TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football is back home on Saturday, September 6, as the Sycamores welcome Eastern Illinois to Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 1 p.m. ET with the game to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Tickets & Tailgating
Tailgating and Clear Bag Policies
Indiana State Athletics tailgating and clear bag policies are in effect for the 2025-26 athletic year. The policies are consistent with other members in both the Missouri Valley Conference and Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Tailgating Policies |
Clear Bag Policy
2025 Indiana State Football Single Game Tickets On Sale
For more information on single game tickets, fans can contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing
Grant Manning by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Grant.Manning@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email
ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu. Fans have the opportunity to also buy or renew season tickets online by clicking
HERE.
Game Day Activities and Promotions
Gates Open at Noon
New to the 2025 season will include Memorial Stadium gates opening one hour prior to kickoff. Saturday afternoon's kickoff will feature gates opening to the general public at noon.
Vincent Allen Jersey Retirement Ceremony (Click Here to Read More)
Former Indiana State University football player Vincent Allen will have his No. 26 jersey retired in a pregame ceremony set to begin at 12:40 p.m. ET. The Sycamore running back legend will be the first Indiana State player to be recognized with the accolade. He gained over a thousand rushing yards in each of his four seasons at Indiana State from 1973-77, finishing up his playing career with a school-record 832 carries for 4,335 yards. He holds the Indiana State record for most 100-yard career rushing games (26) and most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (14), while adding the most career touchdowns scored (33) for the Sycamores.
Game Day Giveaway
Indiana State Athletics will provide Vincent Allen rally towels, sponsored by Prospect Bank, commemorating the Sycamore alum's career to the first 500 fans at Saturday afternoon's game.
Game Day Activity
Indiana State Athletics will host Kids Club pregame activities with giveaways.
105.5 The Legend Live
Joey O'Rourke will be live outside the gates at Memorial Stadium with the 105.5 The Legend pregame show and will feature special guests throughout the morning and afternoon leading up to gates opening.
Dr. Pepper Forest Football Toss
Two members of The Forest will be selected to compete in the on-field Dr. Pepper Football Toss presented by Refreshment Services Pepsi of Terre Haute. The lucky fans will be selected during the game from the Indiana State student section with the chance to win a $500 prize.
Game Day Sponsor
Hamilton Center is Saturday's Game Day Sponsor. Hamilton Center, Inc. is a not-for-profit regional behavioral health system in Central and West Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute, IN. Hamilton Center has been building hope and changing lives, for thousands of adults, children, and families in the Wabash Valley and beyond since 1971. Our offices are designed to be convenient, private and confidential, reducing the barriers sometimes associated with seeking psychological and mental health treatment. For more information, click
here.
Notes
About the Matchup
Indiana State trails the all-time series against Eastern Illinois, 46-40-4 dating back to the inaugural contest between the two programs in 1901. More recently, Indiana State has won three of the last five contests against the Panthers dating back to the 2018 season, but EIU has won each of the last two contests, including last year's 27-20 victory over Indiana State in Charleston, Ill.
Eastern Illinois has had the edge in the series going back further winning 15 of the last 20 contests dating back to 1994, including winning seven in a row from 1995-2002, while winning six in a row from 2005-2017. Indiana State's longest winning stretch in the series spanned 14 consecutive wins spanning 1963-1981.
Scouting Eastern Illinois
Eastern Illinois is 1-0 in the early season as the Panthers enter the second week of the 2025 season coming off a 24-14 win over Dayton this past Thursday night. The Panthers utilized 336 rushing yards including an EIU single game quarterback rushing record 193 yards from Cole LaCrue to power their way to the nonconference win over the Flyers.
LaCrue was named to the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week Honorable Mention list following his performance against the Flyers and currently leads all Division I football in rushing following the opening week of the season. He added 129 passing yards going 9-for-17 through the air with an interception in the win.
EIU wide receiver Cooper Willman was named a preseason Phil Steele Fourth Team All-American heading into the year. The veteran wideout was also named the OVC/Big South preseason Offensive Player of the Year by Lindy's Sports after a standout year which featured 66 receptions for 955 yards and eight touchdowns, while also serving as EIU's primary punt returner.
EIU's defense was led by Saipeti Maiava Jr.'s team-leading six tackles, while Tylan Foster and Drake Van Hyfte both had a team-high 2.0 tackles-for-loss. Van Hyfre forced a fumble and Foster added the recovery for EIU's lone turnover in the contest.
The Panthers were tied for sixth in the OVC/Big South preseason football poll after receiving 24 total votes. EIU had nine players listed among those to watch in the conference including Cooper Willman (WR/AP/PR), Jay Pearson (RB), Nic DiSanto (OL), Alex Herrera (TE), Drake Van Hyfte (DL), Phoenix Porter (LB), Tienne Fridge (DB), Brett Galletti (LS), and Mason Miller (P).
Recapping Last Year's Game
Elijah Owens threw three touchdown passes and nearly willed Indiana State to a late comeback against Eastern Illinois as the Sycamores fell to the host Panthers in the 2024 week two matchup at O'Brien Field, 27-20.
