TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State hits the road this weekend for the final time in the 2025 season as the Sycamores travel to No. 19/20 Youngstown State on Saturday, November 15. Kickoff inside Stambaugh Stadium is set for noon ET and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Notes
About the Matchup
Youngstown State leads the all-time series 26-8 overall dating back to the inaugural matchup back on November 5, 1998. The Penguins claimed the 21-14 win last season in Youngstown, Ohio, marking the first time YSU won back-to-back games inside Stambaugh against the Sycamores since 2006-2008.
The series has been split 5-5 over the last 10 contests dating back to November 15, 2014, when the Sycamores won back-to-back games against the Penguins. Indiana State held a three-game winning streak against YSU over 2018, 2019, and 2021, before the Penguins rallied back and have won the last three games in the series, including last year's 21-14 win in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Sycamores picked up their last win against the Penguins inside Youngstown back in the 2018 season when Indiana State topped YSU, 43-17. Quarterback Ryan Boyle threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns and added 68 rushing yards in the win over the Penguins. Wide receiver Dante Hendrix was the star of the show with seven receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns, while Jonas Griffith added an 80-yard fumble recovery for a score in the Indiana State win.
Last Time Against Youngstown State
Indiana State nearly completed the second-half comeback at Youngstown State as the Sycamores rallied back from a 21-0 first-half deficit at Stambaugh Stadium, before falling 21-14 in their Missouri Valley Football Conference last season on October 5, 2024.
Elijah Owens was 15-of-27 through the air for 149 yards and added 114 rushing yards and a score on the ground to lead the Sycamores to scoring drives in the second half.
Plez Lawrence hauled in a 34-yard scoring strike from Owens, while the Sycamore quarterback had a four-yard carry into the end zone to pace the Indiana State scoring, before a late stop by the YSU defense ended the Indiana State rally.
Defensively,
Micah Hauser posted his first collegiate double-digit tackling effort with a game-high 10 tackles. He added 1.0 tackles for loss.
Geoffrey Brown added nine stops, while
Jorge Valdes posted seven tackles and his second interception of the second.
Against Ranked Opponents
Youngstown State features the end of the gauntlet Indiana State football faced midway through the month of September as the Sycamores 2025 schedule featured a stretch of nine consecutive teams ranked across various FBS and FCS polls dating back to a September 12 matchup against No. 19/22 Indiana when the Sycamores fell to the Hoosiers, 73-0.
The stretch featured Indiana State's first top five win against an opponent since the 2012 season when the Sycamores went into Brookings, S.D. and took down No. 4/5 South Dakota State on November 1, 24-12.
Rashad Rochelle recorded three touchdowns (two receiving, one kickoff return) in the win, while the Sycamore defense forced three turnovers against the Jackrabbits.
Ranked Opponents in 2025 (Rankings Reflected by Week Played)
- Sept. 12 at No. 19/22 Indiana
- Sept. 20 at No. 5/5 Montana
- Oct. 4 – at No. 10/11 Southern Illinois
- Oct. 11 – vs. No. 23/RV South Dakota
- Oct. 18 – vs. No. 1/1 North Dakota State
- Oct. 25 – at No. 8/10 North Dakota
- Nov. 1 – at No. 4/5 South Dakota State
- Nov. 8 – vs. No. 17/16 Illinois State
- Nov. 15 – at No. 19/20 Youngstown State
Scouting Youngstown State
Youngstown State heads into the weekend contest sitting No. 19/20 in the STATS FCS and AFCA Coaches polls as announced by the ranking organizations on Monday morning. The Penguins are fighting for a berth in the FCS Playoffs with a 6-4 overall record, 3-3 in MVFC play with two games to play. Youngstown State is 4-1 inside Stambaugh Stadium this year with wins over Mercyhurst, Robert Morris, Murray State, and Southern Illinois.
The Penguins currently sit in a three-way tie for fifth in the MVFC standings with a 3-3 record in conference play with games against both Indiana State and Northern Iowa still to play. The Penguins have won three of their last four in conference play with victories over Illinois State, Murray State, and this past weekend against Southern Illinois.
The Youngstown State offense runs through the arm and legs of quarterback Beau Brungard. The junior quarterback leads the nation in points responsible for (224) and is second in FCS in rushing touchdowns (18), while sitting inside the top 20 in both passing yards (242.7, 13th) and rushing yards per game (114.5, 6th). He has already received multiple FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors this season.
The Penguins also have a threat in the return game with Kylon Wilson leading the FCS in combined kick return yards with 746, while sitting 10th all-time in all-purpose yards at 126.80 per game. Wilson recorded a 100-yard kickoff return for a score on October 25 against Murray State.
Youngstown State's defense features five different players who have recorded at least 50 tackles led by Preston Zandler's team-high 56.0 tackles, while adding 4.5 tackles-for-loss. Michael Wells leads the team with 8.5 TFL and 5.0 sacks, while three different Penguins have recorded at least two interceptions.
Sycamores On the Road (2025 edition)
Indiana State football will have traveled at least 8,000 miles over the 2025 season as the Sycamores close out their final road trip of the year at Youngstown State. Indiana State'sschedule featured a nearly 4,000-mile trip that encompassed three different states early in the year with treks to Indiana, Montana, and Southern Illinois.
2025 Road Trips (Miles Traveled)
Sept. 12 – Indiana State at Indiana (113 miles)
Sept. 20 - Indiana State at Montana (3,420 miles)
Oct. 4 – Indiana State at Southern Illinois (386 miles)
Oct. 25 – Indiana State at North Dakota (1,828 miles)
Nov. 2 – Indiana State at South Dakota State (1,529 miles)
Nov. 16 – Indiana State at Youngstown State (842 miles)
The Drive Stops Here
Indiana State's defense is among the nation's best in getting opponents off the field on fourth downs. The Sycamores have stopped opponents on their last eight fourth down attempts dating back to the second quarter October 25 game against North Dakota.
The Sycamores are allowing opponents to convert just 33.3% (5-of-15) on fourth downs this season and have turned it up in conference play allowing just two of 12 attempts to be successful in MVFC play. Indiana State highlighted their 24-12 win at South Dakota State after stopping the Jackrabbits on five separate occasions on fourth down, while adding two more stops this past weekend against Illinois State.
4th Down Stops (Opponent Conversions)
- vs. McKendree – 1-of-2
- vs. Eastern Illinois – 1-of-2
- vs. North Dakota State – 0-of-2
- at North Dakota – 1-of-2
- at South Dakota State – 0-of-5
- vs. IllinoisState – 0-of-2
2025 Indiana State Single Game On Sale Now
Indiana State single game tickets went on sale in mid-July starting at $15 for adults, $5 for kids, and group rates of $5 for 15+ attendees.
Indiana State will employ mobile ticketing as the default option for all home games during the 2024 football season, enabling contactless entry into athletics venues. Offering greater convenience and safety, fans can access their ticket online and transfer to family and friends. Fans will also have the option to get their tickets printed for an additional $5 charge.
For more information on season tickets, fans can call 812-237-8972 or email
ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu. Fans have the opportunity to also buy or renew season tickets online by clicking
HERE.
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Football, visit
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YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the
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