The 2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 17th-year head coach Brock Spack. The Redbirds played their home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.
Illinois State was an at-large selection into the playoff field and were unseeded; however, they defeated #17 (tie) ranked Southeastern Louisiana, #1 North Dakota State, #11 UC Davis and #9 Villanova, all away from home, to become the first FCS team to reach the championship game by defeating four consecutive road opponents. The Redbirds appeared in their second FCS National Championship Game (first since 2015); they faced #2 Montana State in the title game, falling 34–35 in overtime.
Preseason MVFC poll
The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Redbirds were predicted to finish in fourth place within the ten-team conference.
Schedule
Game summaries All times are Central time
Regular season at No. 18 (FBS) Oklahoma
Statistics ILSTOU First downs 8 24 Plays–yards 46–151 69–495 Rushes–yards 26–117 32–103 Passing yards 34 392 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–20–0 30–37–1Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 27:04 32:56 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 6/13, 22 yards Rushing Wenkers Wright 7 carries, 50 yards Receiving Eddie Kasper 1 reception, 10 yardsOklahoma Passing John Mateer 30/37, 392 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Tory Blaylock 8 carries, 42 yards, TD Receiving Keontez Lewis 9 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
Morehead State
Statistics MSU ILS First downs 20 21 Total yards 234 393 Rushing yards 100 223 Passing yards 134 170 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–28–1 13–23–1 Time of possession 35:26 24:34 Team Category Player StatisticsMorehead State Passing Carter Cravens 14/28, 134 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Isaac Stopke 13 carries, 86 yards Receiving Ryan Upp 7 receptions, 69 yardsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 8/13, 81 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Victor Dawson 10 carries, 88 yards Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 5 receptions, 87 yards, TD
at Eastern Illinois (Mid-America Classic)
Statistics ISU EIU First downs 24 20 Total yards 485 446 Rushing yards 186 35 Passing yards 299 411 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–35–0 28–44–2 Time of possession 30:30 29:30 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 24/35, 299 yards, 3 TD Rushing Wenkers Wright 14 carries, 94 yards, 3 TD Receiving Luke Mailander 5 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TDEastern Illinois Passing Connor Wolf 28/43, 411 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Charles Kellom 15 carries, 22 yards Receiving C J Nelson 7 receptions, 194 yards, 2 TD
North Alabama
Statistics UNA ILS First downs 24 29 Total yards 409 506 Rushing yards 144 217 Passing yards 265 289 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–37–1 21–37–0 Time of possession 30:30 29:30 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Alabama Passing Ari Patu 17/31, 243 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing Ari Patu 14 carries, 60 yards Receiving K J Fields 7 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TDIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 20/36, 250 yards, 3 TD Rushing Tommy Rittenhouse 9 carries, 89 yards Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 10 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD
No. 1 North Dakota State
Statistics NDS ILS First downs 21 22 Total yards 407 328 Rushing yards 213 137 Passing yards 194 191 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–14–0 20–35–1 Time of possession 29:38 30:22 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota State Passing Cole Payton 12/14, 194 yards, 1 TD Rushing Barika Kpeenu 14 carries, 116 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jackson Williams 3 receptions, 71 yardsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 20/35, 191 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Victor Dawson 11 carries, 68 yards Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 7 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
at Murray State
Statistics ILS MUR First downs 31 26 Total yards 510 471 Rushing yards 172 170 Passing yards 338 301 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–25–0 24–40–1 Time of possession 30:57 29:03 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 21/25, 338 yards, 4 TD Rushing Victor Dawson 10 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 8 receptions, 162 yards, 1 TDMurray State Passing Jim Ogle 23/39, 283 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jawaun Northington 15 carries, 71 yards Receiving Lucas Desjardins 8 receptions, 95 yards
Youngstown State (Homecoming)
Statistics YSU ILS First downs 27 23 Total yards 561 348 Rushing yards 233 142 Passing yards 328 206 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–34–1 16–30–2 Time of possession 39:15 20:45 Team Category Player StatisticsYoungstown State Passing Beau Brungard 23/34, 328 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Beau Brungard 30 carries, 200 yards, 3 TD Receiving Ethan Wright 4 receptions, 86 yardsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 16/29, 206 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Rushing Tommy Rittenhouse 10 carries, 65 yards Receiving Luke Mailander 4 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD
at No. 21 South Dakota
Statistics ISU USD First downs 18 22 Total yards 300 369 Rushing yards 130 196 Passing yards 170 173 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–28–0 21–39–0 Time of possession 23:19 36:41 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 18/27, 141 yards, 2 TD Rushing Seth Glatz 5 carries, 35 yards Receiving Dylan Lord 8 receptions, 82 yardsSouth Dakota Passing Aidan Bouman 21/38, 173 yards, 1 TD Rushing L. J. Phillips Jr. 26 carries, 129 yards Receiving Larenzo Fenner 4 receptions, 65 yards
