MVFC with a 5-1 record.
“I’m excited about it,” ISU linebacker Tye Niekamp said. “I’ve gone to both of those places (Grand Forks and Youngstown). They’re really fun road trips and they’re great places to play at. They’re really great teams and we’re expecting great games.”
ISU concludes its regular season by hosting No. 6 South Dakota Nov. 21. That’s the day before the 24-team playoff bracket is revealed.
South Dakota (7-3, 4-2) lost at South Dakota State, 31-21, Saturday. SDSU defeated Illinois State, 31-14, Oct. 3 at Hancock Stadium.
ISU sports a 7-2 record for the first time since 2015. ISU was ranked No. 9 in last week’s American Football Coaches Association poll and No. 10 in the Stats Perform rankings.
Niekamp and Victor Dawson – team captains who played prominent roles in the Redbirds’ run to last season’s national championship game – are confident heading into the final three games.
“We’re just making plays. It’s putting us in great positions to play great defense right now,” Niekamp said.
Dawson said: “This is November football. (I’m) super excited. You’ve got Top 10 teams, but obviously you’ve got to take it one week at a time. Our focus now is North Dakota and creating a good game plan for that.”
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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