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Illinois State University Athletics

Mid America Classic

Football Mike Williams

Annual Mid-America Classic Game Between ISU and EIU Cancelled

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State and Eastern Illinois have jointly announced that this year's Mid-America Classic will be not be played. The game, which was scheduled for Sept. 12 at Hancock Stadium in Normal, was to be the 109th meeting between the two in-state rivals. With the cancellation, Illinois State will not be playing any non-conference football contests this fall.

The last time the two programs did not meet during the season for the Mid-America Classic was during the 2001 season, when the annual contest was canceled due to the 9/11 tragedy.

Earlier today the Ohio Valley Conference, in which Eastern Illinois plays football, postponed fall sports competition with the hope of teams participating in a spring conference schedule. The Missouri Valley Football Conference, in which Illinois State plays football, postponed its conference slate of games on August 7 but will allow members to play up to three non-conference games at the institution's discretion. 

Administrators at both schools stated that based on what other institutions of higher learning in the region where doing, it was not in the best interest of the health and safety of either teams' student-athletes to try and play the Sept. 12 contest.  

ISU and EIU had previous FBS games on their schedule for this season already canceled based on conference-only scheduling announcements. ISU was set to open the season at Illinois (Big 10) and EIU was slated to play at Kentucky (SEC) on Oct. 10. 

Aside from the non-conference games scheduled with in-state foes Illinois and Eastern Illinois, the Redbirds also had a non-conference matchup against Dixie State scheduled for November 21. However, that contest was canceled when the Trailblazers announced on Wednesday that their 2020 football season will be postponed. EIU's other non-conference opponent for the 2020 season, Indiana State, announced late last week that the Sycamores would not be participating in fall football games.

More information will be made available on Monday for Redbird football season ticket holders regarding options for the games moved to the spring.

GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:  Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
 

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