https://goredbirds.com/rss.aspx?path=footballLatest news items for Illinois State University Athleticsen-us60https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/26/football-the-brock-spack-show-airs-live-from-schooners-on-thursday.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/26/football-the-brock-spack-show-airs-live-from-schooners-on-thursday.aspxFootball

The 2026 is poised to be an exciting one for the Illinois State football team, coming off a historic run to the FCS Championship game a year ago. The Redbirds will open the campaign on Saturday against St. Francis, and ISU head coach Brock Spack will preview the upcoming matchup with Fighting Saints at Schooners on Thursday at 6 p.m. at The Brock Spack Show, presented by Robert Redding Menswear.]]>Brock SpackWed, 26 Aug 2026 09:50:00 CST261125https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/26/football-redbirds-set-to-open-2026-campaign-against-st-francis.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/26/football-redbirds-set-to-open-2026-campaign-against-st-francis.aspxFootball

For the second time in program history, Illinois State advanced to the FCS National Championship game in 2025 to cap off a historic season. Illinois State will look to get off to a good start to the 2026 campaign on Saturday, when they open the season against the St. Francis Fighting Saints on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium.]]>Luke MailanderWed, 26 Aug 2026 09:26:00 CST261124https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/25/football-route-66-centennial-to-light-up-the-sky-at-illinois-state-on-october-3.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/25/football-route-66-centennial-to-light-up-the-sky-at-illinois-state-on-october-3.aspxFootball, General

The Illinois Route 66 Centennial celebration will take to the skies over Bloomington-Normal as Illinois State Athletics and VisitBN (Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) partner to bring a Route 66-themed drone light show to Hancock Stadium on Saturday, October 3.]]>Route 66 CelebrationTue, 25 Aug 2026 10:00:00 CST261123https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/20/football-the-brock-spack-show-returns-to-schooners-on-thursdays-this-fall.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/20/football-the-brock-spack-show-returns-to-schooners-on-thursdays-this-fall.aspxFootball

A weekly Thursday tradition for Redbird Football fans will continue this fall when The Brock Spack Show, presented by Robert Redding Menswear, returns for the first of its weekly broadcasts on Thursday, August 27, live from Schooners in Bloomington beginning at 6 p.m.]]>The Brock Spack ShowThu, 20 Aug 2026 16:59:00 CST261118https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/19/general-2026-isu-athletics-percy-family-hall-of-fame-class-announced.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/19/general-2026-isu-athletics-percy-family-hall-of-fame-class-announced.aspxBaseball, Football, General, Women's Basketball, Volleyball

The 2026 Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame class was officially announced Wednesday, as Paul DeJong (baseball), two-time Missouri Valley Conference First-Team selection and MLB veteran; Jaelyn Keene (volleyball), Four-Time First-Team All-MVC selection and current professional volleyball stalwart; James Robinson (football), three-time All-American and NFL standout; Jaci McCormack (Institutional Great Award) and Jane Widger Fulton (Campbell "Stretch" Miller Award) will each become members of the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame during enshrinement ceremonies in October.]]>2026 Percy Family Hall of FameWed, 19 Aug 2026 14:00:00 CST361116https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/17/football-redbirds-selected-fourth-nationally-in-preseason-afca-fcs-coaches-poll.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/17/football-redbirds-selected-fourth-nationally-in-preseason-afca-fcs-coaches-poll.aspxFootball

After previously being selected as the No. 4 team in the Stats Perform FCS preseason Top 25, the Illinois State football team found themselves in that same exact spot in the preseason AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The Redbirds are one of six Missouri Valley Football Conference teams in the initial Coaches Poll of the season, and one of four in the top 10.]]>Luke MailanderMon, 17 Aug 2026 10:32:00 CST261113https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/15/football-fall-camp-report-4-amos-hall-each-score-twice-in-annual-red-white-scrimmage.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/15/football-fall-camp-report-4-amos-hall-each-score-twice-in-annual-red-white-scrimmage.aspxFootball

A rainy couple of days in the Twin Cities put a bit of a damper on Illinois State's annual Red-White Scrimmage on Saturday, however the Redbirds still took the field with energy and excitement for the fans in attendance at Hancock Stadium. The Redbirds focused on several key situations during the final scrimmage of 2026 Fall Training Camp, including driving the field, an overtime period, goal-to-go situations and a two-minute scenario.]]>Dallas AmosSat, 15 Aug 2026 16:00:00 CST261112https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/8/football-fall-camp-report-3-birds-shine-in-red-zone-2-minute-drill-in-first-scrimmage.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/8/football-fall-camp-report-3-birds-shine-in-red-zone-2-minute-drill-in-first-scrimmage.aspxFootball

It was a beautiful Saturday morning on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium, as the Illinois State football team worked through its first scrimmage of Fall Camp 2026. The Redbirds focused on several key situations during the 130-plus play workout, including coming off the goal line, driving the field, red zone and goal line, and a two-minute period that featured touchdowns on all three series.]]>Beckham PellantSat, 8 Aug 2026 15:01:00 CST261099https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/6/football-fall-camp-report-2-team-quickly-taking-shape.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/6/football-fall-camp-report-2-team-quickly-taking-shape.aspxFootball

Illinois State hosted its annual Media/Photo Day on Wednesday and several questions were asked of players and coaches about the team's makeup and ability to make it back to Nashville for another FCS Championship game appearance. The sentiment was the same in the answers: that the experience gained from last year and the influx of new talent has this year's Redbirds ahead of schedule compared to last season.]]>Victor DawsonThu, 6 Aug 2026 14:30:00 CST261097https://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/3/football-redbirds-selected-fourth-in-stats-perform-fcs-top-25-preseason-poll.aspxhttps://goredbirds.com/news/2026/8/3/football-redbirds-selected-fourth-in-stats-perform-fcs-top-25-preseason-poll.aspxFootball

Coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and playing for the 2025 FCS National Championship following a historic run to the title game, the Illinois State was picked fourth in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll announced on Monday. Illinois State has appeared in every Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll for 31-straight weeks, the sixth-longest active streak in the FCS.]]>Dylan LordMon, 3 Aug 2026 11:29:00 CST261092