NORMAL, Ill. – For the second week in a row, the Illinois State football team will fly across the country, this time to the East Coast for a FCS playoff semifinal contest against top-seeded New Hampshire on Saturday, Dec. 20. Fans not able to make the trip will have the opportunity to gather with fellow Redbird fans at one of many official watch party locations announced Wednesday, to watch the Redbirds take on the Wildcats on ESPNU at 1 p.m. CT.
The fifth-seeded Redbirds (12-1, 7-1 MVFC) advanced to the semifinals for the second time in school history after defeating Eastern Washington, 59-46, last Saturday on the road in Cheney, Washington. With the win, the Redbirds became one of four teams vying for the FCS national championship this weekend, with North Dakota State and Sam Houston State squaring off on Friday night in the other semifinal matchup.
Fans are encouraged to send photos from the watch parties to @ISURedbirds via Twitter, with an opportunity to win prizes for those who show the most Redbird spirit.
Here is a complete list of locations to watch the Redbirds take on the Wildcats in the FCS semifinals:
| LOCATION | CITY | ADDRESS |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | Bloomington, IL | 3220 East Empire St. |
| Elroy's | Bloomington, IL | 102 West Washington St. |
| Reality Bites | Bloomington, IL | 414 North Main St. |
| Times Past Inn | Bloomington, IL | 1216 Towanda Ave. |
| Joe's Station House Pizza Pub | Normal, IL | Shoppes at College Hills, 305 South Veterans Parkway |
| Pub II | Normal, IL | 102 North Linden St. |
| Double A's Pizza - Sports Bar | Peoria, IL | 7301 North Radnor Road |
| Kep's Bar and Grill | Washington, IL | 313 Muller Road |
| Gatsby's Pizza and Pub | Arlington Heights, IL | 427 East Rand Road |
| Highline | Chicago, IL | 169 West Kinzie St. |
| Flagship Tavern/Grill | Chicago, IL | 1622 West Belmont Ave. |
| Island Sports Bar and Grill | Blue Island, IL | 13414 Olde Western Ave. |
| Rosati's Pizza | Atlanta (Cumming, GA) | 415 Peachtree Parkway #200 |
| Wild Turkey | Dallas, TX | 2470 Walnut Hill Lane |
| The Sportsbook | Denver (Greenwood Village, CO) | 9660 East Arapahoe Rd. |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | New Orleans (Jefferson, LA) | 909 Clearview Parkway |
| Global Brew Tap House | St. Louis (O'Fallon, IL) | 455 Regency Park |