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2024 Illinois State Redbirds football
2024 Illinois State Redbirds football
NCAA Division I Playoffs
Conference	Missouri Valley Football Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 11
FCS Coaches	No. 10
Record	10–3 (6–2 MVFC)
Head coach	Brock Spack (16th season);
Offensive coordinator	Tony Petersen (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Travis Niekamp (7th season)
Home stadium	Hancock Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 2 South Dakota State +^	7	–	1	10	–	2
No. 3 North Dakota State +^	7	–	1	10	–	2
No. 4 South Dakota +^	7	–	1	9	–	2
Missouri State*	6	–	2	8	–	4
No. 11 Illinois State ^	6	–	2	10	–	3
Youngstown State	3	–	5	4	–	8
Indiana State	3	–	5	4	–	8
North Dakota	2	–	6	5	–	7
Southern Illinois	2	–	6	4	–	8
Northern Iowa	1	–	7	3	–	9
Murray State	0	–	8	1	–	11
* Ineligible for 2024 FCS playoffs due to transition to the FBS

+ – Conference co-champions ^ – FCS playoff participant As of December 3, 2024 Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2024 Illinois State Redbirds football team will represent Illinois State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They will be led by 16th-year head coach Brock Spack.^[1] Illinois State will play home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

Preseason

MVFC poll

The MVFC released it preseason prediction poll on July 22, 2024. The Redbirds were predicted to finish sixth in the conference.^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
MVFC media poll
1	South Dakota State	482 (42)
2	North Dakota State	437 (1)
3	South Dakota	371
4	Southern Illinois	293
5	North Dakota	276
6	Illinois State	264
7	Youngtown State	255
8	Northern Iowa	227
9	Missouri State	164 (1)
10	Indiana State	68
11	Murray State	67

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	11:00 a.m.	at No. 25 (FBS) Iowa*	No. 19	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	Big Ten Network	L 0–40	69,250
September 7	6:00 p.m.	at North Alabama*	No. 21	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL	ESPN+	W 24–17	8,014
September 14	12:00 p.m.	Western Illinois*	No. 18	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	W 51–34	12,440
September 21	6:00 p.m.	Eastern Illinois*	No. 17	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	W 31–7	9,012
September 28	2:00 p.m.	No. 2 North Dakota State	No. 18	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	L 10–42	11,687
October 5	6:00 p.m.	at No. 19 Southern Illinois	No. 18	Saluki Stadium Carbondale, IL	ESPN+	W 45–10	7,157
October 12	12:00 p.m.	Missouri State	No. 16	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	L 7–41	6,232
October 19	2:00 p.m.	at Murray State	No. 21	Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY	ESPN+	W 40–32	15,991
November 2	2:00 p.m.	Youngstown State	No. 21	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	W 23–16	6,381
November 9	1:00 p.m.	at Northern Iowa	No. 18	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	ESPN+	W 31–9	1,880
November 16	12:00 p.m.	at Indiana State	No. 17	Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	ESPN+	W 31–19	3,188
November 23	12:00 p.m.	North Dakota	No. 14	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	ESPN+	W 35–13	5,631
November 30	11:00 a.m.	at No. 16 Southeast Missouri State*	No. 11	Houck Stadium Cape Girardeau, MO (NCAA Division I First Round)	ESPN+	W 35–27
December 7	3:00 p.m.	at No. 5 UC Davis*	No. 11	UC Davis Health Stadium Davis, CA (NCAA Division I Second Round)	ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[3]^[4]

Game summaries

at No. 25 (FBS) Iowa

Pregame line	Over/under
Iowa –21.5	37.5

Game One – No. 19 Illinois State Redbirds (0-0) at No. 25 (FBS) Iowa Hawkeyes (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 19 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0
No. 25 (FBS) Hawkeyes	3	3	13	21	40

at Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA

Date: Saturday August 31, 2024
Game time: 11:00 AM CST
Game weather: Sunny; 76 °F (24 °C); Wind: NW 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
Game attendance: 69,250
Referee: Mark Kluczynski
TV announcers (BTN): Mark Followill (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Melanie Ricks (sideline)

Game information

First quarter

5:35 Iowa – Drew Stevens 41-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:31; Iowa 3–0)

Second quarter

1:00 Iowa – Drew Stevens 28-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 49 yards, 2:48; Iowa 6–0)

Third quarter

11:32 Iowa – Reece Vander Zee 7-yard pass from Cade McNamara (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:28; Iowa 12–0)
7:46 Iowa – Jacob Gill 31-yard pass from Cade McNamara (Drew Stevens kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 2:27; Iowa 19–0)

Fourth quarter

14:54 Iowa – Reece Vander Zee 19-yard pass from Cade McNamara (Drew Stevens kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 62 yards, 1:39; Iowa 26–0)
11:09 Iowa – Kaleb Johnson 64-yard run (Drew Stevens kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 77 yards, 2:04; Iowa 33–0)
5:48 Iowa – Kaleb Johnson 18-yard run (Drew Stevens kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 34 yards, 3:11; Iowa 40–0)

