The Eastern Illinois football team had a successful season last year, finishing with an impressive 8-3 record and being ranked No. 24 in the final FCS Coaches poll. This year, with a core group of starters returning, the Panthers are starting to receive preseason recognition. They were ranked No. 25 in the HERO Sports FCS Top 25 preseason poll, following a No. 24 preseason ranking by Craig Haley in his personal Top 25.
EIU is gearing up to kick off their 2024 12-game schedule on August 29 at Illinois, one of two games this season against Big Ten schools. They will also play at Northwestern. The upcoming schedule includes two traditional regional rivalry games with Missouri Valley Football Conference schools, playing at Illinois State and hosting Indiana State for the home opener on Sept. 7 at O’Brien Field. EIU will open the Big South-OVC Football schedule at home on Sept. 28 hosting Lindenwood, then playing their first two conference games at home against Southeast Missouri on Oct. 5 for homecoming.
Fans can now renew or purchase season tickets for the 2024 season online at www.eiupanthers.com or by calling 217-581-2106 (EIU Ticket Office, Monday – Thursday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am). In the preseason rankings, defending FCS National Champion South Dakota State was ranked No. 1, followed by North Dakota State, Montana, Montana State, and South Dakota in the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Villanova, Idaho, Sacramento State, Southern Illinois, and Chattanooga.
Central Arkansas was the preseason No.
