NORMAL, Ill. – For the second time in program history, the Illinois State football team has advanced to the FCS National Championship game and will play for a national title on Monday, January 5, in Nashville against No. 2 Montana State. Excitement and pride in the program are at a fever pitch, and today the Illinois State Athletics Department is announcing a commitment of $2.5 million from an anonymous former Redbird Football quarterback that will go towards enhancing the football program in the future and its quest to recruit and retain first-class student-athletes to Normal.
"We are grateful for this generous gift and the trust in Redbird Athletics and the Redbird Football program that it represents," ISU Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs said. "We are excited about the success of our football program this year and this investment will help us prosper and grow for years to come."
The commitment is the second largest gift in the history of ISU Athletics and the largest allocated towards the football program. Redbird Football is on a historic run to its second national championship game in program history, as the only team in FCS playoff history to win four games on the road to advance to the championship. Making their 10th appearance in the FCS playoffs all-time, the Redbirds went from being a last four team into the playoff field to knocking off the No. 1 team in the country and defending national champion North Dakota State and ranked teams in Southeast Louisiana, UC Davis and Villanova.
With the win, the Redbirds have now won nine-straight road games against FCS opponents in 2025 (longest current streak in the nation) and are a combined 15-1 against FCS opponents on the road in the past two seasons. During the 2025 run, ISU snapped the two longest home winning streaks in the FCS of 23 at Villanova and 16 at North Dakota State. Their berth in the FCS National Championship game also keeps the Missouri Valley Football Conference's streak alive of 15-straight years with a league representative in the title game.
"Seeing former student-athletes invest into their program is a dream," ISU Deputy Director of Athletics Paul Kabbes said. "This former quarterback truly loves the Redbirds and his football program. We can't say thank you enough for the investment in Coach Spack, his staff, and the 100+ young men who get to wear the red and white. We look forward to sharing more details soon about this commitment, however now I ask all Redbirds to help us take the next step in elevating this program. There is no time better than the present!"Â
Investments into the football program have paid big dividends in the recent future. Following the Hancock Stadium renovations in 2013, the Redbirds started a run that included playoff appearances in three-straight seasons from 2014-16 and a National Championship game berth in 2014. Then, after opening the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center in 2023, the Redbirds have strung together two-straight playoff runs and a berth in the 2025 title game.
"Investments like this in our program are transformational for us and key to the future success of our team on a national scale," ISU Football Head Coach Brock Spack said. "Support like this from former Redbird Football players shows a true commitment and pride in a program that gave them so much when they were on campus. This commitment will not only help us recruit and retain some of the best players in the country, but it will also help our program stay in the national spotlight for years to come. We cannot thank this anonymous donor enough, and we are excited to see everyone in Nashville on January 5."
Since taking over as head coach of the Redbird Football program in 2009, Spack has made it a point to welcome back football alumni and has had an open-door policy at the Kaufman Football Building for former players to come back and visit when they are in town. In addition to annual reunions, the Redbird Football program also recently held a 10-year reunion to celebrate the 2014 championship team that played for the title in Frisco, Texas, as over 50 former players and staff returned to the stadium to celebrate the accomplishment.
These types of relationships with former players and the current coaching staff and student-athletes have resulted in continued support from Redbird Football alumni, including the purchase of new Nike winter coats for the team in 2025 that they have worn through the championship run.
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