Statistics	ILST	IOWA
First downs	12	23
Total yards	189	492
Rushing yards	56	241
Passing yards	133	251
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–29–1	21–31–0
Time of possession	25:12	34:48

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing	Tommy Rittenhouse	10/20, 119 yards, INT
	Rushing	Wenkers Wright	9 carries, 36 yards
	Receiving	Xavier Loyd	4 receptions, 53 yards
Iowa	Passing	Cade McNamara	21/31, 251 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Kaleb Johnson	11 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Reece Vander Zee	5 receptions, 66 yards, 2 TD

at North Alabama

Pregame line	Over/under
ILST -13.5	50.5

Game Two – No. 21 Illinois State Redbirds (0–1) vs North Alabama Lions (0–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 21 Redbirds	7	7	10	0	24
Lions	3	0	7	7	17

at Braly Stadium • Florence, AL

Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
Game time: 6:00 PM CST
Game weather: SE at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h) • Weather: Sunny • Temp: 81 °F (27 °C)
Game attendance: 8,014
Referee: Jeremee Tate
TV announcers (ESPN+): Benjamin Ray (play-by-play) and Bryan Neece (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

(11:17) ILST – Mitch Bartol 18-yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Ian Wagner kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:39; ILST 7-0)
(7:27) UNA – Scott Payne 25-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 3:50; ILST 7-3)

Second quarter

(11:42) ILST – Tommy Rittenhouse 3-yard rush (Ian Wagner kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 3:18; ILST 14-3)

Third quarter

(6:17) UNA – Kobe Warden 15-yard pass from Ari Patu (Scott Payne kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:38; ILST 14-10)
(6:00) ILST – Tommy Rittenhouse 71-yard rush (Ian Wagner kick) (Drive: 1 play, 71 yards, 0:10; ILST 21-10)
(7:27) ILST – Ian Wagner 21-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 83 yards, 4:48; ILST 24-10)

Fourth quarter

(10:57) UNA – Ari Patu 7-yard rush (Scott Payne kick) (Drive: 4 play, 72 yards, 1:25; ILST 21-17)

Statistics	ILST	UNA
First downs	20	17
Total yards	478	411
Rushing yards	325	83
Passing yards	153	328
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	16-26-1	21-36-1
Time of possession	30:31	29:29

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing	Tommy Rittenhouse	13/21, 142 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Wenkers Wright	26 carries, 153 yards
	Receiving	Dylan Ford	6 receptions, 52 yards
North Alabama	Passing	Ari Patu	21/36, 328 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Jayvian Allen	14 carries, 63 yards
	Receiving	Takairee Kenebrew	7 receptions, 129 yards

Western Illinois

Game Three – Western Illinois Leathernecks (0–2) vs No. 18 Illinois State Redbirds (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leathernecks	7	14	7	6	34
No. 18 Redbirds	14	10	14	13	51

at Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL

Date: September 14, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
Game attendance: 12,440
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Eastern Illinois (Mid-America Classic)

Game Four – Eastern Illinois Panthers (1–2) vs No. 17 Illinois State Redbirds (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
No. 17 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0

at Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL

Date: September 21, 2024
Game time: 6:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	EIU	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 2 North Dakota State

Game Five – No. 2 North Dakota State Bison (3–1) vs No. 18 Illinois State Redbirds (3–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 2 Bison	7	7	21	7	42
No. 18 Redbirds	0	7	0	3	10

at Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL

Date: September 28, 2024
Game time: 2:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny, 73 °F (23 °C)
Game attendance: 11,687
Referee: Aaron Adams
TV: ESPN+

Game information

First quarter

(6:45) NDSU – Bryce Lance 7-yard pass from Cam Miller, Griffin Crosa kick (Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 6:47; North Dakota State 7-0)

Second quarter

(4:45) NDSU – Mekhi Collins 11-yard pass from Cam Miller, Griffin Crosa kick (Drive: 16 plays, 80 yards, 10:09; North Dakota State 14-0)
(2:56) ILST – Wenkers Wright 2-yard run, Ian Wagner kick (Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 1:43; North Dakota State 14-7)

Third quarter

(10:55) NDSU – Barika Kpeenu 40-yard pass from Cam Miller, Griffin Crosa kick (Drive: 7 plays, 69 yards, 4:01; North Dakota State 21-7)
(6:07) NDSU – CharMar Brown 14-yard run, Griffin Crosa kick (Drive: 6 plays, 51 yards, 3:05; North Dakota State 28-7)
(1:51) NDSU – Barika Kpeenu 9-yard run, Griffin Crosa kick (Drive: 4 plays, 48 yards, 2:25; North Dakota State 35-7)

Fourth quarter

(11:27) NDSU – Cole Payton 73-yard run, Griffin Crosa kick (Drive: 4 plays, 97 yards, 2:18; North Dakota State 42-7)
(5:44) ILST – Ian Wagner 38-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 54 yards, 5:43; North Dakota State 42-10)

Statistics	NDSU	ILST
First downs	29	12
Total yards	544	206
Rushing yards	307	8
Passing yards	237	198
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–24–0	17–24–0
Time of possession	38:57	21:03

