SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Illinois State football team was picked second in the annual Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll, as announced by the Conference office on Tuesday at the league's media day in Sioux Falls. A panel of league head coaches, communications directors, and media conducted the voting.
South Dakota State was picked as the league favorite, as the Jackrabbits received 28 of a possible 36 first-place votes and 312 total points to outdistance the 2026 national runner-up Redbirds, who received three first-place votes and 256 points. Youngstown State (235 points), North Dakota (211 points) and South Dakota (196) points rounded out the top five in the poll.
In addition, the MVFC released a player "Watch List" to highlight the league's top student-athletes heading into fall camp. Running back Victor Dawson, wide receivers Luke Mailander and Dylan Lord, offensive linemen Logan Brasfield and Landon Woodard, defensive lineman Ben Harman, linebackers Tye Niekamp, Dexter Niekamp and Mason Kaplan, safety La'Shavion Brown, punter Hayden Futch and all-purpose WR/KR Mar'quan Gary were the Redbird standouts named to the list.
The Redbirds are set to open the 2026 fall season on August 29 at home against St. Francis, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium. Redbird Football season tickets and mini-plans are available for purchase now online at GoRedbirds.com/Tickets or by contacting the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