Northern Iowa
Statistics UNI ILS First downs 16 25 Total yards 240 430 Rushing yards 98 202 Passing yards 142 228 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–23–2 28–37–0 Time of possession 28:32 31:28 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 15/23, 142 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaxon Dailey 16 carries, 40 yards Receiving J C Roque Jr 5 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TDIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 28/37, 228 yards, 1 TD Rushing Victor Dawson 17 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD Receiving Luke Mailander 4 receptions, 72 yards
at Indiana State
Statistics ILS INS First downs 33 12 Total yards 555 272 Rushing yards 241 68 Passing yards 314 204 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–34–0 17–28–2 Time of possession 40:42 19:18 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 29/34, 314 yards, 4 TD Rushing Victor Dawson 21 carries, 116 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dylan Lord 8 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TDIndiana State Passing Keegan Patterson 16/26, 202 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Deion Brown 7 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD Receiving Rashad Rochelle 6 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD
at No. 16 South Dakota State
Statistics ILS SDS First downs 20 22 Total yards 275 320 Rushing yards 134 66 Passing yards 141 254 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–33–0 32–51–2 Time of possession 28:56 31:04 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 17/32, 141 yards, 3 TD Rushing Victor Dawson 20 carries, 98 yards Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 5 receptions, 55 yards, 3 TDSouth Dakota State Passing Jack Henry 32/51, 254 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jack Henry 18 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD Receiving Alex Bullock 9 receptions, 68 yards
No. 24 Southern Illinois (Senior Day)
Statistics SIU ILS First downs 22 12 Total yards 455 217 Rushing yards 296 73 Passing yards 159 144 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–31–0 15–27–2 Time of possession 36:53 23:07 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Illinois Passing D J Williams 18/30, 159 yards Rushing Eddie Robinson 19 carries, 145 yards Receiving Jay Jones 4 receptions, 60 yardsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 12/22, 134 yards, 1 INT Rushing Victor Dawson 14 carries, 25 yards Receiving Dylan Lord 4 receptions, 67 yards
NCAA Division I playoffs
at No. 17т Southeastern Louisiana (NCAA Division I Playoffs – First round)
Statistics ISU SLU First downs 17 18 Total yards 292 321 Rushing yards 145 107 Passing yards 147 214 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–23–0 24–39–4 Time of possession 28:21 31:39 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 14/22, 146 yards Rushing Victor Dawson 11 carries, 72 yards Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 8 receptions, 89 yardsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing Carson Camp 14/21, 120 yards, 3 INT Rushing Jaedon Henry 8 carries, 45 yards Receiving Jaylon Domingeaux 6 receptions, 78 yards
at No. 1 North Dakota State (NCAA Division I Playoffs – Second round)
Statistics ILS NDS First downs 23 6 Total yards 422 179 Rushing yards 173 59 Passing yards 249 120 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 35–52–5 6–19–0 Time of possession 42:01 17:59 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 35/52, 249 yards, 3 TD, 5 INT Rushing Victor Dawson 23 carries, 137 yards, 1 TD Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 8 receptions, 67 yards, 3 TDNorth Dakota State Passing Cole Payton 4/12, 101 yards, 1 TD Rushing Barika Kpeenu 16 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD Receiving Bryce Lance 1 reception, 78 yards, 1 TD
at No. 11 UC Davis (NCAA Division I Playoffs – Quarterfinals)
Statistics ILST UCD First downs 26 24 Plays–yards 63–532 65–533 Rushes–yards 42–266 24–131 Passing yards 266 402 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–21–1 29–41–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 35:45 24:15 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 15/20, 266 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Victor Dawson 29 carries, 148 yards Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 6 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 29/41, 402 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jordan Fisher 13 carries, 70 yards, TD Receiving Stacy Dobbins 10 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD
at No. 9 Villanova (NCAA Division I Playoffs – Semifinals)
Statistics ILST VILL First downs 26 15 Plays–yards 81–426 54–300 Rushes–yards 43–175 24–101 Passing yards 251 100 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–38–1 13–30–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 39:43 20:17 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 18/38, 251 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Victor Dawson 34 carries, 155 yards Receiving Daniel Sobkowicz 7 receptions, 97 yards, 2 TDVillanova Passing Pat McQuaide 13/30, 199 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ja'briel Mace 11 carries, 59 yards Receiving Luke Colella 4 receptions, 58 yards
vs. No. 2 Montana State (2026 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game)
Statistics ILST MTST First downs 33 20 Plays–yards 71–471 51–381 Rushes–yards 38–160 24–101 Passing yards 311 280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 33–46–0 18–27–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 39:41 20:19 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 33/46, 311 yards, 4 TD Rushing Victor Dawson 29 carries, 126 yards Receiving Dylan Lord 13 receptions, 161 yards, 2 TDMontana StatePassing Justin Lamson 18/27, 280 yards, 2 TD Rushing Adam Jones 5 carries, 46 yards Receiving Taco Dowler 8 receptions, 111 yards, TD
Rankings
References