TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football is back on the road this week as the Sycamores travel to No. 10/10 Illinois State to continue Missouri Valley Football play on Saturday, October 24. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Game Preview
About the Matchup
Saturday afternoon's game features the 76th meeting all-time between Indiana State and Illinois State in the two programs' respective histories dating back to 1936. Illinois State leads the all-times series 41-32-2 and enters the weekend on a four-game winning streak against the Sycamores dating back to 2022.
The Sycamores' last win in the series against Illinois State came back in the 2021 season finale in Normal, Ill. as Indiana State topped the host Redbirds 15-10. Kurtis Wilderman put the Sycamores ahead for good with a one-yard quarterback keeper with 3:58 remaining in the fourth quarter for his second touchdown plunge of the day.
Rylan Cole came through on the ensuing Illinois State possession as the safety forced a fumble late and
Jalen Moss came up with the loose ball to set off the celebration on the Indiana State sidelines.
Since then, Illinois State won the last four contests, including last season's 52-20 victory in Terre Haute on November 8, 2025.
Last Five Contests
- Nov. 20, 2021 – at Illinois State (W, 15-10)
- Oct. 22, 2022 – Illinois State (L, 27-21)
- Oct. 14, 2023 – at Illinois State (L, 44-7)
- Nov. 16, 2024 – Illinois State (L, 31-19)
- Nov. 8, 2025 – Illinois State (L, 52-20)
Last Season's Recap
No. 17/16 Illinois State scored 35 consecutive points to break a 14-14 tie in the second quarter as Indiana State was unable to keep pace with the visiting Redbirds inside Memorial Stadium, 52-20.
The Sycamores kept the score even through the first 20 minutes of the game as
Talan White-Hatch hauled in a 25-yard touchdown reception and quarterback
Keegan Patterson connected with
Rashad Rochelle for a 64-yard score with 10:52 remaining in the second quarter as Indiana State matched Illinois State (7-3, 4-2) early in the contest.
The Redbirds took over from there as Tommy Rittenhouse connected on touchdown passes to Dylan Lord and Seth Glatz, before a late Indiana State turnover allowed the Illinois State quarterback to score on a four-yard keeper before the break to take a 35-14 lead into the locker room. The Redbirds added another Rittenhouse touchdown, a Glatz TD run, and a Matt Maldonado field goal to offset a
Deion Brown 33-yard touchdown run in securing the conference win.
Rashad Rochelle posted his second 100-yard receiving effort of the season, third of his career, in hauling in six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. KeShon Singleton added six receptions for 51 yards.
Kimal Clark posted a season-high 19 tackles and 0.5 tackles-for-loss to lead Indiana State's defensive efforts.
Against the Missouri Valley Football Conference
Indiana State enters the weekend with an 87-161-2 all-time record against current members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference heading into the Saturday matchup against Illinois State.
Against Ranked Opponents
Indiana State heads into the gauntlet of their season as the Sycamores are in game four of a five-game stretch featuring games against teams that are either ranked or receiving votes in the two major FCS polls (STATS FCS, AFCA).
The Sycamores are 1-9 in their last 10 games against ranked opponents dating back to just last season after facing eight ranked opponents in 2025. Indiana State's last win against a ranked FCS opponent came on Nov. 1, 2025, as the Sycamores topped then-No. 4/5 South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D., 24-12.
Ranked Opponents on Schedule
- Sept. 26 – vs. No. 8/7 North Dakota (L, 42-35)
- Oct. 3 – at No. 16/13 South Dakota (L, 44-14)
- Oct. 10 – vs. No. 9/8 Youngstown State (L, 57-24)
- Oct. 24 – at No. 10/10 Illinois State
- Oct. 31 – at RV/21 Northern Iowa
- Nov. 21 – at No. 1/1 South Dakota State
Sycamores in the FCS Top 25 Statistical Leaderboards
Through the first eight weeks of the 2026 season, the Sycamores are making their mark on the NCAA FCS statistical standings sitting inside the Top 30 in multiple team and individual categories.