Owens guided Indiana State on a 17-play, 80-yard drive late in the second half as the Sycamores mounted a comeback trailing 27-13 late in the contest. The redshirt freshman quarterback highlighted the drive by keeping his composure and his pants before finding
Zavion Taylor for a nine-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds remaining in the contest to make it a one-score game.
Owens completed passes to five different receivers over the 17-play drive as the Sycamores took over on their own 20-yard line following a missed Eastern Illinois field goal attempt. He went 12-for-13 through the air on the drive and converted three 3rd-and-long situations including a 28-yard pass to
Zavion Taylor down the right sideline on 3rd-and-12 to set up the touchdown.
The Sycamores set up for the onside kick and
Sebastian Lopez got the bounce into the second level of the EIU return team before Eli Mirza jumped on the loose ball to let the Panthers run out the clock and secure the win.
Indiana State against the Ohio Valley/Big South
Indiana State has lined up against four opponents in the Ohio Valley/Big South Football Association over program history taking on Eastern Illinois, SEMO, Tennessee Tech, and Western Illinois. The Sycamores boast a winning mark over SEMO (5-4) and is tied 1-1 over the two contests played against Tennessee Tech. The Sycamores have lined up against Eastern Illinois the most with 90 all-time matchups against EIU (40-46-4), while Indiana State has played Western Illinois (19-26) 45 times including the years WIU played in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Sycamores have not played Gardner-Webb, Lindenwood, Tennessee State, or UT Martin.
Sycamores in September Home Games
September is traditionally a month that features Indiana State football on the road during the
Curt Mallory era with the Sycamores lining up against opponents at Memorial Stadium in just nine home games over his nine years at the helm. This Saturday's matchup against EIU marks Indiana State's lone home game in September in the 2025 season as the Sycamores will travel to both Indiana (Sept. 12) and Montana (Sept. 20) to close out competition in the month.
Indiana State has posted a 4-5 record in home games over the month following last year's 1-1 mark at home with a win over Dayton (24-13, Sept. 14) and a loss to Houston Christian (27-24, Sept. 21). Additional wins over the stretch include two in 2019 (Sept. 14 vs. Eastern Kentucky – 19-7; Sept. 21 vs. Eastern Illinois – 16-6), one in 2022 (Sept. 1 vs. North Alabama – 17-14 (OT)), and last year's 24-13 win over Dayton.
In Indiana State's 16-6 win over EIU back in 2019, quarterback Kurtis Wilderman connected with Rontrez Morgan for a 69-yard touchdown on a screen play late in the first quarter of action. Indiana State kicker Jerry Nunez took over from there, making a trio of field goals, including a 23-yard field goal attempt on the first drive of the game that set a new Sycamore all-time field goal mark. The Indiana State defense forced four turnovers on the day with three interceptions and a fumble recovery in the win.
MVFC Players of the Week
Indiana State's
Plez Lawrence (Offensive) and
Sebastian Lopez (Special Teams) received the conference's weekly honors as announced by the MVFC on Monday afternoon. The Sycamore duo were key to Indiana State's season-opening 41-24 win over McKendree in the Thursday night opener.
Lawrence recorded 225 total offensive yards (133 rushing, 92 receiving) and added three touchdowns in receiving the award for the first time in his collegiate career. Lopez converted his first two field goal attempts, was 5-for-5 in PATs, and added six touchbacks on kickoffs in his first MVFC accolades.
The Sycamores' recognition snapped a pair of long-running stretches where Indiana State had not received the conference's weekly award in either category. Prior to their win, Dominique Dafney (Nov. 24, 2019) was Indiana State's last player to receive Offensive Player of the Week recognition, while
Jake Andjelic (Oct. 9, 2023) was the last Sycamore to earn Special Teams honors.
On This Date
Indiana State is 4-0 all-time on the September 6 date in program history according to current records on hand. The Sycamores picked up their first win back in the 1980 season with a 13-10 victory at Drake. Since then, the remaining three home games have come at Memorial Stadium with wins over St. Cloud State (1986), Kentucky State (19-6), and Tennessee Tech (49-14).
1980 – at Drake (W, 13-10)
1986 – vs. St. Cloud State (W, 27-18)
1997 – vs. Kentucky State (W, 19-6)
2014 – vs. Tennessee Tech (W, 49-14)
2025 Indiana State Single Game, Season Tickets On Sale Now
Season ticket membership renewals and new season ticket memberships remain on sale online for the upcoming 2025 season. Season tickets for the six ISU home football games will start at $60 for adults and $30 for youth. Faculty, staff, seniors, and members of the I-Club can purchase tickets for $55.
Additionally, anyone who renews or buys a reserved seat in Section F will have the option to rent a seat chairback for the season. Chairback rentals are available for $20. Access to Touchdown Corner is available with Varsity Club status starting at just $125. Contact the Sycamore Athletic Fund at 812-237-6134 for more information.
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. Single game rates are higher for the 2025 Homecoming Game against South Dakota on October 11 with prices rising to $18 for adults, $8 for kids, and a group rate of $8.
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 contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing
Grant Manning by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Grant.Manning@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS 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
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.
