TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State remains on the road for game two as the Sycamores travel to Eastern Illinois for a Saturday night kickoff under the lights at O'Brien Field. Game time between the Sycamores and the Panthers is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 

Football at Eastern Illinois
Date	Saturday, September 7 | 7 p.m. ET
Location | Venue | Weather	Charleston, Ill. | O'Brien Field | Weather | Radar
Preview Information	Indiana State Notes
Live Stats	Live Stat Feed
Watch | Listen	ESPN+ | WVIG 105.5
Gates	Gates Open at 5:30 p.m. ET (90 minutes prior to Kickoff)
Series History	90th Meeting All-Time (Eastern Illinois leads 45-40-4)
Social Media	@IndStFB | @IndStAthletics

Weekly Notes
About the Matchup
Eastern Illinois leads the all-time series with the Sycamores with a 45-40-4 overall record. The Panthers hold the 21-16-1 all-time edge in Charleston, Ill. with the teams splitting each of the last four games in O'Brien Field. The series has been played at Eastern Illinois just five times since the 2002 season with EIU holding the 3-2 edge over Indiana State.

Indiana State's three-game winning streak over Eastern Illinois ended last season in the 2023 season-opener at Memorial Stadium. The Panther defense forced six turnovers, including a pair of pick-sixes prior to the end of the first half on their way to taking the 27-0 win in Terre Haute.

The three-game winning streak tied for Indiana State's third-longest winning streak in the series equaling the mark set from 1983-84, while trailing 14-game winning streak from 1963-1981 and a six-game stretch from 1941-1948 

Indiana State Winning Streaks against Eastern Illinois
14 games – 1963-1981
6 games – 1941-1948
3 games – 1983-1984, 2018-2021
2 games – 1956-1957, 2003-2004

Winning in Charleston
Indiana State looks to continue its winning streak in Charleston, Ill. after previously winning at O'Brien Field in their last trip back in the 2018 season. The Sycamores topped the Panthers, 55-41, in the September 18, 2018, contest thanks to Ja'Quan Keys' 232-yard, four-touchdown rushing effort, while Ryan Boyle added 209 passing yards to six different receivers in the win.

The Sycamore win over Eastern Illinois in the 2018 season marked Indiana State's first road win over the Panthers dating back to 2004 and just the second since the 1983 season when Indiana State topped the Panthers, 17-13. Indiana State posted an eight-game road winning streak at Eastern Illinois from 1963-1983, their longest such streak during the series history.

Sycamores Stay On The Road
Indiana State remains on the road for the second consecutive game to start the 2024 season for the first time since 2013 as the Sycamores make the short trek to Eastern Illinois this weekend. It marks just the fourth time since the 2006 season that Indiana State has been on the road in each of the first two games of the season with EIU being the second team in 2006 and 2008. The Sycamores last won the second game of a season-opening road trip last back in the 2004 season when Indiana State topped Eastern Illinois at O'Brien Field in overtime, 33-30. 

2004
Aug. 28 at Miami (Ohio) – L, 49-0
Sept. 11 at Eastern Illinois – W, 33-30 (OT)

2006
Sept. 2 at Purdue – L, 60-35
Sept. 9 at Eastern Illinois – L, 31-21

2008
Aug. 28 at Eastern Michigan – L, 52-0
Sept. 13 at Eastern Illinois – L, 38-3

2013
Aug. 29 at Indiana – L, 73-35
Sept. 7 at Purdue – L, 20-14

Eastern Illinois at a Glance

• Eastern Illinois opened up its 123rd season of collegiate football this past weekend at Illinois as the Panthers fell to the Fighting Illini, 45-0.
• Eastern Illinois holds the all-time 45-40-4 overall record against Indiana State dating back to the teams' first contest back in 1901.
• Quarterback Pierce Holley was named the Big South/OVC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in the 2024 season and was named to the 2024 Walter Payton Award watch list.
• Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert was a preseason Third Team All-American and was named to the 2024 Buck Buchanan Award preseason watch list given to one of the top defensive players in FCS.
• The Panthers defense was one of the best in the FCS last season in terms of generating turnovers finishing second in the nation with 25 turnovers gained. EIU generated six of those turnovers last season against Indiana State.
• Eastern Illinois was hit by graduation losing a pair of All-American players at both safety and cornerback defensively following the 2023 season.
• EIU returned six players that earned All-OVC/Big South recognition in the 2023 season.

On This Date
Indiana State has played six games all-time according to current statistics on hand on September 7 dating back to their first contest at Kansas State in 1991. Indiana State topped Cumberland (2002) and Florida International (2003) in back-to-back seasons on the date with both coming at home inside Memorial Stadium. ISU last competed on September 7 back in 2019 against Dayton with the Sycamores falling 42-35 against the Flyers.

• 1991 - at Kansas State - L, 26-25
• 1996 - at Kansas State - L, 59-3
• 2002 - vs. Cumberland - W, 14-10
• 2003 - vs. Florida International - W, 13-10
• 2013 - at Purdue - L, 20-14
• 2019 - vs. Dayton - L, 42-35

Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Football, visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.