Team Rankings
- 5th – Red Zone Offense (0.950)
- 6th – Passing Yards per Completion (14.43)
- 18th – Fewest Penalties Per Game (5.00)
- 19th – Passing Offense (263.9)
- 19th – Blocked Kicks (2)
- 20th – Team Passing Efficiency (149.45)
- 22nd – Fewest Penalties (35)
- 22nd – Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game (43.29)
- 24th – Team Sacks (2.29)
Individual Rankings
Conrad earns National Player of the Week Nod
Indiana State punter
Spencer Conrad was named this week's Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance against Youngstown State this past weekend inside Memorial Stadium.
Conrad had an incredible string of punts while averaging an FCS season-high 55.0 yards over eight kicks in Indiana State's 57-24 loss to Youngstown State in the MVFC. The Galena, Ohio native connected on three punts that cleared 60 yards and added two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Over the second and third quarters, Conrad connected on punts of 67, 61, 67 (downed at the 1), 59, and 57 yards in flipping field position and attempting to help the Sycamores stay in the contest against No. 9/8 Youngstown State.
Valley Players of the Week
Indiana State football continues to receive weekly recognition from the Missouri Valley Football office as the Sycamores claimed their sixth weekly honor of the season.
Spencer Conrad joined the group following his performance against Youngstown State to earn MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Sycamore MVFC Players of the Week
Big Play Receiving Threats
Seven games into the season and the big play potential from the Indiana State offense has never been more apparent with eight different Sycamores have recorded a catch of at least 40 yards this year.
Indiana State's eight different receivers with a 40-plus yard reception surpasses last season's mark of six players with 40-yard catches. The Sycamores currently have posted 12 receptions of 40 or more yards in the 2026 season after recording 13 catches of the length in 2025.
Freshman
Jayden Reed has been the primary beneficiary of the deep ball this year with a team-high four receptions of 40 or more yards, while
Torey French (2) and
BJ Wuest (2) have also posted multiple catches with the distance.
40-plus yard receptions in 2026
- 63 yards (TD) – Torey French (3rd Quarter at South Dakota)
- 63 yards – Manny Ellis (2nd Quarter vs. Valparaiso)
- 55 yards – Thomas Amankwaa (4th Quarter at Purdue)
- 55 yards – Jayden Reed (1st Quarter vs. Youngstown State)
- 50 yards – Jayden Reed (4th Quarter at South Dakota)
- 49 yards – Jayden Reed (3rd Quarter vs. North Dakota)
- 45 yards (TD) – Jayden Reed (4th Quarter at Purdue)
- 43 yards – BJ Wuest (3rd Quarter vs. SEMO)
- 43 yards – KeShon Singleton (2nd Quarter vs. North Dakota)
- 42 yards – Torey French (1st Quarter vs. SEMO)
- 42 yards (TD) – BJ Wuest (3rd Quarter at EIU)
- 41 yards – Tyler Nansel (2nd Quarter vs. Purdue)
Consecutive Games with Passing Touchdowns
Indiana State has continued to find a way to score through the air in the 2026 season and enters the weekend against Illinois State with at least one passing touchdown in each of the last 12 games. The Sycamores recording passing scores in each of the first seven games of the 2025 season, while adding touchdowns in the first seven games of 2026.
Overall, four different Sycamore quarterbacks have been involved in the streak with
Keegan Patterson and
Brock Riddle (2025) and
Elijah Owens and
Brady Allen (2026) finding a receiver in the end zone.
The 13 consecutive games with a passing touchdown is the longest streak by the Sycamores since 2014-15 when Indiana State recorded passing scores in 12 consecutive contests spanning Nov. 29, 2014, to Nov. 14, 2015.
First Starts in 2026
Over the first five games of the 2026 season, Indiana State has featured multiple players making their initial starts in the Sycamore Blue and White.
- First Start Against SEMO - Andy Hertlein (OL), BJ Wuest (WR), Dane Pardridge (WR), Devin Johnson (DB), Mason Keifer (DL), Prinz Guitian (OL), Ashton Hayes (RB), Tyler Nansel (TE), Anthony Walk Jr. (DB).
- First Start Against Purdue – Aaron Ball (RB), Jayden Reed (WR), Justice Musser (OL), Micah McNair (LB)
- First Start Against Valparaiso – Jacob Soley (TE)
- First Start Against North Dakota – Brady Allen (QB)
- First Start against Youngstown State – Max McCool (RB), Jacek Blaszynski (OL), Xavier McIntyre (S)
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