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Dakota State	Passing	Cam Miller	20/23, 216 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	CharMar Brown	17 carries, 100 yards, TD
	Receiving	Bryce Lance	8 receptions, 65 yards, TD
Illinois State	Passing	Tommy Rittenhouse	10/14, 132 yards
	Rushing	Wenkers Wright	9 carries, 24 yards, TD
	Receiving	Xavier Lloyd	3 receptions, 52 yards

at No. 19 Southern Illinois

Game Six – No. 18 Illinois State Redbirds (3–2) vs No. 19 Southern Illinois Salukis (2–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 18 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0
No. 19 Salukis	0	0	0	0	0

at Saluki Stadium • Carbondale, IL

Date: October 5, 2024
Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILST	SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Missouri State

Game Seven – Missouri State Bears (3–2) vs No. 16 Illinois State Redbirds (4–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	0	0	0
No. 18 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0

at Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL

Date: October 12, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MOST	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Missouri State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Murray State

Game Eight – No. 21 Illinois State Redbirds (4–3) vs Murray State Racers (1–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 21 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0
Racers	0	0	0	0	0

at Roy Stewart Stadium • Murray, KY

Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
Game time: 2:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILST	MURR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Murray State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Youngstown State

Game Nine – Youngstown State Penguins (3–6) vs No. 21 Illinois State Redbirds (5–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Penguins	0	0	0	0	0
No. 21 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0

at Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL

Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
Game time: 2:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	YSU	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Youngstown State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Northern Iowa

Game Ten – No. 18 Illinois State Redbirds (6–3) vs Northern Iowa Panthers (2–7) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 18 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

at UNI-Dome • Cedar Falls, IA

Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILST	UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Iowa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Indiana State

Game Eleven – No. 17 Illinois State Redbirds (7–3) vs Indiana State Sycamores (4–6) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 17 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0
Sycamores	0	0	0	0	0

at Memorial Stadium • Terre Haute, IN

Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILST	INST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Indiana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

North Dakota

Game Twelve – North Dakota Fighting Hawks (5–6) vs No. 14 Illinois State Redbirds (8–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Hawks	0	0	0	0	0
No. 14 Redbirds	0	0	0	0	0

at Hancock Stadium • Normal, IL

Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m.
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UND	ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Dakota	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 16 Southeast Missouri State (NCAA Division I Playoff–First Round)

NCAA Division I Playoff–First Round – No. 16 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (9–3) at No. 11 Illinois State Redbirds (9–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 11 Redbirds	7	21	7	0	35
No. 16 Redhawks	7	0	7	13	27

at Houck Stadium • Cape Girardeau, MO

Date: Saturday November 30, 2024
Game time: 12:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy, 32 °F (0 °C)
Game attendance: 0
Referee: Preston Clipper
TV announcers (ESPN+): Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Jay Sonnhalter (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

(5:20) SEMO – Dorian Anderson 4 yard pass from Paxton DeLaurent, DC Pippin kick (Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 4:43; SEMO 7–0)
(1:31) ILST – Wenkers Wright 2 yard run, Ian Wagner kick (Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 3:43; TIED 7–7)

Second quarter

(5:50) ILST – Daniel Sobkowicz 62 yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Drive: 2 plays, 62 yards, 0:38; ILST 13–7)
(2:06) ILST – Jake Anderson 55 yard interception return, Daniel Sobkowicz pass to Mitch Bartol for two-point conversion (ILST 21–7)
(0:43) ILST – Xavier Loyd 24 yard pass from Tommy Rittenhouse, Ian Wagner kick (Drive: 3 plays, 40 yards, 0:45; ILST 28–7)

Third quarter

(11:40) SEMO – Donnie Cheers 10 yard pass from Paxton DeLaurent, DC Pippin kick (Drive: 10 plays, 88 yards, 3:12; ILST 28–14)
(9:45) ILST – Keondre Jackson 30 yard interception return, Ian Wagner kick (ILST 35–14)

Fourth quarter

(6:44) SEMO – Tristan Smith 9 yard pass from Paxton DeLaurent, DC Pippin kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 2:40; ILST 35–21)
(1:31) SEMO – Dorian Anderson 34 yard pass from Paxton DeLaurent (Drive: 4 plays, 66 yards, 0:39; ILST 35–27)

Statistics	ILST	SEMO
First downs	14	34
Total yards	322	602
Rushing yards	45	35
Passing yards	277	567
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–36–0	48–85–5
Time of possession	25:33	34:27

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois State	Passing	Tommy Rittenhouse	24/36, 277 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Wenkers Wright	12 carries, 17 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Daniel Sobkowicz	7 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
Southeast Missouri State	Passing	Paxton DeLaurent	48/85, 567 yards, 4 TD, 5 INT
	Rushing	Brandon Epton Jr.	6 carries, 32 yards
	Receiving	Cam Pedro	11 receptions, 149 yards

References

^ "Football Coaches". Illinois State University Athletics. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
^ "Valley Football 2024 Preseason Team and Poll". Missouri Valley Football Conference. July 22, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
^ "2024 Illinois State Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
^ "2024 Football Schedule". Illinois State Athletics. Retrieved March 9, 2024.